A medieval village situated in the rich Kłodzko Valley, Nowa Ruda developed in the mid-13th century as part of the Kingdom of Bohemia.

The oldest known mention of the settlement comes from 1337 from a document issued in nearby Kłodzko,[2] when it was part of the Polish Piast-ruled Duchy of Ziębice/Münsterberg under the suzerainty of the Bohemian (Czech) Crown of the Holy Roman Empire.

[2] In the second half of the 19th century the town developed due to coal mining and the textile industry.

[3] Also during the war, the largest mining disaster in the town's history took place; 187 miners were killed.

[2] Following the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II the region became part of Poland, and the town took on its present name, with the German population being expelled in accordance to the Potsdam Agreement.

On 28 June 1972 the Catholic parishes of Nowa Ruda were transferred from the traditional Hradec Králové diocese (est.

The area was notable in the Middle Ages as a source of rich iron ore deposits.