In the distant past, the surroundings of Visaginas were inhabited by the Selonians.
Historical annals first mention the location in 1526, when it was presented by the nobleman Vaitiekus Goštautas to the Naujasis (New) Daugėliškis parish.
In the 14th–19th centuries the region was invaded by the Livonian, Swedish, Russian and French troops.

Before World War II, from 1922 to 1939, the area of modern Visaginas lay within the boundaries of the Gmina Smołwy in the Brasław County of the Wilno Voivodeship in Poland.

The settlement was founded in 1975 as Sniečkus, a town for workers at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant on the shores of Lake Visaginas.
It was established in place of four villages that were demolished, the largest of which was known as Visaginas.
The new town was named after Antanas Sniečkus, a former first secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party.
In 1977 it was granted the status of an urban-type settlement, and received municipal rights in 1995.
It is governed by a town council, which elects the mayor.
In 1996, the city's coat of arms was confirmed by a decree of the President of the Republic.

The settlement was developed in complexes, with construction designed to create an infrastructure for the cultural and everyday life of the residents.
Efforts were made to preserve the natural surroundings as much as possible.
In the distant past, the surroundings of Visaginas were inhabited by the Selonians. Historical annals first mention the location in 1526, when it was presented by the nobleman Vaitiekus Goštautas to the Naujasis (New) Daugėliškis parish. In the 14th–19th centuries the region was invaded by the Livonian, Swedish, Russian and French troops.
Before World War II, from 1922 to 1939, the area of modern Visaginas lay within the boundaries of the Gmina Smołwy in the Brasław County of the Wilno Voivodeship in Poland.
The settlement was founded in 1975 as Sniečkus, a town for workers at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant on the shores of Lake Visaginas. It was established in place of four villages that were demolished, the largest of which was known as Visaginas. The new town was named after Antanas Sniečkus, a former first secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party. In 1977 it was granted the status of an urban-type settlement, and received municipal rights in 1995. It is governed by a town council, which elects the mayor. In 1996, the city's coat of arms was confirmed by a decree of the President of the Republic.
The settlement was developed in complexes, with construction designed to create an infrastructure for the cultural and everyday life of the residents. Efforts were made to preserve the natural surroundings as much as possible.
Visaginas