The history of Balashikha is closely tied to the industrialization of the Moscow region. Its origins trace back to 1830, when Prince Ivan Trubetskoy founded a cotton-spinning mill on the banks of the Pekhorka River. The settlement grew around this factory, and by the late 19th century, the Balashikha Manufactory was one of the largest textile enterprises in Russia. The area surrounding the town was also a popular retreat for Russian nobility, hosting magnificent estates like Gorenki, which once belonged to the influential Razumovsky family.
Balashikha was officially granted city status in 1939. During the Soviet era, the city's economic profile shifted from textiles to heavy industry, machinery, and defense. Following World War II, several key military and aerospace research institutes were established here, tying the city firmly to the Soviet military-industrial complex.
In the post-Soviet era, Balashikha transformed rapidly. Its proximity to Moscow sparked a massive boom in residential construction as people flocked to the city for more affordable housing while commuting to the capital. A defining moment in its modern history occurred in January 2015, when the neighboring city of Zheleznodorozhny was officially merged into Balashikha, instantly making it the most populous city in the Moscow Oblast.