It traces its history to 1492, when a patrol station was set up to protect the trade route heading from
Moscow northward. In 1780, it became the seat of
Kadnikovsky Uyezd of
Vologda Viceroyalty (since 1796—
Vologda Governorate) and was granted town status. The uyezd, one of the ten in the governorate, comprised vast areas in the central part of modern Vologda Oblast east and northeast of
Lake Kubenskoye, as well as the south of modern
Arkhangelsk Oblast. However, when a railway was constructed in 1894 from
Vologda north to
Arkhangelsk, the route bypassed Kadnikov. In the 20th century, the population of Kadnikov declined while that of neighboring
Sokol, which is located to the northwest, has grown, and Kadnikov lost its significance as the administrative center. When the uyezds were abolished on July 15, 1929, Kadnikov was included into Sverdlovsky District (later renamed Sokolsky District) of
Northern Krai. ==Administrative and municipal status==