It was first mentioned in Ivan the Terrible's will among towns that had been founded during his reign. Between 1580 and 1772, it frequently changed ownership. In 1623, it was granted Magdeburg rights by the Polish KingWładysław IV Vasa. While part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth it was located in the Połock Voivodeship. It finally passed to Russia during the First Partition of Poland in 1772, when it was included into newly established Pskov Governorate, chartered, and made the seat of Nevesky Uyezd of Pskov Governorate. In 1777, it was transferred to Polotsk Viceroyalty. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished and Nevel was transferred to Belarus Governorate; it had been a part of Vitebsk Governorate since 1802. In early 1919 it was part of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia. After 1919, Vitebsk Governorate was a part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. On March 24, 1924, Vitebsk Governorate was abolished, and Nevel was transferred to Pskov Governorate. On August 1, 1927, the uyezds and governorates were abolished and Nevelsky District, with the administrative center in Nevel, was established as a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Leningrad Oblast. It included parts of former Nevelsky Uyezd. On June 3, 1929, Nevelsky District was transferred to Western Oblast. On July 23, 1930, the okrugs were also abolished and the districts were directly subordinated to the oblast. On January 29, 1935, Western Oblast was abolished and the district was transferred to Kalinin Oblast, and on February 5 of the same year, Nevelsky District became a part of Velikiye Luki Okrug of Kalinin Oblast, one of the okrugs abutting the state boundaries of the Soviet Union. On May 4, 1938, the district was subordinated directly to the oblast. Between July 16, 1941 and October 6, 1943, Nevel was occupied by German troops. On August 22, 1944, the district was transferred to newly established Velikiye Luki Oblast. On October 2, 1957, Velikiye Luki Oblast was abolished and Nevelsky District was transferred to Pskov Oblast.
Nevel has enterprises of food, textile, shoemaking, and timber industries.
Transportation
Nevel is connected at the crossing of two railway lines. One connects Velikiye Luki with Polotsk, whereas another one connects St. Petersburg via Dno and Novosokolniki with Vitebsk. South of Nevel, both railways cross into Belarus. There M20 Highway connecting St. Petersburg and Kiev passes next to Nevel. Other main roads connect Nevel with Velikiye Luki, with Smolensk via Usvyaty and Velizh, with Polotsk, and with Verkhnyadzvinsk via Rossony. There are also local roads.
Culture
Nevel contains three objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local significance. The monuments are the Trinity Church, the building of the uyezd school, and the military cemetery from World War II. Nevel is home to the Nevel Museum of History, featuring the history of the town.
