In 1637 the Samarovsky Yam was founded on the right bank of the Irtysh River not far from its falling into the Ob River. The settlement of Samarovo and then the town of Khanty-Mansiysk originated from that place. It was located in the picturesque place at the foot of steep mountains with the thick cedar forest growing on them. The first residents of Samarovo were 50 horse-drivers with their families moved from the Perm, Vologda and Olonetsky Regions. After them other emigrants moved to Samarovo. The population of Samarovo rapidly increased. In accordance with the revision of 1748 there were already 487 horse-drivers in the settlement except peasants. Besides horse-driving the inhabitants were engaged in fishing, hunting, stock-breeding. The inhabitants of Samarovo gathered "gifts of nature", gathered up to 10 ths. poods of cedar nuts. For winter the local population salted mushrooms, picked up berries.

After the appearance of steamship company the settlement got the broad development. In the 60s of the XIX century Samarovo turned into a big quay where ways of steamers of the Tyumen-Tomsk system and vessels of fishermen of the Ob and Irtysh Rivers crossed. It became a big trade center.