The first tribe that came from the middle Asia in Igdir was Hurrian in 4000 B.C which has been discovered in terms of the archaeological researches. The other nomadic tribes which are Mitanni, Hittites, Assyrians, Cimmerians, Medes, Persians and Sumerians moved to Igdir after Hurrian in respectively. The tribes came from Asia once discovered some of the mines and writing for the best of human being.

The area was captured by the Arab armies of Islam in 646 and the Seleucids armies dominated the area in 1064. After this age, many of the Turkish tribes settled around Igdir and also the formers of the Ottoman Empires called Kayi tribe made Igdir their home. The city name came from "Igdir Bey", the oldest son of Deniz Alphan who was the youngest son of Oghuz Han.

Under the command of Turkish General Kazım Karabekir, the invaded city by Armenians was saved and joined the motherland on 14 November 1920.

It was part of Beyazit Province between 1922 and 1927, part of Agrı Province (created after moving center of Beyazit one from Beyazit to Karakose) between 1927 and 1934, and finally part of Kars Province between 1934 and 1993 before becoming separate province.