It was founded in 1858 as the fortress and stanitsa of Krymskaya (Кры́мская), named after the Crimean Cossack Regiment.^{[citation needed]} It was the first capital of the Greek Autonomous District, between 1930 and 1932. The stanitsa was granted town status and given its present name a century later, in 1958.^{[citation needed]} The town's railway station, however, retains the name Krymskaya.

Krasnodar Krai experienced a flash flood on July 7, 2012, after heavy rains. About 275 millimeters (10.8 in) of rain fell over the region. State television reported that it was an equivalent of three-to-four months' worth of rainfall in a typical year. In the hilly area, water formed torrents that rushed into towns.^[8]

One of the worst known calamities in modern times in this region, the flood killed more than 150 people; 140 of the deaths occurred in Krymsk. Subsequently, the Russian government declared a day of mourning on July 9, 2012.^{[citation needed]}

Tsunami-like waves of several meters were reported, although the nearest sea coast (that of the Black Sea) is located about 20 kilometers (12 mi) southwest of Krymsk,^[9] and there are mountains between Krymsk and the sea.

The Russian government acknowledged that town authorities were aware of the rising waters at 10 pm on Friday night, but failed to notify the Krymsk residents of the approaching flood. Russian officials admitted this failure was a major error.^[10]

Within the framework of administrative divisions, Krymsk serves as the administrative center of Krymsky District, even though it is not a part of it.^[1] As an administrative division, it is incorporated separately as the Town of Krymsk—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts.^[1] As a municipal division, the Town of Krymsk, together with the khutor of Verkhneadagum in Nizhnebakansky Rural Okrug of Krymsky District, is incorporated within Krymsky Municipal District as Krymskoye Urban Settlement.^[3]

Krymsk has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa).^[11]

The town has an air base which is located 3.0 miles (4.8 km) to the north. The main fighter regiment at the base has gone through a series of re-organizations and re-designations:^[13]

• January 9, 2001: absorbed the 562nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, and renamed 3rd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment.
• January 12, 2009 renamed 6972nd Guards Aviation Base.

The base is now part of the 4th Air and Air Defence Forces Command.

Krymsk is known for its experimental plant-breeding station, which holds important scientific collections of, among other crops, green peas, sweetcorn, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines (eggplants), cucumbers, apples, plums, peaches, pears, apricots, strawberries, and melon. The station's stone fruit and quince collections are the largest and most important in Russia or any part of the former Soviet Union. Of the 9,000 accessions of Prunus, about 5,000 to 6,000 are wild species and forms, 500 to 1,000 local varieties, and 2,000 to 3,000 cultivars and breeding materials. The station is also known for the creation of fruit-tree rootstocks, which are named after the town + a number (e.g. Krymsk 1, Krymsk 2, etc.)

• Управление по взаимодействию с органами местного самоуправления Администрации Краснодарского края. Справочная информация №34.01-707/13-03 от 23 мая 2013 г. «Реестр административно-территориальных единиц Краснодарского края». (Department of Cooperation with the Organs of the Local Self-Government of the Administration of Krasnodar Krai. Reference Information #34.01-707/13-03 of May 23, 2013 Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units of Krasnodar Krai. ).
• Законодательное Собрание Краснодарского края. Закон №766-КЗ от 22 июля 2004 г. «Об установлении границ муниципального образования Крымский район, наделении его статусом муниципального района, образовании в его составе муниципальных образований — городского и сельских поселений — и установлении их границ», в ред. Закона №2053-КЗ от 28 июля 2010 г «О внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Краснодарского края». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Кубанские новости", №128, 10 августа 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Krasnodar Krai. Law #766-KZ of July 22, 2004 On the Establishment of the Borders of the Municipal Formation of Krymsky District, on Granting It the Status of a Municipal District, on the Establishment of the Municipal Formations—Urban and Rural Settlements—Within Its Structure and on the Establishment of Their Borders, as amended by the Law #2053-KZ of July 28, 2010 On Amending Several Legislative Acts of Krasnodar Krai. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).