Snezhnogorsk got its name during construction, when the first house built was covered with snow up to the roof.
The status of an urban-type settlement has been granted in 1964.
The city-forming enterprise is Ust-Khantai Hydroelectric Power Station with a capacity of 451 MW.
Snezhnogorsk is a remote settlement with no ground transport available to reach it.
The settlement is connected by air with Norilsk and Igarka. In 2006, the airport located in the village was disbanded and the terminal building was burned down. Airplane communication between Snezhnogorsk and Norilsk thence ceased to exist.
Helicopter flights are operated weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays by the airline Norilsk Avia JSC on the route Norilsk - Snezhnogorsk - Norilsk. From October 1, 2007, 2 times a month, the company operates Turukhanavia helicopter flights on the route Igarka - Snezhnogorsk - Igarka.
Законодательное собрание Красноярского края. Закон №10-4765 от 10 июня 2010 г. «О перечне административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Красноярского края», в ред. Закона №7-3007 от 16 декабря 2014 г. «Об изменении административно-территориального устройства Большеулуйского района и о внесении изменений в Закон края "О перечне административно-территориальных единиц и территориальных единиц Красноярского края"». Вступил в силу 1 июля 2010 г. Опубликован: "Ведомости высших органов государственной власти Красноярского края", №33(404), 5 июля 2010 г. (Legislative Assembly of Krasnoyarsk Krai. Law #10-4765 of June 10, 2010 On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and the Territorial Units of Krasnoyarsk Krai, as amended by the Law #7-3007 of December 16, 2014 On Changing the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Bolsheuluysky District and on Amending the Krai Law "On the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial Units and the Territorial Units of Krasnoyarsk Krai". Effective as of July 1, 2010.).