Insar is a town in the Mordovia Republic. It stands on the left bank of River Insarka (the basin of Oka), 18 km to the south of the Kadoshkino railway station, and 77 km to the southwest of Saransk.

The town with the population of 8555 people (as of 2014) takes the area of 52 sq km.

History of Insar

In 1648 Insar consisted of a fortress and a trading quarter, which was later adjoined with settlements. The fortress stood on River Insar at its inflow into the Issah River.

During the peasant war of 1774 Insar was damaged by rioting troops headed by Yemelyan Pugachyov.

In 1708 the town of Insar was attributed to the Azov Province (the Voronezh Province from 1725), and the Tambov Province from 1719).

It was the district town of the Penza Vicariate from 1780, and part of the Simbirsk Province from 1797. From 1801 it was the district town of the Penza Province.

In 1856 the district town of Insar of the Penza Province had 4 churches, 454 houses, and 17 shops.

It was transformed into a rural settlement in 1926 and regained its town status in 1958.