It was first mentioned in 1858 as a village with four households that had existed since 1854.[citation needed] In 1869, the number of households increased to thirty-five.
The construction of the Kazan–Yekaterinburg railway during 1913–1920 played an important role in the development of the village. A settlement for the railway builders, which shared the same name, was established near the village. During the Civil War, the area of what is now Chernushinsky District saw heavy fighting along the railway and in the settlement itself.
In 1925, the administrative center of the district was transferred from Ryabki to Chernushka because Ryabky was too far from the railway. Consequently, the district itself was renamed Chernushinsky. However, the district's administration did not move to Chernushka until 1930.
The following years saw an increase of industrial construction. After World War II, Chernushka was granted work settlement status. The discovery of oil boosted Chernushka's development, as several oil plants were built in 1958. In 1966, Chernushka was granted town status.[citation needed]
The town's economy is based on oil extraction and refining industry, the production of construction materials, and the food industry. It is a major transportation hub in southern Perm Krai.
Законодательное собрание Пермской области. Закон №416-67 от 28 февраля 1996 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Пермского края», в ред. Закона №504-ПК от 9 июля 2015 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Пермской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Пермского края"». Вступил в силу с момента опубликования. Опубликован: "Звезда", №38, 12 марта 1996 г. (Legislative Assembly of Perm Oblast. Law #416-67 of February 28, 1996 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Perm Krai, as amended by the Law #504-PK of July 9, 2015 On Amending the Law of Perm Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Perm Krai". Effective as of the moment of publication.).
Законодательное собрание Пермской области. Закон №1882-409 от 9 декабря 2004 г. «Об утверждении границ и о наделении статусом муниципальных образований Чернушинского района Пермского края», в ред. Закона №175-ПК от 7 марта 2013 г. «О внесении изменений в отдельные Законы Пермской области, Коми-Пермяцкого автономного округа об утверждении границ и о наделении статусом муниципальных образований Пермского края». Вступил в силу через десять дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Российская Газета", №283, 22 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of Perm Oblast. Law #1882-409 of December 9, 2004 On Establishing the Borders and on Granting the Status to the Municipal Formations of Chernushinsky District of Perm Krai, as amended by the Law #175-PK of March 7, 2013 On Amending Various Laws of Perm Oblast, Komi-Permyak Autonomous Okrug on Establishing the Borders and on Granting the Status to the Municipal Formations of Perm Krai. Effective as of the day which is ten days following the day of the official publication.).