It was granted by Daulat Scindia to his French general Pierre Cuillier-Perron at the end of the 18th century. Under the British Raj, Hapur was within Meerut District, was surrounded by several fine groves, and carried on considerable trade in sugar, jaggery (gur), grain, cotton, timber, bamboo, and brass and steel utensils. The important cavalry remount depot and farm of Babugarh adjoined the town. Earlier it was within Ghaziabad district but in 2012 it became a separate district. It comes within Meerut commissionaire.