The history of Żywiec has over 700 years. Its name has probably been taken from a word "feed" which suggests that the local soils were fertile and the land abounded in wild animals. The first mention about the city comes from registers of the Diocese of Cracow from 1308 where we find a "parochia ecclesie de Ziwicz" which stands for "the parish of Żywiec". In 1327 Żywiec got a city charter.
Throughout the centuries Żywiec changed hands severally. Initially the city belonged to dukes of Cieszyn then to dukes of Oświęcim. Przemysław, the last prince from the Piast dynasty, ruled Żywiec until 1433. The land was then taken over by the Skrzyński family that belonged to the noble clan of Swans. According to Długosz Chronicle, the family was into robbery, and the time of their rule was one of the most turbulent. In 1456 the Żywiec district was bought back by the king Kazimerz Jagiellończyk. After him the land was ruled by the Komorowski family and then by the king's Zygmunt III Waza wife - Constance. In 1626, Constance issued the statute of Żywiec which put order in all the current endowments and charters and defined civic legislation. It resulted in immediate improvement of internal relations and increased economic development.
Constance was then succeeded by the Bishop of Wrocław Karol Ferdynand, then followed the king Jan Kazimierz who, during the Swedish invasion of Poland in 1655-1660, stayed in Żywiec twice. This was the time of patriotic conduct and people from the District of Żywiec faithfully defended their king and the city against Swedes. However, the invader were much greater in numbers and the city was for a short time taken over by Swedes. In 1678 Żywiec was bought back by earl Jan Wielkopolski and stayed in his family for over one and a half century. In 1838 Adam Wielkopolski sold the land to the Habsburgs who ruled the district until World War II.
The fast development of the city in 19th century is connected with industrialization. Metallurgical plant producing screws, paper-mill, printing house and brewery called Arcyksiążęcy Browar - the most famous company associated with Żywiec and established by Albrecht Ferdynand Habsburg, were built. In World War II, the District of Żywiec was included in Reich and underwent strong Germanization. Germany deported 20 000 people and the abandoned households were settled with Germans. During occupation the District of Żywiec was one of the most important centres of the resistance movement. Here were an assembly area of AK forces and a smuggling point to Slovakia.
In the post-war period the city developed industry and collective enterprises. Almost every quarter had its own housing estates and educational and cultural institutions. The city gained a new face in 1967 when after accumulation of water levels of the river Soła in Tresna the Lake of Żywiec come into existence. In 1999 due to a new administrative division of the country, Żywiec became a part of Silesian province.