Lignano Sabbiadoro developed in the early 20th century from some hospitality resorts, which at the beginning could be reached only by sea. The first inhabitants came in 1931, after the draining of the nearby marshes. The first road connecting Lignano with the nearby comune of Latisana was built in 1926.
The name Sabbiadoro ("Golden Sand") was added in 1935 for promotional reasons.
During World War II, the very last operations of the German navy - involving the evacuation of troops and personnel from Istria and Trieste ahead the advancing Yugoslavs - took place here in May 1945. An estimated enemy force of 4000 was landing from 26 ships of all types at the mouth of the Tagliamento River. Germans' equipment included E-boats, LSTs, a small hospital ship, all types of transport, and a variety of weapons. The 21st Battalion of the New Zealand 2nd Division was outnumbered by 20 to one, but at the end, on 4 May 1945 Germans surrendered. Lignano became an autonomous commune in 1959. Lignano lives of summertime tourism, and is home to Austrian, German, and Slovenian citizens
