[3] Filipstad was granted city privileges in 1611 by Charles IX of Sweden, who named it after his son Duke Carl Philip (1601–1622; younger brother of Gustavus Adolphus).

The local government acts of 1862 made the very privileges obsolete, but the title stad (city) remained in use until the municipal reform of 1971.

Filipstad is, despite its small population, for historical reasons, normally still referred to as a city.

At Filipstad, there is Klockarhöjdenmasten, a 330 metres tall guyed mast used for FM/TV-broadcasting.

Wasabröd, the largest crisp bread manufacturer in the world, has one of its two factories in Filipstad, the other being in Celle, Germany.