[3] At the time, fishing and the trading of furs, skins, iron, copper and wood products were the main sources of income, and the city flourished.

Considering how far north it is, the climate is comparatively mild, with warm summers and moderated winters with daytime highs often hovering around the freezing point.

By east coast standards, Hudiksvall has a relatively wet climate with an annual precipitation rate averaging 646 millimetres (25.4 in) sometimes resulting in heavy snowfall during winters.

In 1999, Hudiksvall also received a large modern indoor sports hall in the former sawmill located in the industrial area Håstaholmen.

The most successful in recent years is the Hudiksvall sports club's ski section whose sprint skier Björn Lind won two Olympic gold medals in Turin in 2006.