[1] The town grew on the western bank of the Ångerman river in the 19th century as harvested logs were floated downriver to be processed at local sawmills and pulp mills.

The original settlement of Kramfors was located in Gudmundrå municipality, but in 1889 received the status of a so-called municipalsamhälle or borough, still remaining part of the original municipality.

Kramfors is probably best known for its beautiful and varied High Coast landscape, which has been given World Heritage status, and which provides the inhabitants with the opportunity of an outdoors lifestyle.

Kramfors also hosts the Folke Bernadotte Academy, a government agency focused on improving international conflict and crisis management, with a special interest in peace operations.

It offers courses in peacekeeping intelligence and information operations that are open to all nations and to non-governmental organizations.