The town of Norra Tällie was founded by King Gustav II Adolf in 1622, as were several other towns after the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War, The city arms were created as an upside down anchor as early as 1622 when the charter was granted.

Norrtälje has a first class industrial heritage displayed in the Pythagoras Mechanical Workshop Museum, based in the premises of a former hot bulb engine factory.

Its more inland location makes it a bit more prone to cold snaps than the town itself, although high temperatures are similar.

Even so, Norrtälje remains quite a bit colder than Stockholm and coastal areas further south throughout the year and is more likely to have snow cover.

The distance from the open sea to the urban area also affects the local climate, with less maritime moderation than in other coastal towns.