The town's expansion began in 1862 when a railway station was opened along the western main line (Västra Stambanan, which runs from Stockholm to Gothenburg). The station remained in operation up until 1971, but reopened in 2003.

The town is the birth place of former Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson.

A transit center for refugees from Norway during World War II was located in the manor of Kjesäter, now a folk high school.

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