Uddevalla got its city rights in 1498 but was probably a place of trade long before that. Historically Uddevalla was part of Norway. Because of its location close to Sweden and Denmark, it was often besieged. In 1612 it was burnt by Swedish troops under the command of Jesper Mattson Krusand in 1644 it was again burnt, by the Swedish commander Harald Stake. In 1658, at the treaty of Roskilde, it was ceded to Sweden. A year later the Norwegians retook it, but in 1660 it was once again ceded to Sweden in the peace treaty of Copenhagen. Norway later repeatedly reconquered Uddevalla and the nearby fortress on Galleberg, the last time in 1788.
In the 18th and 19th century, Uddevalla's main importance lay in itsherring fishing. But what also marked the city were the great fires which several times damaged the city. Most notably in 1806, when the entire city, four houses spared, was burnt to the ground, and 4,000 people were made homeless.
In the 19th century, Uddevalla had trouble getting out of its recession and struggled with poverty and alcoholism. The reasons were mainly that the herring fishing had decreased, the canal of Trollh�ttan opened, together with the after effects of the 1806 fire.
Sometime around 1870-1880, Uddevalla began to attract industries. Much of the development in that century can be attributed to the Scottish businessman William Thorburn, who is said to have been amazed by the city's beauty and hence settled there with his wife Jessy Macfie in 1822. He founded a number of industries, mostly textile in the beginning. Another factor contributing to Uddevalla's recovery was the railroad, Bohus Line.
At the time of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Uddevalla was one of twelve Swedish cities to host the tournament. The matches were played at the Rimnersvallen stadium
