In 1683 the village consisted of twelve farms and five other houses.
The opening of the Vendsyssel railway line would become the major growth factor for Kvissel. When the station on the line opened in 1877, it brought economic growth to the village. In 1900 a school was opened, and in 1918–1919 a church was built.
Today, the town functions as a satellite town of Frederikshavn which can be reached by regional train in a few minutes.