The name Trångfors comes from “Trångforsen” (narrow river), which until the water regulation of the 1960s was a living part of the nearby Lule River. In this way, the area embodies a phenomenon that has disappeared and recalls a time when the river was an intact ecosystem that supported parts of the population through fishing and rafting. Before the area was built, there was a cement factory, a gas station and a grocery store. There are no remains of these activities today, but there are visible traces of the unfinished ‘English Channel’, which has listed building status. Canal construction began in the 1860s to facilitate the transport of ore from Gällivare to Kiruna. However, construction came to a halt due to lack of funding and the company went bankrupt. When the canal workers were not paid their wages, the spark for the country’s first workers’ revolt was ignited.

In the 2020s, new construction is planned for Trångfors. In addition to the new preschool, there are plans for residential plots close to the river, pedestrian and bicycle paths along the river and efforts to promote and protect interesting natural and cultural areas.