Korsnes first appears in written sources during the 17th century and its various proprietors either had citizens' privileged rights from Trondheim or Bergen. However, in 1837 Korsnes was purchased by Bendik Normann from Ytre Elgsnes near Harstad. His son Nikolai gradually took over the running of the trading post and Korsnes had its 19th century golden days while managed by the Normann family. Valdermar Pettersen bought the business from Nikolai Normann and at the turn of the century he ran a shop, sein fisheries, a liver oil refinery and a fish salting plant. He also bought fish from Lofoten, which he turned into clipfish dried on the rocks by the sea. In 1936 Tormod Bredesen took over the shop and ran it until 1958. Then in 1960 the Hveding family bought Korsnes and established a modern and successful fish factory.

The writer Knut Hamsun did as a young man work for a while as a shop assistant at Korsnes.
The highly esteemed portrait photographer Magdalene Normann was born at Korsnes and returned here to run the post office when her photographic career had dwindled.