Hanssen was born in Vika at Indre Senja in Troms county.
His songs reached a wide audience through Tove Karoline Knutsen's 1980 album Blå kveill, which was based on Hanssen's lyrics.
Lenvik Municipality named a road Arvid Hanssens plass after him.
A bust of the writer is located outside the cultural centre in Finnsnes.
This article about a Norwegian writer, poet or journalist is a stub.