These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.

The name is possibly derived from the word bembel which means "navel" or "stomach", referring to the "thick" or "swollen" mountain formation of Siggjo.

The official blazon is "Gules, a sea-leaf argent" (Norwegian: Eit kvitt sjøblad på raud botn).

This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is the leaf of a water lily interlaced with a trefoil.

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

Bømlo is connected to Stord by the Triangle Link, which has made transportation to and from the municipality easier and more effective.

These areas include Svortland (previously Bremnes), Søra-Bømlo (South-Bømlo), Rubbestadneset, Moster, Finnås, Gilje, Goddo, and Hiskjo.

The Lykling village area has become a popular tourist attraction, mainly due to its history of extensive gold mining in Lyklingeberga.

In addition to the mining constructions, there was also built two hotels, one hotelship, several bakeries, and a number of retail stores.

Bømlo, facing the North Sea, has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb, marine west coast), with few temperature extremes.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Bømlo is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four-year terms.

The most famous performance, Mostraspelet, surrounds the topics of how Christianity arrived to Norway via Bømlo, late during the first millennium.

In 1975, the island of Espevær became known for its conspirative 'UFO-Ring', a physical imprint to the ground supposedly made from a stationed UFO, which is still visible as of 2012[update].

Notable soccer players, such as Arne Larsen Økland, Geirmund Brendesæter, and Gunnar Meling, started their careers in Bremnes IL, one of the local sports clubs.

Former top player and current coach for SK Brann, Mons Ivar Mjelde, had a brief stay at Moster IL.

They are all named according to their geographical locations, and include Svortland, Gilje, Meling, Folderøy, Våge, Håvik, and Espevær, which comprises students from 1st through 7th grade.

An extensive tunnel and bridge system, the Triangle Link, connected Bømlo to the mainland and neighboring island Stord on 30 April 2001.

There is also a ferry that goes from Langevåg to Buavåg in Sveio, connecting the southern part of Bømlo to the mainland.