The Nordland Line and European route E6 cross Hemnes on their way to the town of Mo i Rana about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the northeast.

A few months later on 1 January 1919, the eastern area of Bardal (population: 4) was transferred to the neighboring Nesna Municipality.

After this division, Hemnes Municipality only consisted of the large village of Hemnesberget and the area immediately around it (population: 1,077).

The official blazon is "Azure, boat clamps Or" (Norwegian: I blått en gull båtklammer).

The clamp has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

As part of their drive on Northern Norway, a detachment of three hundred German soldiers landed at Hemnes from the captured Norwegian coastal steamer SS Nordnorge on 10 May 1940 and captured the municipality from a platoon of British soldiers from No.

A Norwegian Army detachment attempted a counterattack against the German's positions, but was driven back.

The town was again bombarded on 12 May by a passing Royal Navy force without significant effect, leaving Hemnes in German control for the rest of the war.

[12] In 2023, a window manufacturing company, Natre Vinduer, announced that after 99 years operating in Hemnesberget, it was closing its factory and relocating it to Gjøvik.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hemnes is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The Okstindan mountain range is located in Hemnes, including the highest point in the municipality: the 1,915.75-metre (6,285.3 ft) tall Oksskolten.

Note that tellingskrets 2, Brennberget - Straumgrenda, and 3, Utskarpen, are now in Rana municipality.Tellingskrets 5, Elsfjorden; 6, Drevvatne skolekreds and 7, Luktvatne, are now in Vefsn Municipality.

This tradition began to change in the mid to late 19th century, and inherited surnames were codified into law in 1923.