[8][9] Dønnes Church was probably built here at the request of Paul Vågaskalm who was governor of Alstahaug.

The church organ, built by Paul Christian Brantzeg, was installed in 1866.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee.

At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Nesna prestegjeld and the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

The highest point in the municipality was the 818-metre (2,684 ft) tall mountain Tommtinden on the island of Tomma.

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