The municipality included the islands of Lyø, Bjørnø, Avernakø, and Svelmø, and covered an area of 227 km2.
Its last mayor was Britta Duelund, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.
The town is first mentioned in a document kept at the National Archives in Paris, dated 25 June 1229.
In this document the town of Faaborg, among other areas, is given as a present to King Valdemar Sejr's daughter-in-law.
The fortification is no longer extant; only the western gate remains to this day.