Effective from 1 January 2011, Glarus Nord incorporates the former municipalities of Bilten, Filzbach, Mollis, Mühlehorn, Näfels, Niederurnen, Oberurnen and Obstalden.

From the 16th until the 18th century, the alpine pastures around the village were used to raise large livestock for sale to other towns.

As a sign of the growing wealth in Bilten, in 1608 a local family built the Renaissance style Elsener House.

The marshy land caused disease which only ended with the Linth correction project of 1807-23.

Between 1887 and 1939 the Biltener creek was gradually brought under control and channeled, ending its frequent flooding.

When the A3 motorway was built through the valley in 1973, a number of factories took advantage of the convenient transport links and moved into Bilten.

In 1976, a wastewater treatment plant serving the Glarus valley and surrounding area was built in Bilten.

The inhabitants of Filzbach were under the control of Schänis Abbey until the 14th century when they became part of the parish of Obstalden.

During the 18th century many families also began cottage industry spinning and cloth making to bring in extra money.

[6] The oldest trace of a settlement in Mollis is a Gallo-Roman temple discovered on the Hüttenböschen about 100 m (330 ft) from Walen Lake.

After that time, sheep were gradually replaced by larger livestock such as cattle which summered in alpine pastures and were raised for sale.

Between 1714 and 1789 many of the residents began spinning cotton yarn, which raised the standard of living for the whole village.

Following the 1798 French invasion and the conflicts during the Helvetic Republic, troops were often sent to Mollis and the population suffered under frequent occupation.

The construction of the Escher canal in 1807-11 and the Linth correction which finished in 1827 finally ended century-long conflicts with neighboring municipalities over the boundaries along the river.

In 1860 Pfeiffer AG built a linen factory, which was acquired by the American Standard Textile Company in 2000.

[11] The former municipalities that now make up Glarus Nord have a total combined area of 146.98 km2 (56.75 sq mi).

[13] The historical population is given in the following chart:[15] There are ten Swiss heritage sites of national significance located in the new municipality.

Mollis has three sites, the Herrensitz Haltli, the Hof and Höfli with garden pavillon at Steinackerstrasse 4 and the Zwicky house.

Näfels is also home to three sites, the Freuler Palace and Museum of Glarus, the Catholic Church of St. Hilarius and the medieval fortifications known as the Letzi.

Mühlehorn and Niederurnen both have one, the Hammerschmiede at Kohlplatz and the industrial plant and settlement of Jenny & Co., respectively.

[16] The remains of the Roman watchtower Vor dem Wald or Voremwald are preserved on rocky knolls about 320 m (1,050 ft) above the southern shore of Walen Lake.

Pottery and weapons from the rule of Emperor Augustus indicate that the tower was occupied by the second decade BC.