[4] Haugesund is the main commercial and economic centre of the Haugaland region in northern Rogaland and southern Vestland.

[8] The town is situated on a strategically important sound, Karmsundet, through which ships could pass without traversing heavy seas.

In the early years, the coastal waters off Haugesund were a huge source of herring, and the town grew accordingly.

Despite being barely a village back then, King Harald Fairhair lived at Avaldsnes, very close to the modern town of Haugesund.

During the last 20 years, the municipality has established its position as the main trading centre for the Haugaland region and southern parts of Vestland county.

Despite being a fairly young town, the areas surrounding Haugesund were lands of power during the Viking Age.

[10][11] After his death in c. 940, it is believed Fairhair was buried at Haraldshaugen, a burial mound adjacent to the Karmsundet strait.

The Battle of Hafrsfjord has traditionally been regarded as when western Norway was unified under a single monarch for the first time.

In the earlier years, the coastal waters of Haugesund were a huge source for fishing herring, and the town grew accordingly.

The protective straits of Smedasund and Karmsund gave the town potential to grow in both fishing and shipping.

The blazon is "Azure, three seagulls volant argent per fess surmounted by a mural crown Or" (Norwegian: I blått tre flyvnde sølv måker).

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.

[16][17] Haugesund municipality has a coastline with the North Sea, however, the island of Karmøy and the archipelago of Røvær shelter it from the rough waters of the ocean.

The Karmsundet strait, located between Karmøy and Haugesund used to be very strategically important, since ships could pass without having to sail through heavy sea.

Haugesund's city centre has a distinctive street layout, similar to those found in Kristiansand and Oslo.

Haugesund has an oceanic climate (Cfb, marine west coast) with rainy winters and mild and pleasant summers.

[22] During the last 20 years, the municipality has established its position as the main trading centre for the Haugaland region and southern parts of Vestland county.

[46] The Norwegian airline Coast Air was based at Haugesund airport, but filed for bankruptcy on 23 January 2008.

Haugesund Hospital provides specialist health services to around 180,000 inhabitants in North Rogaland, Sunnhordland, Hardanger and Ryfylke.

The hospital offers services in both medicine and surgery, radiology / X-ray, childbirth / maternity, gynecology and fertility, habilitation and specialized treatment in mental health care.

[48] There are also more than 10 public and private health centers in the municipality for either general or specialized care, including the Privatsykehuset Haugesund.

It attracted local, national and international pop and rock bands, such as Elton John, Madcon, DumDum Boys and Kaizers Orchestra.

Haugesund Live is a series of individual concerts, and has featured bands such as the Baseballs, Kim Larsen and Mötley Crüe.

The Amanda Award, Norway's variation of the Oscars, has been held in Haugesund since 1985 [50] in concurrence with the film festival.

[53] The strongest local football team is FK Haugesund that has stayed in the Norwegian Premier League since 2010.