It encompassed the islands and southern coastal part of the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord in what is now Agder county.

Hidra was also home to the eccentric personality and artist Tatjana Lars Kristian Guldbrandsen.

The parish of Nes og Hitterø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Hidra.

[6] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Hidra was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms.