Through the town runs the Deutsche Märchenstraße, or German Fairytale Road, a touristic route joining many of the places commonly associated with the Brothers Grimm's tales.

Kirtorf was the seat of a Sendgericht, a church court that tried cases of sin, vice and the like, under the Bishopric of Mainz.

From 1205, the town belonged to the Abbey of Fulda, the Counts of Ziegenhain were the Vögte ( ≈ sheriffs) here and held jurisdiction in the Eußergericht court district until the 14th century.

Mayor is Andreas Fey, who is indeed a member of the SPD, but entered the election as an independent candidate and won against his challenger Karsten Jost with 51% of the vote.

As of municipal elections held on 6 March 2016 the seats are apportioned thus: Note: FWG and UWL are citizens' coalitions.