About 400 small islands totaling about 11 square kilometres (4.2 sq mi) were part of the municipality.

The Brennsund district, north of the Folda fjord (population: 30), was incorporated into Steigen Municipality.

On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Kjerringøy.

At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Kjerringøy prestegjeld and the Bodø prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

The highest point in the municipality was the 1,156-metre (3,793 ft) tall mountain Breiviktinden.

The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Kjerringøy was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms.

The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.