During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee.

[10] The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the local Folda fjord (Old Norse: Fold).

On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Nordfold, removing the definite form ending -en.

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

Here is a list of people who held this position:[14] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Nordfold was made up of 17 representatives that were elected to four year terms.

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