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

[9] The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Nordviken farm (Old Norse: Norðvík).

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

Here is a list of people who held this position: The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Nordvik 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.