The municipality is located in the Altes Land, the largest continuous orchard and fruit harvesting region in Europe.

It is situated by the Elbe and Lühe rivers and is bordered by the municipalities (in clockwise order) Grünendeich, Jork, Mittelnkirchen, Guderhandviertel, Agathenburg and Hollern-Twielenfleth.

The southeasterly third of the Elbe island Lühesand forms part of the municipal area.

In 1648 the Prince-Archbishopric was transformed into the Duchy of Bremen, which was first ruled in personal union by the Swedish and from 1715 on by the Hanoverian Crown.

As of February 2020, the council is composed of:[2] The mayoress of Steinkirchen is Sonja Zinke (CDU, elected as Independent) since 2014.