Stord is sometimes called "Norway in miniature" since it has such a variety of landscapes: coastline, fjords, forests, agricultural land, and mountain areas.

On 15 May 1868, the southern district of Stordøen located on the mainland (population: 900) was separated to form the new municipality of Valestrand.

On 1 January 1898, the southern part of the island of Huglo (population: 117) was transferred from the neighboring municipality of Fjelberg to Stord.

[8] The first coat of arms was adopted on 3 December 1955, but since it did not meet the government regulations, it was not formally approved by the King in council.

The chevron and fire pit have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

The flame on the fire pit has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

The official blazon is "Gules, a holly branch Or" (Norwegian: På raud grunn ein gul kristtorn-kvist).

This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a holly branch with seven leaves and seven berries.

The 3 largest private employers in Stord municipality are: Aker Solutions, Wärtsilä Norway AS and Leirvik AS.

Aker Solutions, situated south of Leirvik on the peninsula of Eldøyane, is the largest yard in Norway.

Aker Solutions has built the biggest oil production platforms in the world, Gullfaks C and Troll.

An extensive tunnel and bridge system, the Triangle Link, connected Stord to the mainland on 27 December 2000 and to the neighboring island of Bømlo on 30 April 2001.

Stord ambulance station has premises in the same area and Sunnhordland inter-municipal emergency room is co-located with the hospital.