On 1 January 1965, the Tolstadåsen area of Vågå (population: 35) was transferred to the neighboring Sel Municipality.

The letter å has a long vowel similar to "oh" or "aw", like in the American pronunciation of "cold" or "oar.

It is also based on a character in Henrik Ibsen's book Peer Gynt, who rides on a reindeer bull over the Besseggen mountains.

Vågå lies in the rain shadow from the Jotunheimen mountains which separate Eastern and Western Norway.

The numerous lakes does remind us of the glacial history, although being much more limited than in the more dramatic [fiord]s of western Norway.

Vågå is mentioned in the Heimskringla (English: The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway) by Snorri Sturluson.

The old Norse saga (Conversion of Dale-Gudbrand) relates that after King Olaf stayed several nights in Lesja, he proceeded south across the uplands to the Ottadal, and the beautiful hamlet lying there on both sides of the Otta river.

King Olaf remained there five days, summoning the residents of Vågå, Lom, and Heidal to a meeting (ting).

Sigrid Undset's fictional Lady Ragnfrid, wife of Lavrans, was created a Gjesling from Sandbu.

[18] Farmers from Vågå participated in the successful attack on Scottish mercenary troops journeying to join Swedish forces in 1612.

The legends of the Battle of Kringen lives on to this day, including the story of how the peasant girl Prillar-Guri lured the Scots into an ambush by playing of the traditional ram's horn.

[18] Ole Paulssøn Haagenstad (1775–1866) was in 1814 summoned by Christian-Frederick to plan the defense of Gudbrandsdalen in the event of a Swedish attack.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vågå is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The non-Labour mayors were Ola O. Kleiven and Kari Hølmo Holen (Norwegian Centre Party) and Harald Sve Bjørndal who was elected from the local bygdeliste.

Øygard was granted temporary leave following his indictment in the case, and was succeeded as acting mayor by Iselin Jonassen (Labour) on 8 May 2012.