Most of the municipality is located on the mainland, but it also includes nearly 100 small islands, islet, and skjerries.

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

On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Velfjord.

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

Here is a list of people who held this position:[14] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Velfjord was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms.