[5][6] Vestre Toten was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

On 1 January 1964, the following areas were merged to form a new, larger Vestre Toten Municipality:[7]

The official blazon is "Vert, two knives argent in bend sinister points to base dexter" (Norwegian: I grønt to sølv kniver skråstilt venstre-høyre).

The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used.

[9][10][11][12] The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vestre Toten.

Also, King Håkon IV (reigned 1217–1263) came to Toten around the year 1226 to settle local unrest.

Lauritz Weidemann, Corporal Peder Balke, and Nels Dyhren from Toten attended the 1814 constitutional convention at Eidsvold.

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestre Toten is made up of 31 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Vestre Toten:[37] Farming and industry are important.