The municipality was located in the Vinger region in the southern part of the county, along the border with Sweden.

In 1854, the King issued a royal decree that declared the village area around the Kongsvinger Fortress to be a kjøpstad.

[4] The whole region was historically called Vinger (Old Norse: Vingr) and this name was given to the municipality upon its creation in 1838.

This can be compared to the similar Lithuanian word vìngis which means "bend", "bow", or "turn".

[6] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Vinger was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms.