Kjerringøy Municipality was a former administrative unit in Nordland county, Norway. Established on 1 January 1906, it was created when the larger Nordfold‑Kjerringøy municipality was divided into the separate municipalities of Nordfold and Kjerringøy. The municipality existed until 1 January 1964, when it was merged into Bodø Municipality as part of a nationwide municipal consolidation effort.
Geography
The municipality encompassed the Kjerringøy peninsula on the western shore of the Vestfjorden, as well as several surrounding islands. Its total area was approximately 176 km². The administrative centre was the village of Kjerringøy, located on the peninsula’s northern coast.
Demographics
At its establishment, Kjerringøy had a population of roughly 1,500 inhabitants. By the time of its dissolution in 1964, the population had declined slightly to about 1,346 residents.
Economy
The local economy was traditionally based on fishing, small‑scale agriculture, and related maritime activities. In later years, the scenic coastal landscape attracted modest tourism, particularly visitors drawn to the historic Kjerringøy Trading Post.
Governance
Kjerringøy was governed by a municipal council (kommunestyre) elected by local residents. The council was responsible for primary education, health services, senior citizen services, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality elected a mayor (ordfører) from among council members.
Dissolution
As part of the work of the Schei Committee, which aimed to reduce the number of small municipalities in Norway, Kjerringøy was merged with the neighboring town of Bodø and surrounding rural districts on 1 January 1964. The former territory of Kjerringøy thus became part of the larger Bodø Municipality.
Legacy
Although the municipality no longer exists, the name persists in the local area, most notably through the Kjerringøy Trading Post, a well‑preserved historic site that serves as a cultural museum and tourist attraction.