The village of Vardø, on the island of Vardøya, was made important because of the Vardøhus Fortress that was built on the island in the early 14th century.
 The village grew up around the fortress and became a major trading post between the Norwegians in Finnmark county and the nearby Russians.
 In the 17th century, Vardø was a centre of several high-profile witch trials, most notably the 1621 witch trial and 1662 witch trials.

Pomor trade was very important in the 18th century, and Vardø was often called the Pomor capital.
 Because of this, in 1789 the King of Norway granted Vardø town status.

On 1 January 1838, the town and the surrounding rural district were established as the new municipality of Vardø by og landdistrikt, meaning "Vardø town and rural district" (see Formannskapsdistrikt).
 This arrangement did not entirely satisfy the new formannskapsdistrikt law, so in 1839, the town was separated from the rural district to form its own town-municipality.
 Since the Vardø landdistrikt outside the town had too few residents (according to the law), one municipal government was shared between the two until 22 May 1868 when a royal resolution was passed making them completely separate and self-governing.
 On 1 January 1874, a small area of Vardø landdistrikt (population: 48) was transferred to the town of Vardø.
 On 1 January 1964, the eastern part of Båtsfjord (population: 621) was merged with the town of Vardø, forming the new (present-day) Vardø Municipality.
The village of Vardø, on the island of Vardøya, was made important because of the Vardøhus Fortress that was built on the island in the early 14th century.  The village grew up around the fortress and became a major trading post between the Norwegians in Finnmark county and the nearby Russians.  In the 17th century, Vardø was a centre of several high-profile witch trials, most notably the 1621 witch trial and 1662 witch trials.
Pomor trade was very important in the 18th century, and Vardø was often called the Pomor capital.  Because of this, in 1789 the King of Norway granted Vardø town status.
On 1 January 1838, the town and the surrounding rural district were established as the new municipality of Vardø by og landdistrikt, meaning "Vardø town and rural district" (see Formannskapsdistrikt).  This arrangement did not entirely satisfy the new formannskapsdistrikt law, so in 1839, the town was separated from the rural district to form its own town-municipality.  Since the Vardø landdistrikt outside the town had too few residents (according to the law), one municipal government was shared between the two until 22 May 1868 when a royal resolution was passed making them completely separate and self-governing.  On 1 January 1874, a small area of Vardø landdistrikt (population: 48) was transferred to the town of Vardø.  On 1 January 1964, the eastern part of Båtsfjord (population: 621) was merged with the town of Vardø, forming the new (present-day) Vardø Municipality.
Vardø (town)