 The municipality encompassed the southern half of the island of Osterøy as well as the area across the Sørfjorden from the island to the east, south, and west (although the municipality was quite a bit larger when it was first created in 1838).The administrative centre was the village of Haus, where Haus Church is located.The parish of Haus (historically spelled ""Hougs"") was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).