Municipality of Fjarðabyggð was formed by the union of nine formerly independent East Iceland communities. Residents of the municipality is now about 5.000.

Mjóifjörður, Norðfjörður (Neskaupstaður), Eskifjörður, Reyðarfjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Stöðvarfjörður and Breiðdalsvík developed on the basis of fishing.

Today there are major fishing companies in Norðfjörður, Eskifjörður and Fáskrúðsfjörður, and fishing is carried on in Stöðvarfjörður, though on a smaller scale.

At Reyðarfjörður, fishing has been replaced by service industries and aluminium production.  Fjarðabyggð's distinctive feature is its beautiful nature and the nearness of majestic mountains surrounding each community.  

A period of major development in Fjarðabyggð is now ending and an exciting new era is taking over, an era in which the priority will be to strengthen the infrastructure of society, improve the environment and cultivate services.