History thumb|left|Map of Ølen in Hordaland county prior to 2002 when it was transferred to Rogaland county thumb|left|View of Ølen in the first half of the 20th century thumb|left|Ølen Church The parish of Ølen was established as a municipality on 1 July 1916 when it was split off from the large municipality of Fjelberg. Initially, Ølen had 1,715 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipality of Vikebygd was dissolved and the eastern half of it (population: 578) was merged into the municipality of Ølen.
History thumb|left|Map of Ølen in Hordaland county prior to 2002 when it was transferred to Rogaland county thumb|left|View of Ølen in the first half of the 20th century thumb|left|Ølen Church The parish of Ølen was established as a municipality on 1 July 1916 when it was split off from the large municipality of Fjelberg Initially Ølen had 1,715 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipality of Vikebygd was dissolved and the eastern half of it (population 578) was merged into the municipality of Ølen.