The Kunnamkulam Municipality was formed as an IVth grade Municipality in the year 1948.At the time of formation, the Municipality had an area of 6.96 square kilometers and was divided into only 06 electoral wards. It was the smallest Municipality in the nation at that time. In 2000, it was further upgraded to a Grade-II Municipality by merging adjoining panchayats of Arthat (full) and panchayats of Porkulam and Chowwannur (parts). The original area of the municipality was 7 km2 which is now increased to 34.18 km2. The municipality extended its area in 2001 and now has 31 wards. The Total population then was 51,585 of which 24,396 were males and 27,189 females, with the density of population being 2,824 per km2. Kunnamkulam assembly constituency is part of Alathoor (Lok Sabha Constituency). Earlier, it was part of the Ottapalam Constituency.