The original center of the area was
Manamansalo, the largest island in the
Oulujärvi with a village by the same name. Both it and Säräisniemi were first mentioned in 1555 when they were parts of the large
Liminka parish. The parish of Oulujärvi, covering all of
Kainuu with its center in Manamansalo, was separated from Liminka in 1559, but merged back into Liminka in the 1580s after Russians raided the island. In 1599, the area became a parish again, this time with its center in
Paltaniemi, due to which the parish was now known as
Paltamo.
Säräisniemi acquired its own church under Paltamo in 1779 and became a separate parish and municipality in 1864.
Vuolijoki was separated from Säräisniemi as a parish in 1896 and as a municipality in 1915. Some parts of
Kajaanin maalaiskunta were also used in the municipality's formation. The
village of Vaala was transferred from
Utajärvi to Säräisniemi in 1954, becoming the new administrative center of the municipality. The municipality itself was also renamed Vaala in the process. Vaala was transferred from Kainuu to
North Ostrobothnia in 2016. == Climate ==