Alrekstad was one of the largest Norwegian king's farm on the west coast. Harald Hairfair took residence there in the tenth century, and after the battle at Fitjar in 1060 king Håkon the good was on his way to Alrek, but died at Håkonshella. It is even known that a king by name Alfred lived there at the end of the fourth century.

The houses were probably placed where Haukeland Elementary School is placed today. The water below (today named Store Lunggårdsvann) was then called Alrekstadvannet (the Alrekstad water).

The king's farm was moved down closer to the sea during the reign of King Øystein Magnusson (1103-23).

The Norwegian author Gunnar Staalesen is planning a play in 2005 (100 year after Norway's independence from Sweden) about Alrekstad.
Each year the inhabitants of Alrek arrange the Alrekstad day a sunday in September (comment: This might be slightly incorrect)