Vevelstad Municipality

Vevelstad Municipality
Vevelstad kommune
Municipality
Flag of Vevelstad Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Vevelstad Municipality
Coat of arms
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Vevelstad within Nordland
Vevelstad within Nordland
Coordinates: 65°40′06″N 12°31′07″E / 65.66833°N 12.51861°E / 65.66833; 12.51861
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictHelgeland
Established1 July 1916
 • Preceded byTjøtta Municipality
Administrative centreForvik
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Sivert Vevelstad (Ap)
Area
 • Total
539.04 km2 (208.12 sq mi)
 • Land516.24 km2 (199.32 sq mi)
 • Water22.80 km2 (8.80 sq mi)  4.2%
 • Rank#198 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,239.2 m (4,065.6 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
480
 • Rank#352 in Norway
 • Density0.9/km2 (2/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3%
DemonymVevelstadværing[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1816[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Vevelstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Forvik. The municipality is relatively small and isolated, with no road connections to the rest of Norway. It is only accessible by ferry, despite much of the municipality being located on the mainland.

The 539-square-kilometre (208 sq mi) municipality is the 198th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Vevelstad is the 352nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 480. The municipality's population density is 0.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

View of the Velfjorden, Vevelstad is on the left side of the fjord.
View of the village of Stokka.

The municipality of Vevelstad was established on 1 July 1916 when it was separated from Tjøtta Municipality. Initially, the municipality had 1,097 residents. On 1 July 1920, the Giskå farm area (population: 10) was transferred from Tjøtta Municipality to Vevelstad Municipality. The borders have not changed since that time.[7]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Vevelstad farm (Old Norse: Vifilsstaðir), since the first Vevelstad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the Old Norse male name Vifill and the last element is the plural form of staðr which means "homestead" or "farm", therefore it means "Vifill's homestead".[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 13 November 1991. The official blazon is "Azure, three inverted couped chevrons argent, two and one" (Norwegian: I blått tre omvendte svevende sølv sparrer, 2-1). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is three V-shaped figures (two over one). The V-shapes have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms are canting, showing the first letter of the name of the municipality, V. The municipality applied for arms in the 1970s, but all the proposals were rejected by either the municipal council or the National Archives. Finally, the present arms were adopted and granted in 1991. The arms were designed by Odd P. Olsen.[9][10][11]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Vevelstad Municipality. It is part of the Sør-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Vevelstad
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Vevelstad Vevelstad Church Forvik 1796

Geography

The municipality lies in the middle of Norway, surrounded by mountains and fjords. A lot of the municipality is a part of Lomsdal–Visten National Park. The lake Søre Vistvatnet lies in the southeastern part of the municipality inside the national park. Most of the residents live along the coastline or on the island Hamnøya. The mouth of the Velfjorden lies in the southern part of the municipality. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,239.2-metre (4,066 ft) tall mountain Vistkjerringa on the border with Vefsn Municipality.[1]

Government

Vevelstad Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[12] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vevelstad is made up of 13 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2023–2027 [13]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
 Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)5
 Municipal List (Kommunelista)4
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 2019–2023 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
 Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)8
 Municipal List (Kommunelista)5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 2015–2019 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
 Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)6
 Municipal List (Kommunelista)4
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 2011–2015 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
 Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)8
 Municipal List (Kommunelista)2
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 2007–2011 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
 Municipal list (Kommunelista)4
 Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 2003–2007 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
 Municipal list (Kommunelista)4
 Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1999–2003 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Joint list of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
 Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)3
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1995–1999 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Joint list of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 7
Total number of members:15
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1991–1995 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Vevelstad local list (Vevelstad Bygdeliste)5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1987–1991 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1983–1987 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1979–1983 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1975–1979 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1971–1975 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1967–1971 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad kommunestyre 1963–1967 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1959–1963 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1955–1959 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 4
Total number of members:13
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1951–1955 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1947–1951 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:12
Vevelstad herredsstyre 1937–1941* [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Vevelstad is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[32][33]

  • 1916-1919: Johan Grønbæk[34]
  • 1920-1928: Isak Smith-Nilsen[35]
  • 1929-1932: Nergaard Vaag (FV)[36]
  • 1932-1944: Isak Smith-Nilsen[37][38][39]
  • 1945-1945: Arne Eliassen[40]
  • 1945-1967: Ragnvald Vevelstad (Ap)
  • 1967-1970: Eilif Slotvik
  • 1970-1975: Ragnvald Vevelstad (Ap)
  • 1976-1979: Alf Arnes (V)
  • 1980-1987: Per Vevelstad (Ap)
  • 1988-1999: Harald Axelsen (Ap)
  • 1999-2003: Arnt O. Åsvang (LL)
  • 2003-2015: Ken-Richard Hansen (LL)
  • 2015-2019: Kari Anne Bøkestad Andreassen (LL)
  • 2019–2023: Torhild Haugann (Sp)
  • 2023–present: Sivert Vevelstad (Ap)[41]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 51.
  9. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Vevelstad, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 January 1993. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  12. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  15. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  16. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  32. ^ Vevelstad kommune 75 år (in Norwegian). Vevelstad kommune. 1991. pp. 4–5.
  33. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Vevelstad herredsstyre". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 12 August 1916. p. 1. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Som ordfører i Vevelstad". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 6 January 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Valg i Vevelstad". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 22 December 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  37. ^ "Ordførervalgene". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 21 December 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  38. ^ "De nye ordførere i Nordland fylke". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 18 February 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  39. ^ "De nye ordførere og varaordførere i Nordland opnevnt". Lofotposten (in Norwegian). 16 January 1941. pp. 1 & 6. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  40. ^ "De nye, midlertidige ordførere i Nordland og Troms". Lofotposten (in Norwegian). 14 May 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  41. ^ "27-åring fører familietradisjonen videre – blir ny ordfører i Vevelstad". NRK Nordland (in Norwegian). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.