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Fitjar

Coordinates:59°55′08″N05°22′17″E/ 59.91889°N 5.37139°E/59.91889; 5.37139
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This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the village in this municipality, seeFitjar (village).
Fitjar Municipality
Fitjar kommune
Municipality
Fitje herred(historic name)
View of the village of Fitjar
View of the village of Fitjar
Flag of Fitjar Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Fitjar Municipality
Coat of arms
Vestland within Norway
Vestland within Norway
Fitjar within Vestland
Fitjar within Vestland
Coordinates:59°55′08″N05°22′17″E/ 59.91889°N 5.37139°E/59.91889; 5.37139
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictSunnhordland
Established1 Jan 1863
•Preceded byStord Municipality
Administrative centreFitjar
Government
• Mayor(2023)Wenche Tislevoll (H)
Area
• Total142.47 km2(55.01 sq mi)
• Land134.50 km2(51.93 sq mi)
• Water7.97 km2(3.08 sq mi) 5.6%
• Rank#317 in Norway
Population
(2023)
• Total3,181
• Rank#224 in Norway
• Density23.7/km2(61/sq mi)
• Change(10 years)
Increase+6.7%
DemonymFitjabu[1]
Official language
[2]
•Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+02:00(CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4615[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Fitjar(Norwegian pronunciation:[ˈfɪ̂tːjɑr]ⓘ) is amunicipalityinVestlandcounty,Norway.The municipality is located in thetraditional districtofSunnhordland.Fitjar municipality includes the northern part of the island ofStordand the hundreds of surrounding islands, mostly to the northwest of the main island. Theadministrative centreof the municipality is the village ofFitjar.[4]

The 142-square-kilometre (55 sq mi) municipality is the 317th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Fitjar is the 224th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,181. The municipality'spopulation densityis 23.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (61/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.7% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

[edit]
View of Fitjar by night
Aerial view of the Fitjar islands
Fitjar Church

TheparishofFitjewas established as a municipality on 1 January 1863 when it was separated from the largeStord Municipality.Initially, the population of Fitje was 2,313. On 1 January 1868, a small area in the municipality ofFinnaas(population: 10) was transferred to Fitje. In 1900, the name was changed toFitjar.The original municipality included all of the land surrounding theSelbjørnsfjorden.[7]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of theSchei Committee.On 1 January 1964, the area of Fitjar located north of the Selbjørnsfjorden on the islands ofHuftarøyandSelbjørn(population: 696) was transferred to the neighboringAustevoll Municipality.On 1 January 1995, the islands of Aga, Agasystra, Gisøya, Vikøya, Selsøy, Risøya, and many smaller surrounding islands (population: 225) were transferred from Fitjar to the neighboringBømlo Municipality.These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.[7]

Name

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The municipality (originally theparish) is named after the oldFitjarfarm (Old Norse:Fitjar) since the firstFitjar Churchwas built there. The name is the plural form offitwhich means "meadow along the water" or "lush meadow". Before 1900, the name was written"Fitje".[8]

Coat of arms

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Thecoat of armswas adopted during the late 1940s, but they have never been formally granted since they did not meet the formal government design requirements. In 2018, the municipal council of Fitjar formally approved the arms after a change to a national law. Theblazonis"Azure,a Viking helmetOrwithin aorleargent".This means the arms have a bluefield(background) and thechargeis aVikinghelmetwith a thin border around the edge of the shield. The charge has atinctureofOrwhich means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The arms often have amural crowndepicted above theescutcheon.The helmet and the color are derived from the belief thatKing Haakon the Goodwore a golden helmet at theBattle of Fitjarin 961, which was fought in this municipality. King Haakon died from his wounds. His death and reception inValhallaare described in theskaldic poemHákonarmál,composed by theEyvindr skáldaspillir.The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland. The municipal flag is orange with a depiction of coat of arms in the centre along with the name of the municipality below the arms.[9][10][11]

Churches

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TheChurch of Norwayhas one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Fitjar. It is part of theSunnhordland prosti(deanery) in theDiocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Fitjar
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Fitjar Fitjar Church Fitjar 1867

History

[edit]

KingHaakon I of Norway(Haakon the Good) maintained his residence at Fitjar. TheBattle of Fitjar(Slaget ved Fitjar på Stord) took place in Fitjar on the island ofStordin the year 961 between the forces of King Haakon I and the sons of his half-brother,Eric Bloodaxe.Traditionally, important shipping routes have passed through the area, and the municipality contains several trading posts dating as far back as 1648. Fitjar was separated fromStordin 1863. There have been discussions about a possible reunion of the two municipalities, but no decision has been made.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18632,313—
18652,308−0.11%
18752,334+0.11%
18912,380+0.12%
19002,487+0.49%
19102,632+0.57%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19202,654+0.08%
19302,833+0.65%
19463,036+0.43%
19513,092+0.37%
19603,172+0.28%
19702,520−2.27%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19802,888+1.37%
19903,072+0.62%
20002,992−0.26%
20102,931−0.21%
20203,189+0.85%
20233,181−0.08%
Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1964 and 1995, causing a significant change in the population.
Source:Statistics Norway[5][12]and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[13]

Geography

[edit]

The island municipality of Fitjar lies south of theSelbjørnsfjorden,west of theLangenuenstrait, east of the island ofBømlo.The municipality includes over 350 islands, although most are uninhabited. The majority of the residents live on the island ofStord,the northern portion of which is in Fitjar. The southern portion of the island is part of the municipality ofStord.The island municipality ofAustevolllies to the north, across the fjord and the island municipality ofTysneslies across the Langenuen strait to the east, and the island municipality ofBømlolies to the west.[4]

Government

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Fitjar Municipality is responsible forprimary education(through 10th grade), outpatienthealth services,senior citizenservices,welfareand othersocial services,zoning,economic development,and municipalroadsand utilities. The municipality is governed by amunicipal councilofdirectly electedrepresentatives. Themayorisindirectly electedby a vote of the municipal council.[14]The municipality is under the jurisdiction of theHaugaland og Sunnhordland District Courtand theGulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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Themunicipal council(Kommunestyre) of Fitjar is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by politicalparty.

Fitjar kommunestyre 2023–2027[15]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 2
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 3
Conservative Party(Høgre) 5
Industry and Business Party(Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) 1
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 1
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 2019–2023[16]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 2
Conservative Party(Høgre) 3
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 3
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 2015–2019[17]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 2
Conservative Party(Høgre) 7
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 2011–2015[18]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 1
Conservative Party(Høgre) 7
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 2007–2011[17]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 4
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 1
Conservative Party(Høgre) 4
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 3
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Liberal Party(Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 2003–2007[17]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 6
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 2
Conservative Party(Høgre) 2
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Fitjar kommunestyre 1999–2003[17]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 5
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 3
Conservative Party(Høgre) 3
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 3
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1995–1999[19]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 2
Conservative Party(Høgre) 4
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 4
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1991–1995[20]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 3
Conservative Party(Høgre) 3
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 4
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Liberal Party(Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1987–1991[21]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 5
Progress Party(Framstegspartiet) 2
Conservative Party(Høgre) 4
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Liberal Party(Venstre) 1
Local list for the islands in Fitjar
(Kretsliste for øyane i Fitjar)		1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1983–1987[22]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 5
Conservative Party(Høgre) 4
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Liberal Party(Venstre) 2
Local list for the islands(Kretsliste for Øyane)2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1979–1983[23]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Conservative Party(Høgre) 5
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Liberal Party(Venstre) 2
Local list for the islands in Fitjar
(Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar)		2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1975–1979[24]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 4
Conservative Party(Høgre) 4
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 8
New People's Party(Nye Folkepartiet) 1
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 2
Local list for the islands in Fitjar
(Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar)		2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1971–1975[25]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 4
Conservative Party(Høgre) 3
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 3
Liberal Party(Venstre) 2
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1967–1971[26]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 4
Conservative Party(Høgre) 3
Christian Democratic Party(Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) 3
Liberal Party(Venstre) 4
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar kommunestyre 1963–1967[27]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 3
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 18
Total number of members:21
Fitjar heradsstyre 1959–1963[28]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 1
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 20
Total number of members:21
Fitjar heradsstyre 1955–1959[29]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 21
Total number of members:21
Fitjar heradsstyre 1951–1955[30]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 20
Total number of members:20
Fitjar heradsstyre 1947–1951[31]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 2
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 18
Total number of members:20
Fitjar heradsstyre 1945–1947[32]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Labour Party(Arbeidarpartiet) 17
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders(Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 3
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:20
Fitjar heradsstyre 1937–1941*[33]
Party name(in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) 20
Total number of members:20
Note:Due to theGerman occupation of NorwayduringWorld War II,no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

[edit]

Themayors(Nynorsk:ordførar) of Fitjar:

Attractions

[edit]
Fitjar Church and Håkonarparken

Fitjar Churchwas built in 1867 over the site of the old medieval stone church which had been demolished. Stone blocks taken from the old stone church were used as foundations for the present-day church as well as for the walling enclosing the churchyard. Opposite Fitjar Church is Haakon's Park (Håkonarparken), the location of a sculpture ofHaakon the Goodsculpted byAnne Grimdalen.The statue was erected in 1961 at the one thousand year commemoration of theBattle of Fitjar.[43]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn"(in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^"Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar"(in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023)."Kommunenummer".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^abStore norske leksikon."Fitjar"(in Norwegian).Retrieved28 January2015.
  5. ^abStatistisk 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. ^abJukvam, Dag (1999).Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen(PDF)(in Norwegian).Statistisk sentralbyrå.ISBN9788253746845.
  8. ^Rygh, Oluf(1910).Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt(in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 156.
  9. ^"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen".Heraldry of the World.Retrieved24 May2023.
  10. ^"Fitjar kommune".Digitalarkivet(in Norwegian). Arkivverket.Retrieved26 May2023.
  11. ^"Fitjar kommune, våpen".Digitalarkivet(in Norwegian). Arkivverket.Retrieved26 May2023.
  12. ^Statistisk sentralbyrå."Folketellingen 1960"(PDF)(in Norwegian).
  13. ^Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet."Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
  14. ^Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022)."kommunestyre".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.Retrieved14 October2022.
  15. ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved23 January2024.
  16. ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved2 February2020.
  17. ^abcd"Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)"(in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  18. ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved2 February2020.
  19. ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1995"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996.Retrieved20 February2020.
  20. ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1991"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993.Retrieved20 February2020.
  21. ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1987"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988.Retrieved20 February2020.
  22. ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1983"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984.Retrieved20 February2020.
  23. ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1979"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979.Retrieved20 February2020.
  24. ^"Kommunevalgene 1975"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977.Retrieved10 May2020.
  25. ^"Kommunevalgene 1972"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973.Retrieved10 May2020.
  26. ^"Kommunevalgene 1967"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.Retrieved10 May2020.
  27. ^"Kommunevalgene 1963"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.Retrieved10 May2020.
  28. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.Retrieved10 May2020.
  29. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.Retrieved10 May2020.
  30. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.Retrieved10 May2020.
  31. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.Retrieved10 May2020.
  32. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.Retrieved10 May2020.
  33. ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.Retrieved10 May2020.
  34. ^Utheim, John (1892).Oversigt over Valgmands- og Storthingsvalgene 1891.Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. p. 35.
  35. ^abcUtheim, John (1901).Oversigt over valgtingene og valgmandstingene 1900.Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. pp. 57–58.
  36. ^Andersen, Thor M. (1931).Norges ordførere 1929–1931.Kristiania: A.M. Hanches Forlag. p. 159.
  37. ^abNorske kommunalpolitikere: Norges styresmenn.Vol. 2. Oslo: Bokdepotet forlag. 1956. pp. 323–325.
  38. ^Rimmereid, Ingolv (14 November 2000). "Jubilant".Bergens Tidende.p. 24.
  39. ^"Ordførar frå Høgre i Fitjar".Bergens Tidende.16 December 1981. p. 58.
  40. ^"T. Ingebrigtsen Fitjar-ordførar".Bergens Tidende.17 November 1983. p. 10.
  41. ^Olderkjær, Ove (2 April 1998). "Bondevik styrer Fitjar".Bergens Tidende.p. 7.
  42. ^"Wenche Tislevoll blir ordfører i Fitjar".NRK(in Norwegian). 21 September 2023.Retrieved23 January2024.
  43. ^"Carwalk Fitjar".VisitNorway.com. Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2012.
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