Vegårshei
Vegårshei Municipality
Vegårshei kommune | |
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Vegaardsheien herred(historic name) | |
![]() View of the lakeVegår | |
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![]() Agder within Norway | |
![]() Vegårshei within Agder | |
Coordinates:58°46′32″N08°49′56″E/ 58.77556°N 8.83222°E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Agder |
District | Sørlandet |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
•Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Myra |
Government | |
• Mayor(2019) | Kjetil Torp (KrF) |
Area | |
• Total | 355.67 km2(137.32 sq mi) |
• Land | 321.76 km2(124.23 sq mi) |
• Water | 33.89 km2(13.09 sq mi) 9.5% |
• Rank | #249 in Norway |
Population (2023) | |
• Total | 2,143 |
• Rank | #272 in Norway |
• Density | 6.7/km2(17/sq mi) |
• Change(10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Vegårsheiing[1] |
Official language | |
•Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-4212[3] |
Website | Official website |
Vegårsheiis amunicipalityinAgdercounty,Norway.It is located in thetraditional districtofSørlandet.The administrative center is the village ofMyra.Other villages in Vegårshei includeMoandUbergsmoen.[4]
The 356-square-kilometre (137 sq mi) municipality is the 249th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vegårshei is the 272nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,143. The municipality'spopulation densityis 6.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (17/sq mi) and its population has increased by 7.9% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Haukenes_Sag_-_panoramio.jpg/220px-Haukenes_Sag_-_panoramio.jpg)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Veg%C3%A5rshei_kirke.jpg/220px-Veg%C3%A5rshei_kirke.jpg)
TheparishofVegaardsheienwas established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (seeformannskapsdistriktlaw). The borders of the municipality have not changed since that time.[7]
The population was at its largest in 1930, population 2161.[8]
Name
[edit]The municipality (originally theparish) is named after the old name for the area (Old Norse:Vigisheiðr) since the firstVegårshei Churchwas built there. The first element is thegenitive caseof the name of the lakeVegår.The meaning of the lake name is uncertain. One theory is that it comes from the wordvéwhich means "pagansanctuary".Another theory is that it comes from the verbvígjawhich means "toconsecrate"or" to dedicate ". The last element isheiðrwhich means "heath"or"moor".Historically, the name was spelled asWegaardsheienorVegaardsheien,and sometimes it was abbreviated as simplyHeien.[4][9]On 3 November 1917, aroyal resolutionchanged the spelling of the name of the municipality toVegaarshei.[10]On 21 December 1917, aroyal resolutionenacted the1917 Norwegian language reforms.Prior to this change, the name was spelledVegaarsheiwith thedigraph"aa",and after this reform, the name was spelledVegårshei,using the letteråinstead.[11][12]
Coat of arms
[edit]Thecoat of armswas granted on 30 April 1987. The officialblazonis "Gules,a foxsejantargent"(Norwegian:I rødt en sittende sølv rev). This means the arms have a redfield(background) and thechargeis afox.The fox has atinctureofargentwhich means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The fox was chosen as a representative of the localwildlifeand also for thefox farmingin the municipality. The arms were designed by Daniel Rike. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[13][14][15]
Culture
[edit]Churches
[edit]TheChurch of Norwayhas one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vegårshei. It is part of theAust-Nedenes prosti(deanery) in theDiocese of Agder og Telemark.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Vegårshei | Vegårshei Church | Myra | 1808 |
Geography
[edit]Vegårshei is bordered on the north by the municipalities ofNissedal(inTelemarkcounty) andGjerstad,on the east byRisør,on the south byTvedestrand,and on the west byÅmli.The lakeVegårdominates the northern part of the hilly and forested municipality.
Government
[edit]Vegårshei 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.[16]The municipality is under the jurisdiction of theAgder District Courtand theAgder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
[edit]Themunicipal council(Kommunestyre) of Vegårshei 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.
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 6 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 6 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Joint list of theConservative Party(Høyre),Centre Party(Senterpartiet),Liberal Party(Venstre),andNew People's Party(Nye Folkepartiet) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Joint list of theConservative Party(Høyre),Centre Party(Senterpartiet),Liberal Party(Venstre),andNew People's Party(Nye Folkepartiet) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Joint list of theLiberal Party(Venstre)and theRadical People's Party(Radikale Folkepartiet) | 5 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 16 | |
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(Norwegian:ordfører) of Vegårshei (incomplete list):
Economy
[edit]As of 2019,public administrationand theservice sector,are most important in regard to employment; the retail industry and entities that have hotel services and those that serve food and beverages, constitute 11% of employment;agricultureandforestryaccounts for 9% of employment;manufacturingaccounts for 7% of employment—21% including those employed in construction and those employed in the energy sector and [water supply]vannforsyning/ [garbage collection or] renovasjon.[8]Of the inhabitants that are employed, 55% have employment outside the municipal borders.[8]
It is well-suited for hunting andfishingfor residents andtouristsalike.
Transportation
[edit]TheSørlandsbanenrailway line runs through the municipality, stopping atVegårshei Station,just north of the village ofMyra.There are severalNorwegian county roadsthat cross the municipality, connecting it to its neighbors. Some of the roads includeNorwegian County Road 414,Norwegian County Road 415,Norwegian County Road 416,andNorwegian County Road 417.
Notable people
[edit]- Lars Vegard(1880 in Vegårshei – 1963), a physicist and researcher of theaurora borealis
- Ole Colbjørnsen(1897in Vegårshei – 1973), a journalist, economist, and politician
- Tjostolv Moland(1981 in Vegårshei – 2013 in Kinshasa), a former Norwegian army officer and security contractor
References
[edit]- ^"Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn"(in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- ^"Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar"(in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- ^Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023)."Kommunenummer".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.
- ^abThorsnæs, Geir, ed. (5 April 2016)."Vegårshei".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.Retrieved26 December2017.
- ^Statistisk sentralbyrå."Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)"(in Norwegian).
- ^Statistisk sentralbyrå."09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)"(in Norwegian).
- ^Jukvam, Dag (1999).Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen(PDF)(in Norwegian).Statistisk sentralbyrå.ISBN9788253746845.
- ^abc"Vegårshei – Store norske leksikon".Snl.no.Retrieved13 August2022.
- ^Rygh, Oluf(1905).Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt(in Norwegian) (8 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 1.
- ^"Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m".Norsk Lovtidend(in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
- ^"Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m".Norsk Lovtidend(in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
- ^Den Nye rettskrivning: regler og ordlister(in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
- ^"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen".Heraldry of the World.Retrieved16 January2023.
- ^"Vegårshei, Aust-Agder (Norway)".Flags of the World.Retrieved16 January2023.
- ^"Godkjenning av våpen og flagg".Lovdata.no(in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 30 April 1987.Retrieved16 January2023.
- ^Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022)."kommunestyre".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.Retrieved14 October2022.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved28 January2024.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^abcd"Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)"(in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder".Valgdirektoratet.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1995"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1991"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1987"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1983"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunestyrevalget 1979"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene 1975"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene 1972"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene 1967"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene 1963"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.Retrieved12 December2020.
- ^"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937"(PDF)(in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.Retrieved12 December2020.
External links
[edit]Media related toVegårsheiat Wikimedia Commons
- Municipal fact sheetfromStatistics Norway(in Norwegian)
Aust-Agdertravel guide from Wikivoyage