Ølen Municipality

Ølen Municipality
Ølen kommune
Former municipality
View over Ølensjøen and Ølensvåg
Flag
Coat of arms
Rogaland within Norway
Ølen within Rogaland
Coordinates: 59°38′59″N 05°38′13″E / 59.64972°N 5.63694°E / 59.64972; 5.63694
CountryNorway
CountyRogaland
DistrictHaugalandet
Established1 Jan 1916
 • Preceded byFjelberg Municipality
Disestablished1 Jan 2006
 • Succeeded byVindafjord Municipality
Administrative centreØlensjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2004–2005)Arne Bergsvåg (Sp)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total
180.74 km2 (69.78 sq mi)
 • Land177.8 km2 (68.6 sq mi)
 • Water2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi)  1.6%
 • Rank#343 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
740 m (2,430 ft)
Population
 (2005)
 • Total
3,420
 • Rank#250 in Norway
 • Density18.9/km2 (49/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
 +6%
DemonymØlsbu[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1159[4]
Data from Statistics Norway

Ølen is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The 180.74-square-kilometre (69.78 sq mi) municipality existed from 1916 until its dissolution in 2006. The area is now part of Vindafjord Municipality in the traditional district of Haugaland (although it was part of Hordaland county from 1916 until 2002 when it switched counties). The administrative centre was the village of Ølensjøen. Other villages in the municipality included Ølensvåg, Vikebygd, and Bjoa.[5]

Prior to its dissolution in 2006, the 180.74-square-kilometre (69.78 sq mi) municipality was the 343rd largest by area out of the 433 municipalities in Norway. Ølen Municipality was the 250th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 3,420. The municipality's population density was 18.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (49/sq mi) and its population had increased by 6% over the previous 10-year period.[6][7]

General information

The parish of Ølen was established as a municipality on 1 July 1916 when the large Fjelberg Municipality was divided as follows:[8]

  • the southern mainland areas (population: 1,715) became the new Ølen Municipality
  • the northern district (population: 1,926) remained as a smaller Fjelberg Municipality

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring Vikebygd Municipality was dissolved and the eastern half of it (population: 578) was merged into Ølen Municipality.[8]

On 1 January 2002, Ølen Municipality was administratively transferred from Hordaland county to Rogaland county. On 1 January 2003, the people of Ølen Municipality and the neighboring Vindafjord Municipality held a merger referendum which was successful. On 1 January 2006, Ølen Municipality and Vindafjord Municipality merged, forming a new, larger Vindafjord Municipality. Before the merger, Ølen Municipality had a population of 3,426.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Ølsfjorden (Old Norse: Ǫlund) since it was a central geographical feature of the municipality. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it may come from the word ala which means "to produce" or "to nourish", possibly referring to the rich fishing in the fjord.[9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 4 April 1986 and it was in used until 2006 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon was "Gyronny embowed argent and vert" (Norwegian: Åttedelt av sølv og grønt ved virvelsnitt). This means the arms are a whirl design that divides the shield into 8 curved sections. The field (background) alternates colors, with half having a tincture of green and the other half 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 design was chosen to symbolise the way that several major roads come together in the municipality, making it an important centre of trade. The arms were designed by Vigdis Viland. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]

In 2006, the new coat of arms for the new Vindafjord Municipality was designed to combine aspects of the two predecessor municipalities. It bears the design of the old Ølen Municipality coat of arms and the colours of the old Vindafjord Municipality coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within Ølen Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Ølen prestegjeld and the Nordre Ryfylke prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.

Churches in Ølen Municipality
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Austre Vikebygd Vikebygd Church Vikebygd 1937
Bjoa Bjoa Church Bjoa 1895
Ølen Ølen Church Ølensjøen 1874

Geography

The municipality was located on the mainland south of the Hardangerfjorden, along the shores of the smaller side-fjords: Ålfjorden, Bjoafjorden, and Olsfjorden. The municipality is located along the traditional districts of Sunnhordland (to the north in Hordaland county) and Haugalandet (to the south in Rogaland county). The highest point in the municipality was the 740-metre (2,430 ft) tall mountain Gråhorga.[1] Kvinnherad Municipality was located to the north, Etne Municipality was located to the east, Vindafjord Municipality was located to the south, and Sveio Municipality was located to the west.

Government

While it existed, Ølen Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[13] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Karmsund District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ølen Municipality was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Ølen kommunestyre 2003–2005 [14]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet (Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)4
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Note: On 1 January 2006, Ølen Municipality became part of Vindafjord Municipality.
Ølen kommunestyre 1999–2003 [14]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet (Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)2
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1995–1999 [15]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet (Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)2
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1991–1995 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet (Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)2
 Local list for Vikebygd (Bygdeliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1987–1991 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Local list for Bjoa (Krinsliste for Bjoa)2
 Local list for Vikebygd (Bygdeliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1983–1987 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Local list for Vikebygd, Bjoa, and Haugsgjerdet (Krinsliste for Vikebygd, Bjoa, og Haugsgjerdet)4
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1979–1983 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa and Haugsgjerdet (Bygdeliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)3
 Local list for Vikebygd (Krinsliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1975–1979 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa and Haugsgjerdet (Bygdeliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)3
 Local list for Vikebygd (Krinsliste for Vikebygd)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1971–1975 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1967–1971 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1963–1967 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1959–1963 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1955–1959 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 15
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1951–1955 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1947–1951 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1945–1947 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1937–1941* [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:20
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 (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Ølen Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:[30]

  • 1916–1919: J.H. Haugland[31]
  • 1920–1922: Gunner T. Lunde[32]
  • 1923–1925: Jonas Svendsbø[33]
  • 1926–1937: Tørris T. Heggen[34]
  • 1937–1942: H.J. Haugland[35]
  • 1942–1945: Anders Vik[36]
  • 1945–1945: H.J. Haugland[37]
  • 1946–1955: Thomas Skålnes (V)[38]
  • 1955–1959: Johannes Haugland (H)[39]
  • 1959–1963: Thomas Haraldsen (LL)[40]
  • 1963–1967: Johannes Eikeland (H)[41]
  • 1967–1975: Magnus Haugland (Sp)
  • 1975–1979: Endre Heggen (H)
  • 1979–1999: Dominikus N. Bjordal (V)
  • 1999–2005: Arne Bergsvåg (Sp)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Kart over Norge" (in Norwegian). Kartverket.
  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. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
  5. ^ a b Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (1 August 2025). "Ølen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  8. ^ a b Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  9. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 91.
  10. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Vindafjord". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 April 1986. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  13. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1995. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1992. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  30. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  31. ^ "Amtstinget for Søndre Bergenhus". Arbeidet (in Norwegian). 19 March 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  32. ^ "Ordførere i Hordaland for treaarsperiode". Arbeidet (in Norwegian). 17 January 1920. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  33. ^ "Hordalands Fylkesting". Arbeidet (in Norwegian). 28 May 1923. p. 3. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  34. ^ "Hordalands ordførere". Arbeidet (in Norwegian). 29 May 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  35. ^ "Ordførerskifte i 10 kommuner i Hordaland". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 13 January 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  36. ^ "Ordførere". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 22 December 1942. p. 3. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  37. ^ "De nye ordførere i Hordaland". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 12 May 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  38. ^ "Ordførerval i Hordaland". Hardanger (in Norwegian). 4 January 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  39. ^ "Høgre-ordførar i Ølen". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 24 December 1955. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  40. ^ "Ths. Haraldsen ordførar i Ølen". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 30 December 1959. p. 10. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  41. ^ "Ordførarval". Dagen (in Norwegian). 14 January 1964. p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2026.

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