Fitjar Municipality

Fitjar Municipality
Fitjar kommune
Municipality
Fitje herred  (historic name)
View of the village of Fitjar
Flag
Coat of arms
Vestland within Norway
Fitjar within Vestland
Coordinates: 59°55′08″N 05°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
 • Total
142.47 km2 (55.01 sq mi)
 • Land134.50 km2 (51.93 sq mi)
 • Water7.97 km2 (3.08 sq mi)  5.6%
 • Rank#318 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
678.62 m (2,226.4 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
3,208
 • Rank#224 in Norway
 • Density22.5/km2 (58/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
 +6.4%
DemonymFitjabu[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4615[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Fitjar (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈfɪ̂tːjɑr] ⓘ) is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The municipality is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland. Fitjar Municipality includes the northern part of the island of Stord and the hundreds of surrounding islands, mostly to the northwest of the main island. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fitjar.[5]

The 142.47-square-kilometre (55.01 sq mi) municipality is the 318th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Fitjar Municipality is the 224th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,208. The municipality's population density is 22.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (58/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.4% over the previous 10-year period.[6][7]

General information

The parish of Fitje (later spelled Fitjar) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1863 when it was separated from the large Stord Municipality. Initially, the population of Fitje Municipality was 2,313. On 1 January 1868, a small area of Finnaas Municipality (population: 10) was transferred to Fitje Municipality. In 1900, the name was changed to Fitjar Municipality. The original municipality included all of the land surrounding the Selbjørnsfjorden (on the north side and south side of the fjord).[8]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the area of Fitjar located north of the Selbjørnsfjorden on the islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn (population: 696) was transferred to the neighboring Austevoll 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 Municipality to the neighboring Bømlo Municipality. These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.[8]

Historically, this municipality was part of the old Hordaland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Vestland county (after Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties were merged).[9]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Fitjar farm (Old Norse: Fitjar) since the first Fitjar Church was built there. The name is the plural form of fit which means "meadow along the water" or "lush meadow". Before 1900, the name was written "Fitje".[10]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was 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. The blazon is "Azure, a Viking helmet Or within a orle argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a Viking helmet with a thin border around the edge of the shield. The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The arms often have a mural crown depicted above the escutcheon. The helmet and the color are derived from the belief that King Haakon the Good wore a golden helmet at the Battle of Fitjar in 961, which was fought in this municipality. King Haakon died from his wounds. His death and reception in Valhalla are described in the skaldic poem Hákonarmál, composed by the Eyvindr 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.[11][12][13]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Fitjar Municipality. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

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

History

King Haakon I of Norway (Haakon the Good) maintained his residence at Fitjar. The Battle of Fitjar (Slaget ved Fitjar på Stord) took place in Fitjar on the island of Stord in 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.

Population

Geography

Fitjar Municipality lies south of the Selbjørnsfjorden, west of the Langenuen strait, east of the island of Bømlo. The municipality includes over 350 islands, although most are uninhabited. The majority of the residents live on the island of Stord, the northern portion of which is in Fitjar Municipality. The southern portion of the island is part of Stord Municipality. Austevoll Municipality lies on islands to the north, across the fjord and Tysnes Municipality lies on islands across the Langenuen strait to the east, and Bømlo Municipality lies on islands to the west.[5] The highest point in the municipality is the 678.62-metre (2,226.4 ft) tall mountain Fitjarhesten, located a short distance northwest of Mehammarsåta.[1]

Government

Fitjar 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.[16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fitjar Municipality 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 political party.

Fitjar kommunestyre 2023–2027 [17]  
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 [18]  
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 [19]  
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 [20]  
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 [19]  
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 [19]  
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 [19]  
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 [21]  
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 [22]  
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 [23]  
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 [24]  
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 [25]  
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 [26]  
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 [27]  
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 [28]  
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 [29]  
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 [30]  
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 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 21
Total number of members:21
Fitjar heradsstyre 1951–1955 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 20
Total number of members:20
Fitjar heradsstyre 1947–1951 [33]  
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 [34]  
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* [35]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 20
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 Fitjar Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:[36]

  • 1864–1865: Johannes Sørfonden
  • 1866–1871: Østen Hageberg
  • 1872–1875: Mikkel Sjursen Eide
  • 1876–1895: Østen Hageberg (H)[37]
  • 1896–1904: Anders Aarbø (H)[38]
  • 1905–1913: Mikal Hageberg (H)[38]
  • 1913–1913: Tharald Vestbøstad (H)[38]
  • 1914–1919: Lars Rydland
  • 1920–1925: Peder Rygg
  • 1926–1928: Lars Rydland
  • 1929–1951: Berje Aarbø (Bp)[39]
  • 1952–1955: Harald Henriksen (V)[40]
  • 1956–1967: Peder Nilsen Aga (V)[40]
  • 1968–1971: Knut L. Rydland (H)
  • 1972–1975: Ole Havn (KrF)
  • 1976–1977: Knut L. Rydland (H)
  • 1978–1979: Finn Havnerås (Ap)[41]
  • 1980–1981: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
  • 1982–1983: Alf Gjøsæter (H)[42]
  • 1984–1985: Torvald Ingebrigtsen (Ap)[43]
  • 1986–1987: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
  • 1988–1991: Kjell Nesbø (Ap)
  • 1992–1995: Johannes Koløen (H)
  • 1995–1998: Per-Gunnar Bukkholm (KrF)
  • 1998–1999: Odd Bondevik (Sp)[44]
  • 1999–2007: Agnar Aarskog (Ap)
  • 2007–2011: Harald Rydland (KrF)
  • 2011–2019: Wenche Tislevoll (H)
  • 2019–2023: Harald Rydland (KrF)
  • 2023–present: Wenche Tislevoll (H)[45]

Attractions

Fitjar Church was 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 of Haakon the Good sculpted by Anne Grimdalen. The statue was erected in 1961 at the one thousand year commemoration of the Battle of Fitjar.[46]

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. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
  5. ^ a b Thorsnæs, Geir; Kloster, Magnar; Helleve, Eirik, eds. (1 August 2025). "Fitjar". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b 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. ^ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (1 August 2025). "Vestland". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 156.
  11. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Fitjar kommune". Digitalarkivet (in Norwegian). Arkivverket. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Fitjar kommune, våpen". Digitalarkivet (in Norwegian). Arkivverket. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  14. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  15. ^ Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
  16. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  36. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  37. ^ Utheim, John (1892). Oversigt over Valgmands- og Storthingsvalgene 1891. Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. p. 35.
  38. ^ a b c Utheim, John (1901). Oversigt over valgtingene og valgmandstingene 1900. Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. pp. 57–58.
  39. ^ Andersen, Thor M. (1931). Norges ordførere 1929–1931. Kristiania: A.M. Hanches Forlag. p. 159.
  40. ^ a b Norske kommunalpolitikere: Norges styresmenn. Vol. 2. Oslo: Bokdepotet forlag. 1956. pp. 323–325.
  41. ^ Rimmereid, Ingolv (14 November 2000). "Jubilant". Bergens Tidende. p. 24.
  42. ^ "Ordførar frå Høgre i Fitjar". Bergens Tidende. 16 December 1981. p. 58.
  43. ^ "T. Ingebrigtsen Fitjar-ordførar". Bergens Tidende. 17 November 1983. p. 10.
  44. ^ Olderkjær, Ove (2 April 1998). "Bondevik styrer Fitjar". Bergens Tidende. p. 7.
  45. ^ "Wenche Tislevoll blir ordfører i Fitjar". NRK (in Norwegian). 21 September 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  46. ^ "Carwalk Fitjar". VisitNorway.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.