Leikanger Municipality

Leikanger Municipality
Leikanger kommune
Former municipality
View of Hermansverk
Flag
Coat of arms
Sogn og Fjordane within Norway
Leikanger within Sogn og Fjordane
Coordinates: 61°13′51″N 06°47′23″E / 61.23083°N 6.78972°E / 61.23083; 6.78972
CountryNorway
CountySogn og Fjordane
DistrictSogn
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished1 Jan 2020
 • Succeeded bySogndal Municipality
Administrative centreHermansverk
Government
 • Mayor (2015–2019)Jon Håkon Odd (Ap)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total
180.10 km2 (69.54 sq mi)
 • Land177.44 km2 (68.51 sq mi)
 • Water2.66 km2 (1.03 sq mi)  1.5%
 • Rank#342 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,604 m (5,262 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total
2,331
 • Rank#302 in Norway
 • Density12.9/km2 (33/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
 +8.1%
DemonymSystrending[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1419[4]
Data from Statistics Norway

Leikanger (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlæ̂ɪkɑŋər] ⓘ) is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It was located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center was the village of Hermansverk, which also was the administrative center of the old Sogn og Fjordane county.[5]

Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 180.1-square-kilometre (69.5 sq mi) municipality was the 342nd largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Leikanger Municipality was the 302nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 2,331. The municipality's population density was 12.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (33/sq mi) and its population had increased by 8.1% over the previous 10-year period.[6][7]

The Leikanger/Hermansverk urban area had 2,144 inhabitants (2019), about 90% of the municipal population.[8] This urban area is often called Systrond, which is why a person from Leikanger is often called Systrending.

General information

The parish of Leikanger was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The original municipality was quite large and it was identical to the old Leikanger Church of Norway prestegjeld with the six parishes (sokn) of Leikanger, Fresvik, Rinde, Vangsnes, Tjugum, and Mundal. In 1850, Leikanger Municipality was divided as follows:[9][10]

  • the parishes of Vangsnes, Tjugum, and Mundal (population: 2,122) became the new Balestrand Municipality
  • the parishes of Leikanger, Fresvik, and Rinde (population: 2,368) continued on as a smaller Leikanger Municipality

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Hella-Eitorn area (population: 31) was transferred from Balestrand Municipality to Leikanger Municipality. Also, the Tingstad area (population: 5) was transferred from Leikanger Municipality to neighboring Sogndal Municipality. These changes left Leikanger Municipality with 2,680 residents.[9][10]

On 1 January 1992, the parishes of Leikanger Municipality located south of the Sognefjorden, including Feios and Fresvik (total population: 572) were transferred to Vik Municipality. This move left Leikanger Municipality with only one parish: Leikanger.[9][10]

Historically, this municipality was part of the old Sogn og Fjordane 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).[11] Also on that date, Leikanger Municipality was merged with the neighboring Balestrand Municipality and Sogndal Municipality to form a new, much larger Sogndal Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Leikanger farm (Old Norse: Leikvangir) since the first Leikanger Church was built there. The first element is leikr which means "game", "sports", or "contest". The last element is the plural form of vangr which means "field" or "meadow". Thus it means a meadow used for sports or games. Prior to 1889, the name was written Lekanger.[12]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 5 September 1963. The official blazon is "Vert, two apples on a branch with three leaves Or" (Norwegian: På grøn botn to gull eple på kvist med tre lauv). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is an apple tree branch with two apples and three leaves attached. 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 apple tree branch is a symbol for the many orchards in the municipality and thus for the local economy. The three leaves symbolised the three parishes (Leikanger, Feios, and Fresvik) that used to make up the municipality (before two of them were transferred to Vik Municipality in 1992). The arms were designed by K. Fotland. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[13][14][15]

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Leikanger Municipality. It was part of the Sogn prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Leikanger Municipality
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Leikanger Leikanger Church Leikanger 1166

Government

While it existed, Leikanger 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.[16] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Sogn og Fjordane District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Leikanger Municipality was made up of 17 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Leikanger kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Note: On 1 January 2020, Balestrand Municipality, Leikanger Municipality, and Sogndal Municipality were merged to form the new Sogndal Municipality.
Leikanger kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Leikanger kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Leikanger kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Leikanger kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Leikanger kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Leikanger kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)1
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)1
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:21
Leikanger kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:21
Leikanger heradsstyre 1959–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:21
Leikanger heradsstyre 1955–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:21
Leikanger heradsstyre 1951–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 13
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:32
Leikanger heradsstyre 1947–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 15
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 13
Total number of members:32
Leikanger heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 16
Total number of members:32
Leikanger heradsstyre 1937–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:32
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 Leikanger Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people held this position:[34][35]

  • 1838–1839: Christian Garup Meidell
  • 1840–1843: Søren Lem
  • 1844–1847: Herman Brun
  • 1848–1849: Harald Ulrik Sverdrup
  • 1849–1851: Herman Brun
  • 1852–1853: Hans Johannes Brun
  • 1854–1857: Johan David Haslund
  • 1858–1868: Sjur Sæterlid
  • 1868–1868: Hans Lem
  • 1868–1869: Johan Herman Brun
  • 1870–1873: Nils J. Njøs
  • 1874–1881: Lars M. Husabø
  • 1882–1884: Jakob Liv Rosted Sverdrup
  • 1885–1901: Jakob Bøthun
  • 1902–1907: Lars M. Husabø
  • 1908–1916: Nils Tjønn
  • 1917–1919: Hans N. Grinde
  • 1920–1922: Hans Fleche
  • 1922–1922: Knut Jordal
  • 1923–1934: Hans N. Grinde
  • 1935–1951: Olav Tveit (V)
  • 1952–1957: Per H. Bøthun (V)
  • 1958–1961: Hans Husabø (V)
  • 1962–1963: Leiv Loen (V)
  • 1964–1975: Arne Grepstad (V)
  • 1975–1975: Olav Straume (KrF)
  • 1976–1977: Lars Lefdal (H)
  • 1978–1979: Kåre Næss (KrF)
  • 1980–1983: Ola A. Vestrheim (H)
  • 1984–1987: Erling Olsen (Ap)
  • 1988–1991: Ola A. Vestrheim (H)
  • 1992–1993: Kjell Helleland (Ap)
  • 1994–1995: Åsta Magni Hauge (Ap)
  • 1996–1999: Nils Erling Yndesdal (V)
  • 2000–2003: Rolf Nesheim (V)
  • 2003–2015: Olav Lunden (Ap)
  • 2015–2019: Jon Håkon Odd (Ap)

Geography

Leikanger Municipality was located on the north side of the Sognefjorden and to the east of the Fjærlandsfjorden. It was bordered on the north and east by Sogndal Municipality, on the west by Balestrand Municipality, and on the south (across the Sognefjorden) by Vik Municipality. The highest point in the municipality was the 1,604-metre (5,262 ft) tall mountain Gunvordalsbreen.[1]

View of the main village of Hermansverk/Leikanger in Leikanger Municipality

Buildings and structures

East of Leikanger, there are the Sognefjord Spans, three powerline spans with length over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi), which are currently the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th longest spans in the world. In 1955, the first Sognefjord Span was built near Leikanger. It was the longest span in the world from 1955 until 1997.

Sister cities/Twin towns

Leikanger has sister city agreements with the following places:

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019.
  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; Askheim, Svein; Helleve, Eirik, eds. (4 July 2025). "Leikanger (tidlegare kommune)". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  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. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 2016). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  9. ^ a b c Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  10. ^ a b c Natvik, Oddvar (9 February 2005). "Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes". Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  11. ^ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (1 August 2025). "Vestland". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  12. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1919). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (12 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 124.
  13. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Leikanger, Sogn og Fjordane (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 5 September 1963. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  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. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Sogn og Fjordane". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Ordførarar i Leikanger kommune". NRK Fylkesliksikon (in Norwegian). 6 January 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  35. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).

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