Austrheim

Austrheim is a municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årås. Other villages in the municipality include Austrheim and Kaland. The Mongstad industrial area lies along the border of Austrheim and neighboring Lindås municipality. The westernmost point of mainland Norway lies in the municipality at Vardetangen.

Austrheim kommune
Municipality
View of the Mongstad area
Coat of arms Vestland within Norway
Austrheim within Vestland
Coordinates: 60°46′16″N 04°55′34″E
Country	Norway
County	Vestland
District	Nordhordland
Established	1 Jan 1910
Administrative centre	Årås
Government
• Mayor (2011)	Per Lerøy (Ap)
Area
• Total	57.56 km^2 (22.22 sq mi)
• Land	56.82 km^2 (21.94 sq mi)
• Water	0.74 km^2 (0.29 sq mi)  1.3%
Area rank	347 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,870
• Rank	234 in Norway
• Density	50.5/km^2 (131/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	4.8%
Demonym(s)	Austrheiming[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-4632
Official language form	Nynorsk[2]
Website	austrheim.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 58-square-kilometre (22 sq mi) municipality is the 347th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Austrheim is the 234th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,870. The municipality's population density is 50.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (131/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.8% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station for Austrheim and Fedje be closed.[5]

General information

View of a small fishing village area in Austrheim

View of Vardetangen

Historically, Austrheim was a part of the large Lindås Municipality. On 1 January 1910, the northwestern district of Lindås (population: 2,518) was separated from Lindås to form the new municipality of Austrheim. On 1 January 1947, all of the islands located west of the Fedjefjorden (population: 920) were separated to form the new Fedje Municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Straume area on the island of Radøy (population: 56) was transferred from Austrheim to the new Radøy Municipality.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austrheim farm (Old Norse: Austrheimr), since the first Austrheim Church was built there. The first element is austr which means "east" and the last element is heimr which means "homestead" or "farm". Until 1889, the name was written Østereim. After that the spelling was Austreim, and most recently it is spelled Austrheim.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 February 1989. It shows three silver bows (as in the shape of a rainbow) on a blue background. The three bows represent the many bridges in the island municipality.[8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Austrheim. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Austrheim

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Austrheim	Austrheim Church	Austrheim	1865

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Austrheim, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[9] The municipality falls under the Bergen District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Austrheim is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [10]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Local List in Austrheim (Bygdelista i Austrheim)	1
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list (Bygdelista)	3
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list (Bygdelista)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list (Bygdelista)	3
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Local list (Bygdeliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	7
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	11
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	14
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	15
Total number of members:		17

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		16

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	7
Total number of members:		16

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	1
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		18

Austrheim Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)	5
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	9
Total number of members:		18

Mayor

The mayors of Austrheim (incomplete list):

• 2011–present: Per Lerøy (Ap)
• 2003-2011: Ole Lysø (Ap)

Economy

The Mongstad industrial complex lies on the border of Austrheim and Lindås. It is the largest oil port and refinery in Norway, is responsible for about 70% of all wet bulk. Many residents of Austrheim work at the facility.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1951	2,390	—
1960	2,216	−7.3%
1970	1,880	−15.2%
1980	2,549	+35.6%
1990	2,684	+5.3%
2000	2,527	−5.8%
2010	2,738	+8.3%
2019	2,887	+5.4%
Source: Statistics Norway.

Geography

Austrheim is an island municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county. It is located south of the Fensfjorden, east of the Fedjefjorden, north of the island of Radøy, and west of the Lindås peninsula. The municipality includes the far northwestern tip of the peninsula as well as many islands. The largest island (by far) is the island of Fosnøyna, where the municipal centre is located.

Gulen Municipality is located to the north (across the fjord), Fedje Municipality is located on islands to the west, Alver Municipality lies to the south.

Notable people

• Kornelius Bergsvik (1889 in Austrheim – 1975) a Norwegian politician & County Governor of Telemark
• Karsten Solheim (1911–2000) golf equipment manufacturer, emigrated to the United States aged 2
• Haakon Austrheim, geology professor in Oslo
• Roger Helland (born 1993 in Austrheim) former football player with over 230 club caps
• Gunnar Norebø (born 1976 in Austrheim) a retired Norwegian football midfielder

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Fjelltveit, Ingvild; Raunholm, Per Vidar (2016-12-20). "Foreslår å legge ned 17 lensmannskontor i Vest politidistrikt". NRK Hordaland (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-20.
6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1919). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (12 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 420, 423.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
9. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
10. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
11. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-10.

External links

• The dictionary definition of Austrheim at Wiktionary
• Hordaland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)