Etne

Etne is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland, although it is also sometimes considered to be part of the district of Haugaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Etnesjøen. Other villages in the municipality include Skånevik and Fjæra. The two largest villages in the municipality are Etnesjøen with 1,159 residents and Skånevik with 594 residents (all figures from 1 January 2015).[3][4]

Etne kommune
Municipality
View of the lake Løkjelsvatnet in Etne
Coat of arms Vestland within Norway
Etne within Vestland
Coordinates: 59°39′50″N 05°56′00″E
Country	Norway
County	Vestland
District	Sunnhordland
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Etnesjøen
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp)
Area
• Total	735.28 km^2 (283.89 sq mi)
• Land	691.16 km^2 (266.86 sq mi)
• Water	44.12 km^2 (17.03 sq mi)  6%
Area rank	154 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,062
• Rank	200 in Norway
• Density	5.9/km^2 (15/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	4.6%
Demonym(s)	Etnebu Etnesbu[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-4611
Official language form	Nynorsk[2]
Website	etne.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 735-square-kilometre (284 sq mi) municipality is the 154th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Etne is the 200th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,062. The municipality's population density is 5.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.6% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad, Ullensvang, Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord, the latter three are located in the neighboring county of Rogaland.

A Norwegian motion picture called United was shot in Etne with local people as actors.

General information

Mountain cabins

Village of Mosnes

Etne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Originally, Etne encompassed the area around the Etnefjorden and the surrounding valleys. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the neighboring municipality of Skånevik was dissolved and merged into its neighboring municipalities. All of Skånevik located south of the Åkrafjorden and east of the village of Åkra on the north side of the fjord (population: 1,493) was merged into Etne.[7]

Name

The municipality is named after the Etnefjorden (Old Norse: Eðni). The fjord is probably named after an old river name Etna (now called the "Etneelvi").[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 December 1983. The arms are blue on the left and silver/white on the right with a dovetailed line vertically down the middle. They represent the strong unity between the two former municipalities of Skånevik and Etne that were joined together to form one municipality in 1965.[9]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Etne. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Etne

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Etne	Gjerde Church	Etnesjøen	1676
	Grindheim Church	Etnesjøen	1728
	Stødle Church	Etnesjøen	1160
Skånevik	Skånevik Church	Skånevik	1900
	Fjæra Chapel	Fjæra	1913

Geography

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1951	2,452	—
1960	2,512	+2.4%
1970	3,930	+56.4%
1980	3,980	+1.3%
1990	4,037	+1.4%
2000	3,917	−3.0%
2010	3,882	−0.9%
2019	4,077	+5.0%
Source: Statistics Norway.

Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad and Ullensvang in Vestland county and the municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord in Rogaland county.

Etne has a varied landscape, extending from the Etnefjorden, Skånevikfjorden, and Åkrafjorden at sea level, through the villages up to the high mountains. In the far north, there is a barren and heavily eroded mountain glacier, Folgefonna, where the municipality's highest point rises 1,638 metres (5,374 ft) above sea level. Folgefonna National Park is partially located in Etne. In addition to that national park, Etne has three nature reserves: Brattholmen, Skåno, and Langebudalen. Lakes in the area include Løkjelsvatnet. The famous waterfall Langfossen is located in northern Etne.[10]

History

Recent archeological findings indicate that the area was already inhabited around 500 BC.[11]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Etne, 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.[12] The municipality falls under the Haugesund District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Etne Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Etne Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Etne Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Etne Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Etne Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list (Krinslista)	1
Total number of members:		21

Etne Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list (Krinslista)	2
Total number of members:		21

Etne Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [16]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)	2
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	3
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [17]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)	1
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	3
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [18]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)	2
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	2
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)	2
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	4
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)	1
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	4
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [21]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)	2
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [22]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [23]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		29

Etne Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [24]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Etne Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [25]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		21

Etne Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [26]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	6
Total number of members:		21

Etne Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [27]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	11
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		24

Etne Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [28]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	14
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		24

Etne Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [29]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	14
Total number of members:		24

Etne Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	11
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		24

Mayor

The mayors of Etne (incomplete list):

• 2019–present: Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp)
• 2015-2019: Siri Klokkerstuen (Ap)
• 2007-2015: Sigve Sørheim (Sp)
• 2000-2007: Amund Enge (H)

Transportation

The European route E134 highway runs the length of the municipality connecting it to the city of Haugesund in the southwest and to Oslo in the east. The highway runs through Etnesjøen and then northeastwards along the Åkrafjorden before crossing into the neighboring municipality of Odda. There are many tunnels along the route, some quite long, including the Åkrafjord Tunnel, Fjæra Tunnel, Markhus Tunnel, and Rullestad Tunnel.

The Eintveitbrua is a bridge in rural Etne that is not connected to the road network. It is considered to be a bridge to nowhere.

Notable residents

Osmund Kaldheim, 2018

• Erling Skakke (1115 at Etne – 1179) a Norwegian Jarl (Earl) during the 12th century
• Magnus V of Norway (1156 at Etne – 1184) King during the Civil war era in Norway
• Jacob Børretzen (1900 in Etne – 1989) a Norwegian hymnwriter and linguist
• Ingvar Moe (1936 in Etne - 1993) a Norwegian poet, novelist and children's writer
• Hans Olav Tungesvik (1936 in Skånevik – 2017) a Norwegian physician and politician
• Osmund Kaldheim (born 1964) a businessman, civil servant and politician, grew up in Etne
• Ivar Bjørnson (born 1977 in Etne) composer and guitarist for the progressive black metal band Enslaved
• Anne Lise Frøkedal (born 1981 in Etne) stage name Frøkedal is a folk-pop, singer-songwriter

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 (1 January 2013). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
4. Store norske leksikon. "Etne" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2015-04-10.
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
6. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
7. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 64.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
10. "Point on the glacier". Hordaland fylke. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
11. "Dette funnet er sensasjonelt" (in Norwegian). NRK.
12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-10.

External links

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