Fræna

Fræna is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It was part of the region of Romsdal. The municipality was located on the Romsdal peninsula surrounding the Frænfjorden, the eastern shore of the Julsundet strait, and includes most of the Hustadvika area. It also included the now-abandoned Bjørnsund islands.

Fræna kommune
Former municipality
View from Lågheia near Elnesvågen
Coat of arms Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Fræna within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°54′28″N 07°06′30″E
Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Romsdal
Established	1840
Disestablished	1 Jan 2020
Administrative centre	Elnesvågen
Government
• Mayor (2015-2019)	Tove Henøen (Sp)
Area
• Total	369.74 km^2 (142.76 sq mi)
• Land	361.93 km^2 (139.74 sq mi)
• Water	7.81 km^2 (3.02 sq mi)  2.1%
Area rank	250 in Norway
	*Area at municipal dissolution.
Population  (2018)
• Total	9,775
• Rank	115 in Norway
• Density	27/km^2 (70/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	6.4%
Demonym(s)	Frening[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1548
Official language form	Nynorsk[2]
Preceded by	Akerø in 1840
Succeeded by	Hustadvika in 2020
Website	frana.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The main village and administrative centre in Fræna was Elnesvågen with over 2,300 inhabitants. Moxy Engineering, Hustad Marmor, and Tine Meierier are all factories located in Elnesvågen. Other villages in Fræna included Hustad, Bud, Tornes, Sylte, Malme, and Aureosen. The area is nice for hiking, including the mountains are Heiane/Lågheiane and Jendemsfjellet.

At the time if its dissolution in 2020, the 370-square-kilometre (140 sq mi) municipality is the 250th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Fræna is the 115th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 9,775. The municipality's population density is 27 inhabitants per square kilometre (70/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.4% over the last decade.[3][4]

General information

View of the Frænfjorden

View of Bud Church

The municipality of Fræna was established in 1840 when it was separated from the municipality of Akerø. The original municipality was named Vaagø and it surrounded the Frænfjorden. Later the name was changed to Fræna.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Bud Municipality (population: 1,610), Hustad Municipality (population: 2,196), and Fræna Municipality (population: 3,430) were merged to form a new, larger municipality of Fræna.[5]

On 1 January 2020, the neighboring municipalities of Eide and Fræna merged into the new Hustadvika Municipality.[6][7]

Name

The municipality was named after the Frænfjorden (Old Norse: Fræni). The meaning of the name is unknown, but it might be derived from frænn which means "bright" or "shiny". Before 1865, the parish and municipality were named Vaagø (and the main church was Vågøy Church, which also was historically spelled Vaagø). From 1865 to 1918, the name was written Frænen, and since 1918 it has had its current spelling, Fræna.[8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 15 May 1995. The arms show three blue waves on a gold background. The arms were chosen to symbolize the municipality's connection to the sea.[9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway had four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Fræna. It is part of the Molde domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Fræna

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Bud	Bud Church	Bud	1717
Hustad	Hustad Church	Hustad	1874
Myrbostad	Myrbostad Church	Elnesvågen	1880
Vågøy	Vågøy Church	Vågøya	1904

Geography

View of the village of Aureosen

The municipality of Fræna sits on the northwestern end of the Romsdal Peninsula. The Norwegian Sea lies to the north, the Harøyfjorden, Julsundet strait, and Aukra Municipality lie to the west, Molde Municipality lies to the south, and Gjemnes Municipality and Eide Municipality lie to the east.

The Frænfjorden cuts into the middle of the municipality. The coastal areas are low and marshy while the interior of the municipality is mountainous. Two of the more notable mountains are Jendemsfjellet and Heiane. The Bjørnsund islands lie off the northwestern coast of Fræna. They are now uninhabited, but the Bjørnsund Lighthouse is still in operation.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Fræna, 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.[11] The municipality falls under the Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fræna is made up of 31 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown for the final municipal council was as follows:

Fræna Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Fræna Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		31

Fræna Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		31

Fræna Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Fræna Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	13
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	11
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	11
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)	2
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)	3
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	8
	New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	13
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	12
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	8
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	7
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		37

Fræna Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		25

Fræna Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		25

Fræna Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  

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

Fræna Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	22
Total number of members:		24

Fræna Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	17
Total number of members:		24

Fræna Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	16
Total number of members:		24

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway

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 (2018). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-06-04.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-06-04.
5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
6. "Hustadvika kommune endelig vedtatt!" (in Norwegian). Fræna kommune. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
7. "Nye Eide og Fræna kommune" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 290.
9. "Vedtekter for bruk av kommunevåpen Fræna kommune" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
11. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
12. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-26.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• http://www.frena.net (in Norwegian) - Homepage edited by a local enthusiast
• Romsdals Budstikke newspaper (in Norwegian)