Grong

Grong  (Southern Sami: Kråangke) is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Medjå (sometimes called Grong also). Other villages in the municipality include Bergsmoen, Formofoss, Gartland, and Harran.

Grong kommune Kråangken tjïelte
Municipality
Grong in early August 2007
Coat of arms Trøndelag within Norway
Grong within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 64°31′53″N 12°37′12″E
Country	Norway
County	Trøndelag
District	Namdalen
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Medjå
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Borgny Grande (Sp)
Area
• Total	1,136.17 km^2 (438.68 sq mi)
• Land	1,095.31 km^2 (422.90 sq mi)
• Water	40.86 km^2 (15.78 sq mi)  3.6%
Area rank	96 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,359
• Rank	262 in Norway
• Density	2.2/km^2 (6/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−0.1%
Demonym(s)	grongning[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5045
Official language form	Neutral[2]
Website	grong.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,136-square-kilometre (439 sq mi) municipality is the 96th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Grong is the 262nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,359. The municipality's population density is 2.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.7/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.1% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

Grong was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 1901, the northwestern district of Grong (population: 1,046) was separated to form the new municipality of Høylandet. On 1 January 1923, the large municipality of Grong was divided into four smaller municipalities: Grong (population: 1,272) in the southwest, Harran (population: 630) in the centre, Røyrvik (population: 392) in the northeast, and Namsskogan (population: 469) in the northwest.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipalities of Harran (population: 1,085) and Grong (population: 1,962) were merged (back together) to form a new municipality called Grong.[5]

On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Grong farm (Granungar), since the first Grong Church was built there. The first element is grǫn which means "spruce" and the last element is the plural form of the suffix -ungr.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 6 February 1987. The arms show three green triangles on a silver/gray background. The green triangles represent spruce trees (gran), making them canting arms since the name is supposedly derived from Granungar which means spruce. The number three symbolizes the three main villages in the municipality: Harran, Bergsmoen, and Medjå.[7]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Grong. It is part of the Namdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Grong

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Grong	Grong Church	Medjå	1877
Harran	Harran Church	Harran	1874
	Gløshaug Church	Gartland	1689

Geography

Grong is located along the river Namsen in the Namdalen valley. Two major tributaries of the Namsen flow through Grong too: the river Sanddøla and the river Neselva. The Bangsjøene lakes lie at the extreme southern border with Snåsa and Overhalla. The Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Park covers a small part of the southeastern part of Grong.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Grong, 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.[8] The municipality falls under the Namdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Grong Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [9]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Grong Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
Total number of members:		17

Grong Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Grong Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Grong Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Grong Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Grong Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		29

Grong Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	15
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		29

Grong Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	8
Total number of members:		17

Grong Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		17

Grong Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		16

Grong Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		16

Grong Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Grong Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		16

Mayor

The mayors of Grong (incomplete list):

• 2019–present: Borgny Grande (Sp)
• 2011-2019: Skjalg Åkerøy (Ap)
• 2003-2011: Erik Seem (Sp)
• 1999-2003: Helge Formo (Ap)

Transportation

The European route E6 highway follows the river Namsen across the municipality, as does the Nordland Line. The two main stations on the Nordland Line are Grong Station in Medjå and Harran Station in Harran. The old Namsos Line railway used to run from Grong to Namsos, but that is now closed.

Notable people

• Bjarne Fiskum (born 1939 in Harran) a Norwegian violinist, conductor and composer
• Maja Dunfjeld (born 1947) a South Sami researcher and duodji craftswoman, lives in Harran
• Ellinor Jåma (born 1979) a Norwegian Sami politician
• Line Viken (born 1981) & Stian Saugestad (born 1992) Norwegian alpine skiers representing the sports club Grong IL

Media gallery

• 
  The old Gløshaug church in Gartland
• 
  Train station in Grong
• 
  County road from Grong to Sweden
• 
  The high school in Grong

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. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
6. Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (dokpro.uio.no) (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 295.
7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
8. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
9. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
10. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
12. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
17. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
18. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
21. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-02.

External links

• Trøndelag travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)