Nesna

Nesna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesna. Other villages in Nesna include Handnesneset, Husby, Saura, and Vikholmen.

Map of Nesna municipality

Nesna kommune
Municipality
View of the Nesna peninsula (front), Tomma (middle), Handnesøya (right), Hugla (left)
Coat of arms Nordland within Norway
Nesna within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°15′28″N 13°02′06″E
Country	Norway
County	Nordland
District	Helgeland
Established	1 January 1838
Administrative centre	Nesna
Government
• Mayor (2015)	Hanne Davidsen (Ap)
Area
• Total	183.18 km^2 (70.73 sq mi)
• Land	181.29 km^2 (70.00 sq mi)
• Water	1.90 km^2 (0.73 sq mi)  1%
Area rank	309 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,761
• Rank	295 in Norway
• Density	9.7/km^2 (25/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−1.4%
Demonym(s)	nesnaværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1828
Official language form	Bokmål[2]
Website	nesna.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The municipality consists of the three islands Tomma, Hugla (known as "Hugløy" by its inhabitants), and Handnesøya, and one peninsula that bears the name of the municipality, Nesna. The old Husby Estate is headquartered in Husby on Tomma island.

The Coastal Express arrives two times a day at the village of Nesna, the northbound arrives 05:30 and the southbound 11:15. The village of Nesna is also home to Nordland's education center Nesna University College, and there is also the KVN High School, and Nesna Church.

The 183-square-kilometre (71 sq mi) municipality is the 309th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Nesna is the 295th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,761. The municipality's population density is 9.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (25/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 1.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

View of the island of Tomma

Nesna was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The western island district of Nesna (population: 1,348) was separated from Nesna on 1 July 1888 to form the new municipality of Dønnes. This left Nesna with 2,958 residents. On 1 January 1919, the Bardalssjøen farm (population: 4) was transferred from Hemnes Municipality to Nesna Municipality. In 1945, a small area of southern Nesna (population: 26) was transferred to Leirfjord Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, part of the island of Løkta (population: 80) was transferred from Nesna to the new Dønna Municipality and part of the island of Tomma (population: 80) was transferred from the old municipality of Dønnes to Nesna Municipality. Then on 1 January 1964, the Bardalssjøen area of Nesna, located south of the Ranfjorden, was transferred to Leirfjord Municipality. On that same date, the part of Nesna around the inner part of the Sjona fjord was transferred to Rana Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Nesna farm (Old Norse: Nesnar), since the first Nesna Church was built there. The name is derived from the word nes which means "headland". The name was historically spelled Nesne.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 23 June 1989. The arms are a canting of the name of the municipality because they show a yellow-colored "headland" or peninsula surrounded by blue water (nes is Norwegian for headland).[7][8]

Churches

Nesna Church

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Nesna. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Nesna

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Nesna	Nesna Church	Nesna	1880
	Handnesøya Chapel	Saura	1969
	Husby Chapel	Husby	1905

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Nesna, 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 Rana District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Nesna Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Borgerlig Common List (Borgerlig fellesliste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Cooperative list for Nesna (Samarbeidslista for Nesna)	3
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Election list for the Tomma area (Valgliste for Tomma krets)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Joint list of independent voters, Conservative Party and Liberal Party (Samarbeidsliste av Uavhengige Velgere, Høyre og Venstre)	5
	Election list for the Tomma area (Valgliste for Tomma krets)	2
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		17

Nesna Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		21

Nesna Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	9
Total number of members:		21

Nesna Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	10
Total number of members:		21

Nesna Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		21

Nesna Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	14
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	7
Total number of members:		21

Nesna Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Notable residents

• Johan Augustinussen (born 1808 at Langset - 1888 in Nesna) a curate/choirmaster, teacher and politician
• Hans Christiansen (1867 in Nesna – 1938) a sailor, competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Birger Fredrik Motzfeldt OBE, CVO (1898 in Nesna – 1987) a Norwegian aviator and senior military officer.
• Ida Maria (born 1984) a Norwegian musician and singer-songwriter; born and lives in Nesna
• Emil Weber Meek (born 1988) a Norwegian professional mixed martial artist, brought up in Nesna
• Ulrik Berglann (born 1992 in Nesna) a Norwegian footballer with 180 club caps

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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 119.
7. Store norske leksikon. "Nesna – Kommune i Nordland" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 24 January 2012.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway – Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
9. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
10. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)

• Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official site of Nesna Municipality
• Hammerø nature reserve
• Dillern-Ørnes nature reserve at Handnesøya
• Husbymarka nature reserve at Tomma