Austevoll

Austevoll is a municipality and an archipelago in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Midthordland in Western Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Storebø on the island of Huftarøy. Other villages include Årland, Austevollshella, Bakkasund, Bekkjarvik, Birkeland, Haukanes, Husavik, Kolbeinsvik, Otterå, Våge, and Vinnes.

This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the seafood company, see Austevoll Seafood.

Austevoll kommune
Østervold herred (historic)
Austevold herred (historic)
Municipality
Bekkjarvik harbour
Bekkjarvik harbour
Flag of Austevoll kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Austevoll kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Austevoll kommune
Vestland within
Norway
Austevoll within Vestland
Austevoll within Vestland
Coordinates: 60°02′16″N 05°16′06″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictMidhordland
Established1 Jan 1886
 • Preceded bySund Municipality
Administrative centreStorebø
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Morten Storebø (H)
Area
 • Total117.22 km2 (45.26 sq mi)
 • Land114.27 km2 (44.12 sq mi)
 • Water2.95 km2 (1.14 sq mi)  2.5%
 • Rank#323 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total5,283
 • Rank#175 in Norway
 • Density46.2/km2 (120/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +10.2%
DemonymAustevolling[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4625
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The municipality consists of hundreds of islands located southwest of the city of Bergen. The municipality is considered to be among the ports in the world with the largest ocean-going fishing trawler fleet. Since the 1980s, the offshore oil industry and fish farming industry have both grown to be important industries in Austevoll.

The 117-square-kilometre (45 sq mi) municipality is the 323rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Austevoll is the 175th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,283. The municipality's population density is 46.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (120/sq mi) and its population has increased by 10.2% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
Aerial view of northern Austevoll
Sildajento

The municipality of Austevoll was established on 1 January 1886 when it was separated from the municipality of Sund. The initial population for the new municipality of Austevoll was 2,396.[5]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the southern part of the islands of Selbjørn and Huftarøy (population: 696) was transferred from Fitjar Municipality to Austevoll. This put the whole Austevoll archipelago in the municipality of Austevoll.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austevoll farm (Old Norse: Austrvǫllr) since the first Austevoll Church was built there. The farm is now part of the village of Austevollshella. The first element is austr which means "east". The last element is vǫllr which means "meadow" or "field". The municipality has changed the spelling of its name three times. Before 1889, the name was written "Østevold" or "Østervold". From 1889 to 1917, it was spelled "Austevold", and since 1918 it has been spelled "Austevoll".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 30 November 1984. The official blazon is "Azure, four herrings argent in bend 1-2-1" (Norwegian: På blå bunn fire kvite silder på skrå oppover, 1-2-1). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a set of four herring swimming diagonally up to the left. The charg has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The shoal of herring was chosen for the arms since herring fishing is a very important part of the local economy. The arms were designed by John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9]

Churches

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

Churches in Austevoll
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
AustevollAustevoll ChurchStorebø1890
Bekkjarvik ChurchBekkjarvik1895
Hundvåkøy ChurchAustevollshella1990
Møkster ChurchStolmen1892
Store-Kalsøy ChapelBakkasund1975

Geography

Austevoll consists of 667 islands off the west coast of Western Norway. The municipality has a total land area of 114.23 square kilometres (44.10 sq mi) and a coastline of 337 kilometres (209 mi). It lies south of the Korsfjorden, west of the Bjørnafjorden, and north of the Selbjørnsfjorden.[10] The highest point in Austevoll is the mountain Loddo, reaching 244 metres (801 ft) above sea level. The Marstein Lighthouse lies in the northwestern part of the municipality.

Largest islands
  1. Huftarøy
  2. Selbjørn
  3. Hundvåko
  4. Stolmen
  5. Storekalsøy
  6. Møkster

Neighbours

The island municipality shares water borders with the municipality of Øygarden to the north, Bergen and Bjørnafjorden municipalities to the northeast, Tysnes municipality to the east, and Fitjar and Bømlo municipalities to the south. The North Sea lies to the west of Austevoll.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18862,396—    
18912,332−0.54%
19002,536+0.94%
19102,554+0.07%
19202,760+0.78%
19302,928+0.59%
19463,272+0.70%
19513,231−0.25%
19603,413+0.61%
19703,957+1.49%
19803,893−0.16%
19904,200+0.76%
20004,406+0.48%
20104,571+0.37%
20205,236+1.37%
20235,297+0.39%
Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1964, causing a significant change in the population.
Source: Statistics Norway[11][12] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[13]

Of the 667 islands, only eight are populated year-round. About 29% of the inhabitants live in densely populated areas. About 28% of the inhabitants are under the age of 17, which is 4.4% over the national average. About 4.7% of the inhabitants are 80 years or older.[10]

Villages
RankVillageVillage Population (2005)[14]District Population (2001)[15]
1Storebø1,0321,341
2Bekkjarvik355489
3Kolbeinsvik481
4Vinnes378
5Haukanes235

Inhabited islands
RankIslandArea (km2)Population[15]Density (/km2)Largest settlementHighest pointElevation (m)
1Huftarøy50.42,43548.3StorebøLoddo244
2Selbjørn2595638.24BekkjarvikKongsafjellet185
3Hundvåkøy10.755451.7Austevollshella61
4Stolmen7.920626.0VågeSåta60
5Storekalsøy616727.0BakkasundMjuken57
6Møkster65
7Litlekalsøy26

Industry

Fishing is the most important industry in Austevoll, as it has been for centuries. Traditionally, fishing has taken place in coastal areas, not far off shore. After decades of overfishing, the herring disappeared in the 1950s. This forced a restructuring of the fishing fleet. Since the 1960s, the shipping companies built bigger ships, and went further out into the seas, and they began fishing for other fish species, not just herring. The overfishing of herring also forced better research on fishing, resulting in the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Austevoll is the home of the Austevoll Aquaculture Research Station.

Since the early 1980s, the offshore supply industry has emerged in the wake of the offshore Norwegian oil industry. The offshore shipping company DOF, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, has its headquarters at Storebø.

Education

There are five primary schools and one middle school in Austevoll, all run by the municipality. There is also one secondary school, teaching mainly fishing and nautical subjects. This is operated by the Hordaland County Municipality.

Transportation

Austevoll has car ferry connections from Hufthammar on the north tip of Huftarøy to Krokeide in Bergen, and from Husavik on the south tip of Huftarøy to Sandvikvåg in Fitjar. The municipality is also connected by express boats to Bergen in the north, and Stord, Haugesund, and Stavanger in the south. All express boat routes are operated by Norled, and ferry routes are operated by Fosen Namsos.

The islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn, Selbjørn and Stolmen, and Hundvåkøy and Storekalsøy are connected with bridges. A fourth bridge, connecting Huftarøy and Hundvåkøy, was opened on 17 November 2007. This bridge, which in fact consists of two bridges and two stone fillings, bears the name "Austevollsbrua".

Government

All municipalities in Norway are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[16] The municipality falls under the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Austevoll is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms.

From 1995 to 1999 the Socialist Left Party held one seat. In the 1999–2003 election period an all-party female electoral list held one seat in the council. In the 2003-2007 election period The Liberal Party was represented in the municipal council and held one seat.

From 2011 to 2015, a coalition of the Progress Party and Center Party held power in the council. The coalition also consisted of the Christian Democratic Party before 2011. In 2011, the coalition won 12 of the 21 seats in the municipal council and had an electoral and political cooperation. The Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Christian Democratic Party make up the opposition.

The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Austevoll kommunestyre 2020–2023 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 5
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:21
Austevoll kommunestyre 2016–2019 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
Total number of members:21
Austevoll kommunestyre 2012–2015 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:21
Austevoll kommunestyre 2008–2011 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:21
Austevoll kommunestyre 2004–2007 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 2000–2003 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Austevoll List (Austevolllista)1
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1996–1999 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1992–1995 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1988–1991 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1984–1987 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1980–1983 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1976–1979 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 8
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Selbjørn common list (Selbjørn Fellesliste)5
 Non-party local list for Storekalsøy (Upolitisk Bygdeliste for Storeka1søy)2
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1972–1975 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1968–1971 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 27
Total number of members:27
Austevoll kommunestyre 1964–1967 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 27
Total number of members:27
Austevoll heradsstyre 1960–1963 [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 23
Total number of members:23
Austevoll heradsstyre 1956–1959 [30]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 23
Total number of members:23
Austevoll heradsstyre 1952–1955 [31]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:16
Austevoll heradsstyre 1948–1951 [32]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:16
Austevoll heradsstyre 1945–1947 [33]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:16
Austevoll heradsstyre 1938–1941* [34]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:16
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayor

The following is a list of mayors of Austevoll:[35][36]

 #  NameOfficePolitical PartyOccupation
1
Ole Olsen Strømme1886–1901Church bell ringer
2
Peder Olai Kleppe1902–1919Fisherman
3
Olai Naustheller1920–1925Farmer
4
Mikkel Nilsen Birkeland1926–1935Farmer
5
Magnus Larssen1935–1937School teacher
6
Salomon O. Fagerbakke1938–1945Fisherman
7
Salomon V. Kalvenes1946–1959Fisherman
8
Rikard S. Storebø1960–1969Liberal PartySocial security manager
9
Peder Kalve1970–1975Conservative PartyMaritime pilot
10
Magnus Stangeland1976–1981Centre PartySchool principal
11
Knut K. Kalvenes1982–1985Conservative Party[37]Retailer
12
Hallvard Møgster1986–1989Christian Democratic PartyCaptain
13
Inge Bjarne Storebø1990–2001Conservative PartyBank manager
14
Olav P. Årland2001–2003Christian Democratic PartyShipmaster
15
Helge André Njåstad2003–2011Progress PartyStudent
16
Renate Møgster Klepsvik2011–2015Progress Party
15
Morten Storebø2015–presentConservative PartyPolitician

Notable people
Helge André Njåstad, 2009

1920 Summer Olympics sailors
See also: Sailing_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics § Medal_summary

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. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "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. ISBN 9788253746845.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 251–252.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  8. "Austevoll, Hordaland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 30 November 1984. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  10. Statistics Norway (2006). "Tall om Austevoll kommune" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 9 September 2006.
  11. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  12. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  13. Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
  14. Statistics Norway (1 January 2006). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality". Archived from the original on 21 August 2006.
  15. Statistics Norway. "Folke- og bustadteljing 2001" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  16. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  18. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  19. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  35. "Former mayors of Austevoll municipality" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  36. "Fattigstyret i Møkster sokn" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 3 October 2011.
  37. "Knut Kalvenes" (in Norwegian). Høyre. 2003. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
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