Bamble

Bamble is a municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Langesund. Other population centres in Bamble include the town of Stathelle and the villages of Bamble, Botten, Herre, and Valle.

This article is about the municipality in Telemark, Norway. For the village within this municipality, see Bamble (village).
Bamble kommune
Bamle herred (historic)
Municipality
Aerial view of northeastern Bamble and the Langesund-Stathelle area (left side of the fjord in the picture)
Aerial view of northeastern Bamble and the Langesund-Stathelle area (left side of the fjord in the picture)
Flag of Bamble kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Bamble kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Bamble kommune
Vestfold og Telemark within
Norway
Bamble within Vestfold og Telemark
Bamble within Vestfold og Telemark
Coordinates: 59°1′11″N 9°33′39″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestfold og Telemark
DistrictGrenland
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreLangesund
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Hallgeir Kjeldal (Ap)
Area
 • Total304.40 km2 (117.53 sq mi)
 • Land282.41 km2 (109.04 sq mi)
 • Water21.99 km2 (8.49 sq mi)  7.2%
 • Rank#263 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total14,056
 • Rank#87 in Norway
 • Density49.8/km2 (129/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.4%
DemonymsBambling or Bamling
Bemling (archaic)[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3813
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 304-square-kilometre (117 sq mi) municipality is the 263rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Bamble is the 87th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 14,056. The municipality's population density is 49.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (129/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The parish of Bamble was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1878, the island of Langøya (population: 22), just off shore from the town of Langesund, was transferred from the rural municipality of Bamble to the town of Langesund. In 1949, the town of Langesund was again enlarged by annexing an adjacent area of Bamble municipality (population: 127). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the town of Stathelle (population: 724) and the town of Langesund (population: 2,281) were both merged with the surrounding rural municipality of Bamble (population: 5,237) to form a new, larger Bamble Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Bamle farm (Old Norse: Bamblar). The meaning of the name is unknown. It is possible that the name is the plural form derived from the word bembel which means "belly". In this case, it was likely referring to a round hill or mountain. From 1889 to 1917, the name was spelled "Bamle".[6]

See also: Bømlo § Name

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 December 1986. The official blazon is "Azure, a ship's wheel Or" (Norwegian: I blått et gull skipsratt). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a ship's wheel. The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The arms are nearly identical to the former arms of the town Stathelle which used them from 1954 until 1964 when it became part of Bamble. The blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea for this coastal municipality. Sailing and fishing have always been of great importance for the area, and a ship's wheel was thus an appropriate symbol. The arms were designed by Svein J. Haugholt. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9]

Churches
Bamble Church

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Bamble. It is part of the Bamble prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Bamble
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BambleBamble ChurchBamble1845
Herre ChurchHerre1905
LangesundLangesund ChurchLangesund1992
StathelleStathelle ChurchStathelle1964

Bamble Church (Bamble kirke) is located along the European route E18 highway, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the south of the Grenland Bridge. It is a wooden cruciform church which was built in 1845. The church is located next to the ruins of Olav Church which dated to around 1145.[10]

Geography

The municipality is located along the Skaggerak coast in southeastern Norway. The village is located on the west side of the Frierfjorden and Langesundsfjorden and to the northeast of the Fossingfjorden. The southeastern tip of the large lake Toke is located in northwestern Bamble. The European route E18 highway runs through Bamble, crossing into Porsgrunn Municipality via the Grenland Bridge. The Brevik Bridge also crosses the Frierfjorden, a short distance east of the Grenland Bridge. The Langøytangen Lighthouse is located near the town of Langesund.

Geology

Bamble, lying at the southern tip of the Kongsberg-Bamble geological formation, also has a unique geology that has been extensively researched by geologists such as W. C. Brøgger. It exhibits a high grade gneiss terrane characterized by metasomatism.[11] As such there have been many mines operating in the area, most notably the Ødegården Verk apatite mines and the nickel mines in Nystein.

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.[12] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Bamble is made up of representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Bamble kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 6
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Together for Bamble (Sammen for Bamble)1
Total number of members:33
Bamble kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14][15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:33
Bamble kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:33
Bamble kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint list of the Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:27
Bamble kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:27
Bamble kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15][17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:39
Bamble kommunestyre 1996–1999 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1992–1995 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independent Conservative List (Uavhengig konservativ list)2
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1988–1991 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Herre Local List (Herre Grendeliste)4
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1984–1987 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 23
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1980–1983 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 21
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 12
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet)		 3
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1976–1979 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 21
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and
New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)		 5
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1972–1975 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 23
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1968–1971 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 23
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:45
Bamble kommunestyre 1964–1967 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 26
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:45
Bamble herredsstyre 1960–1963 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 18
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:29
Bamble herredsstyre 1956–1959 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:29
Bamble herredsstyre 1952–1955 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:28
Bamble herredsstyre 1948–1951 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:28
Bamble herredsstyre 1945–1947 [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 1
Total number of members:28
Bamble herredsstyre 1938–1940* [32]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 1
Total number of members:28
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.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Bamble (incomplete list):

Twin towns – sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Bamble is twinned with:[34]

Notable people
Turid Thomassen, 2010
Jørn Lier Horst, 2010

Sport

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 (1914). Norske gaardnavne: Bratsbergs amt (in Norwegian) (7 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 48–49.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  8. "Bamble, Telemark (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 12 December 1986. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  10. "Olavskirken – Skeidi kirke i Bamble". miklaborg.net. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  11. Nijland, T.G.; Zwaan, J.C.; Touret, L. (December 1998). "Topographical mineralogy of the Bamble sector, south Norway". Scripta Geologica. Naturalis. 118: 1–46. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  12. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestfold og Telemark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.
  15. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
  22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  26. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  33. "Bamble kommune". NRK (in Norwegian). 2 June 2003. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  34. "Vennskapskommuner". bamble.kommune.no (in Norwegian). Bamble Kommune. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

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