Bjerkreim

Bjerkreim is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Dalane. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vikeså. Other villages in the municipality include Bjerkreim and Øvrebygd.

This article is about the municipality in Rogaland, Norway. For the village in Bjerkreim municipality, see Bjerkreim (village).
Bjerkreim kommune
Birkrem herred (historic)
Municipality
View of the Bjerkreim landscape
View of the Bjerkreim landscape
Flag of Bjerkreim kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Bjerkreim kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Bjerkreim kommune
Rogaland within
Norway
Bjerkreim within Rogaland
Bjerkreim within Rogaland
Coordinates: 58°39′25″N 06°08′48″E
CountryNorway
CountyRogaland
DistrictDalane
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreVikeså
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Kjetil Slettebø (Sp)
Area
 • Total650.56 km2 (251.18 sq mi)
 • Land577.32 km2 (222.90 sq mi)
 • Water73.24 km2 (28.28 sq mi)  11.3%
 • Rank#173 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total2,789
 • Rank#238 in Norway
 • Density4.8/km2 (12/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +1.8%
DemonymBjerkreimsbu[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1114
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Nature has been generous in giving Bjerkreim many idyllic places, making Bjerkreim a good place to live by living in a countryside environment, but still relatively close to a major city, Stavanger. Bjerkreim has one of the most important salmon rivers in Norway, Bjerkreimselva. The most important livelihoods are agriculture and small-scale industries.

The 651-square-kilometre (251 sq mi) municipality is the 173rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Bjerkreim is the 238th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,789. The municipality's population density is 4.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (12/sq mi) and its population has increased by 1.8% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
View of the lake Indra Vinjavatnet
Vikeså School
Ivesdal Chapel

The parish of Birkrem was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1965, there were many municipal changes in Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On that date, the Nedre Maudal area of Bjerkreim (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Gjesdal.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Bjerkreim farm (Old Norse: Bjarkarheimr), since the first Bjerkreim Church was built there The first element is the genitive case of bjørk which means "birch". The last element is heimr which means "homestead" or "farm". Before 1889, the name was written "Birkrem".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 July 1986. The official blazon is "Vert, a birch branch with six leaves and four catkins argent" (Norwegian: På grøn grunn ein opprett sølv bjørkekvist med sju blad og fire raklar). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a vertical branch from a birch tree which has six leaves and four catkins. The charge 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 design was chosen since the name of the municipality is derived from the Norwegian word for birch, bjørk, thus the arms are canting. The arms were designed by John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9]

See also: Coats of arms of Birkenes and Lavangen

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Bjerkreim. It is part of the Dalane prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.

Churches in Bjerkreim
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BjerkreimBjerkreim ChurchBjerkreim1835
Ivesdal ChapelØvrebygd1876

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.[10] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Sør-Rogaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal. A notable local politician is Olaf Gjedrem, mayor from 1979 to 1993 and later a member of the national parliament.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Bjerkreim is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The executive committee of the council has 5 members, who also make up the authority's planning and economic committee. The mayor of Bjerkreim leads both the council and the executive committee. Currently, the party breakdown is as follows:

Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2020–2024 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2015–2019 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
 Local list (Bygdelista)1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Local list (Bygdelista)2
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local list (Bygdelista)1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local list (Bygdelista)1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
 Local list (Bygdelista)3
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:17
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:16
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:16
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:16
Bjerkreim heradsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 10
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
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.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Bjerkreim:[29]

  • 1838–1839: Thønnis Tollefson Bjerkreim
  • 1840–1841: Rasmus Rasmusson Osland
  • 1842–1843: Omund Adsem
  • 1844–1845: Erik Erikson Espeland
  • 1846–1849: Erik A. Lauperak
  • 1850–1853: Sigbjørn Hytland
  • 1854–1855: Omund Adsem
  • 1856–1865: Christian Larsson Kløgetvedt
  • 1866–1869: Ole V. Sagland
  • 1870–1879: Christian Larsson Kløgetvedt
  • 1880–1881: Jonas K. Vigesaa
  • 1882–1893: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela
  • 1894–1897: Tollef Asbjørnsen Gjedrem
  • 1898–1899: Tønnes Tollefsen Bjerkrheim
  • 1899–1901: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela
  • 1902–1904: Sem Johan Jonassen Vaule
  • 1905–1919: Gitle A. Birkrem
  • 1920–1922: Peder Carlson Skjæveland
  • 1923–1925: Arne Gjedrem
  • 1926–1934: Karl Laksesvela
  • 1935–1940: Arne Gjedrem
  • 1945–1947: Arne Gjedrem
  • 1948–1955: Martin Veen
  • 1956–1963: Karl L. Skjæveland
  • 1964–1966: Martin Veen
  • 1966–1975: Tolleiv Gjedrem
  • 1976–1979: Lloyd Vaule
  • 1980–1993: Olaf Gjedrem (KrF)
  • 1994–1999: Gunnhild Vassbø
  • 1999–2003: Asbjørn Gjedrem
  • 2003–2007: Asbjørn Ramsli (Sp)
  • 2007–2015: Marthon Skårland (H)
  • 2015–2019: Torbjørn Ognedal (Sp)
  • 2019–present: Kjetil Slettebø (Sp)

Geography

Bjerkreim municipality lies at the northern end of the hilly, rugged Dalane district, just south of the very flat Jæren district. There are several large lakes in Bjerkreim including Austrumdalsvatnet, Byrkjelandsvatnet, Hofreistæ, and Ørsdalsvatnet.

Climate
Climate data for Bjerkreim
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.5
(31.1)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 1.5
(34.7)		 4.5
(40.1)		 9.5
(49.1)		 13.0
(55.4)		 14.2
(57.6)		 14.3
(57.7)		 11.0
(51.8)		 8.0
(46.4)		 3.5
(38.3)		 0.8
(33.4)		 6.6
(43.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 180
(7.1)		 132
(5.2)		 152
(6.0)		 87
(3.4)		 106
(4.2)		 115
(4.5)		 136
(5.4)		 177
(7.0)		 240
(9.4)		 270
(10.6)		 253
(10.0)		 217
(8.5)		 2,065
(81.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 14.8 11.0 13.8 10.9 12.7 11.8 11.6 14.3 17.2 17.7 18.4 15.9 170.1
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[30]

Transportation

The main means of transportation to Bjerkreim is via the European route E39 highway which passes through the municipality from south to north. The municipality lies in the southwestern part of the country. The distance to the nearest airport, Stavanger airport in Sola, is approximately 40 minutes by car.

Notable people

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 (1915). Norske gaardnavne: Stavanger amt (in Norwegian) (10 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 47–49.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  8. "Bjerkreim, Rogaland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 July 1986. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  10. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Rogaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Rogaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  29. "Ordførere i Bjerkreim kommune". geni.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  30. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  31. IMDb Database retrieved 19 January 2021
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