Masfjorden

Masfjorden is a municipality in the central part of Vestland county in Norway. The municipality is located in the Nordhordland district of the county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Masfjordnes. Other villages in the municipality include Frøyset, Hosteland, Matre, and Solheim.

This article is about the municipality in Vestland county, Norway. For the fjord, see Masfjorden (fjord).
Masfjorden kommune
Municipality
View of the Haugsværsfjorden
View of the Haugsværsfjorden
Flag of Masfjorden kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Masfjorden kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Masfjorden kommune
Vestland within
Norway
Masfjorden within Vestland
Masfjorden within Vestland
Coordinates: 60°50′18″N 05°26′55″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictNordhordland
Established1 Mar 1879
 • Preceded byLindås Municipality
Administrative centreMasfjordnes
Government
 • Mayor (2011)Karstein Totland (H)
Area
 • Total556.08 km2 (214.70 sq mi)
 • Land509.45 km2 (196.70 sq mi)
 • Water46.63 km2 (18.00 sq mi)  8.4%
 • Rank#195 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total1,629
 • Rank#297 in Norway
 • Density3.2/km2 (8/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3.2%
DemonymMasfjording[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4634
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The municipality is centered on the Masfjorden which almost divides the municipality completely into a north side and a south side. A cable ferry crosses the fjord from Masfjordnes to Duesund in the western part of the municipality. The Matre Hydroelectric Power Station is located in the eastern part of the municipality.

The 556-square-kilometre (215 sq mi) municipality is the 195th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Masfjorden is the 297th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,629. The municipality's population density is 3.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (8.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.2% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
Sandnes Church
View of the Haugsdal valley in Masfjorden

The parish of Masfjorden was established as a municipality on 1 March 1879 when it was separated from the large municipality of Lindås. Masfjorden was the northern part of Lindås, and its initial population was 2,336. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Einestrand, Eikebotn, and Kikallen area along the Austfjorden (population: 25) was transferred from Lindås to Masfjorden.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Masfjorden (Old Norse: Matrsfjǫrðr) since that fjord is a central geographical feature of the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of the old (uncompounded) name of the fjord: Matr. That name is identical to the word matr which means "food". The last element is fjǫrðr which means "fjord" or "firth". Therefore, the meaning of the name is "the fjord that's full of food (fish)". The village of Matre lies at the inner end of the fjord, and that name has a similar origin.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 28 September 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, three clasps Or in pall" (Norwegian: På raud grunn tre gule heldrer stilte i trepass). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is three heldrer, traditional tools made of wood for fastening a rope around a load. 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. They are meant to symbolize unity as well as the importance of forestry. The arms were designed by Rune Garmann. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9]

See also: Coat of arms of Øyer

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Masfjorden. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. Prior to 2020, the municipality had three parishes (Frøyset, Sandnes, and Solheim).[10]

Churches in Masfjorden
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
MasfjordenFrøyset ChurchFrøyset1937
Sandnes ChurchMasfjordnes1845
Solheim ChurchSolheim1881

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.[11] The municipality falls under the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Masfjorden kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet)		 2
 Non-political municipal list (Upolitisk bygdeliste)1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste)1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1976–1979 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)6
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1972–1975 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1968–1971 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1964–1967 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1960–1963 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1956–1959 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1952–1955 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1948–1951 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1945–1947 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1938–1941* [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
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 mayors of Masfjorden (incomplete list):[30]

  • 1879-1880: Erik A. Riisnæs
  • 1880-1883: Kristen T. Bergsvik
  • 1884-1889: Thorbjørn Frølich
  • 1890-1895: Rasmus M. Haugsvær
  • 1896-1899: Torgeir R. Haugsvær
  • 1900-1901: Rasmus M. Haugsvær
  • 1901-1916: Hans Bergersen Wergeland
  • 1917-1919: Ivar R. Eikemo
  • 1920-1941: Martin H. Matre
  • 1942-1945: Gjert Daae
  • 1945-1945: Magnus Maurstad
  • 1945-1945: Martin H. Matre
  • 1945-1950: Magnus Halsøy
  • 1999-2003: Helge Haukeland
  • 2003-2011: Håkon Matre (H)
  • 2011–present: Karstein Totland (Sp)

Population
Historical population
Year1879189119001910192019301946195119601970198019902000201020202023
Pop.2,3362,3362,2772,2522,2402,0591,9951,9281,9871,8581,9151,8911,7741,6351,6911,654
±% p.a.—    +0.00%−0.28%−0.11%−0.05%−0.84%−0.20%−0.68%+0.34%−0.67%+0.30%−0.13%−0.64%−0.81%+0.34%−0.73%
Source: Statistics Norway[31][32] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[33]

Geography
View of the fjord in eastern Masfjorden

Masfjorden municipality lies to the east of the Fensfjorden and Austfjorden. The Masfjorden runs east to west bisecting the municipality. The eastern part has mountains and as one heads westward, the land levels out before reaching the fjord in the east.

The municipality lies along the west coast in the central part of the county. The municipalities of Gulen and Høyanger lie to the north, the municipality of Modalen to the east, and the municipality of Alver lies to the south and west.

The European route E39 highway runs through eastern Masfjorden heading north and south. The 4.1-kilometre (2.5 mi) long Masfjord Tunnel and the 2.5-kilometre (1.6 mi) long Jernfjell Tunnel (and a few other tunnels) are part of the E39 highway which winds its way through some valleys in the mountainous eastern region of Masfjorden.

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 (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 430.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. "Masfjorden, Hordaland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  10. "Møteprotokoll" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Bjørgvin bispedømme.
  11. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  13. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. "Masfjorden gjennom århundrer". Scandion.no. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  31. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  32. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  33. Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
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