Meråker

Meråker is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Midtbygda which is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Storlien in Sweden and 46 kilometres (29 mi) east of the town of Stjørdalshalsen in neighboring Stjørdal municipality. Other villages in Meråker include Gudåa, Kopperå, and Stordalen.

Meråker kommune
View of the Meråker valley
View of the Meråker valley
Flag of Meråker kommune
Official logo of Meråker kommune
Meråker within Trøndelag
Meråker within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 63°26′17″N 11°50′58″E
CountryNorway
CountyTrøndelag
DistrictStjørdalen
Established1 Jan 1874
  Preceded byØvre Stjørdal Municipality
Administrative centreMidtbygda
Government
  Mayor (2019)Kjersti Kjenes (LL)
Area
  Total1,273.94 km2 (491.87 sq mi)
  Land1,188.06 km2 (458.71 sq mi)
  Water85.88 km2 (33.16 sq mi)  6.7%
  Rank#80 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
  Total2,399
  Rank#260 in Norway
  Density2/km2 (5/sq mi)
  Change (10 years)
Decrease −4.5%
DemonymMeråkerbygg[1]
Official language
  Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5034
WebsiteOfficial website

The municipality markets itself as a recreational area. The main areas of employment are in industry and agriculture. The municipality is noted for its characteristic dialect.

The 1,274-square-kilometre (492 sq mi) municipality is the 80th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Meråker is the 260th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,399. The municipality's population density is 2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 4.5% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The municipality of Meråker was established on 1 January 1874 when the old municipality of Øvre Stjørdal was divided into two: Hegra (population: 3,409) in the east and Meråker (population: 1,861) in the west. The municipal borders have not changed since then.[5] On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Meråker farm (spelled "Mørakre" around 1430) since the first Meråker Church was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain (maybe merr which means "mare" or mýrr which means "bog" or "marsh"). The last element is akr which means "field" or "acre".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 28 September 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, a cart argent" (Norwegian: I rødt en sølv vogn). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a mining cart. The mining cart has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize the fact that mining has traditionally played a major role in the area and has been of great economic importance for Meråker. 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 Meråker. It is part of the Stjørdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Meråker
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
MeråkerMeråker ChurchMidtbygda1874
Kopperå ChapelKopperå1936
Stordalen ChapelStordalen1863

History

Meråker Smelter

In 1898, a carbide factory was opened at Kopperå, later this factor was rebuilt as a silicon smelter. The smelter was in operation until June 2006. Its main product was microsilica which is used as an additive to cement.

Geography

Meråker is a landlocked municipality in the central part of Trøndelag county. To the north is the municipality of Verdal, to the west is Stjørdal, to the south is Selbu and Tydal, and to the east is Sweden.

There are three major lakes in Meråker: Feren, Fjergen, and Funnsjøen. The river Stjørdalselva runs through the municipality towards the Trondheimsfjord. The river Rotla begins in the southern part of Meråker. The mountain Fongen sits on the southern border with Tydal and Selbu.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Meråker, 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.[10] The municipality falls under the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Meråker is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Meråker kommunestyre 20202023 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
(Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)
5
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 20162019 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
(Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)
6
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 20122015 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
(Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)
3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 20082011 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker cross-party local list
(Meråker tverrpolitiske bygdeliste)
2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 20042007 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Meråker Cross-party Local List
(Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)
2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 20002003 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker Cross-party local list
(Meråker Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)
4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19961999 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Meråker Cross-party local list
(Meråker Tverrpolitiske bygdeliste)
4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19921995 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19881991 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19841987 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19801983 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
  Joint list of the New People's Party and independent voters
(Det Nye Folkepartiet og uavhengige velgere)
1
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19761979 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19721975 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19681971 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 19641967 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 19601963 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 19561959 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 19521955 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 19481951 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 19451947 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 19381941* [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:20
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 of Meråker:[29][30]

  • 1874–1877: Christian Erlandsen
  • 1878–1885: John Johnsen
  • 1886–1887: Iver Lie
  • 1888–1893: Fredrik Rø (V)
  • 1894–1897: O. Hugdahl
  • 1898–1907: Fredrik Rø (V)
  • 1908–1910: Carl Olaf Iversen (H)
  • 1911–1913: Olav Stubban (Ap)
  • 1914–1916: Ole E. Wollan (Ap)
  • 1917–1922: Peder J. Myrmo (Ap)
  • 1923–1925: Arne Bergsaas (Ap)
  • 1926–1937: Kristian Rothaug (Ap)
  • 1938–1939: Joar Eimhjellen (Ap)
  • 1939–1941: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
  • 1942-1942: Arild Solberg (NS)
  • 1943–1945: Alf Hembre (NS)
  • 1945–1966: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
  • 1967–1973: Johnny Stenberg (Ap)
  • 1973-1995: Svein Brækken (Ap)
  • 1995-2015: Bård Langsåvold (Ap)
  • 2015-2019: Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)
  • 2019–present: Kjersti Kjenes (LL)

Transportation

The European route E14 highway runs east to west through the municipality connecting to Trondheim Airport, Værnes about 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the west. The Meråker Line railway follows the E14 through the municipality also, with stops at Kopperå Station, Meråker Station, and Gudå Station.

Media

The newspaper Meråkerposten has been published in Meråker since 1982.[31]

Notable residents

Bård Langsåvold, 2013

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.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 2.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  8. "Meråker, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  12. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  29. Krogstad, Bjørn R. (1987). Bygdebok for Meråker (in Norwegian). Vol. 2. Meråker kommune.
  30. Straume, Kaurin (1973). Meråker kommune 100 år 1874–1974 (in Norwegian). Meråker kommune. p. 7.
  31. Smith-Meyer, Trond, ed. (1 December 2016). "Meråkerposten". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.