Seljord

Seljord kommune

Sillejord herred *(historic)*
Silgjord herred *(historic)*
Seljord kommune Sillejord herred (historic); Silgjord herred (historic)
Municipality
	View of the local Seljord Church
	Flag Coat of arms Vestfold og Telemark within ; Norway
	Seljord within Vestfold og Telemark
	Coordinates: 59°30′48″N 8°38′56″E
Country	Norway
County	Vestfold og Telemark
District	Vest-Telemark
Established	1 Jan 1838
• Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centre	Seljord
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Beate Marie Dahl Eide (Sp)
Area
• Total	715.09 km2 (276.10 sq mi)
• Land	669.27 km2 (258.41 sq mi)
• Water	45.82 km2 (17.69 sq mi) 6.4%
• Rank	#161 in Norway
Population (2022)
• Total	2,889
• Rank	#231 in Norway
• Density	4.3/km2 (11/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−2.4%
Demonym	Seljording[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Nynorsk
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-3820
Website	Official website
	Data from Statistics Norway

Seljord is a municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Upper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. Other villages in the municipality include Flatdal and Åmotsdal.

The 715-square-kilometre (276 sq mi) municipality is the 161st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Seljord is the 231st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,889. The municipality's population density is 4.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (11/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 2.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

Seljord is famous for its sea serpent, Selma, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet).

The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60,000 to 80,000 visitors each year. The large fair started as a show of farm animals. More recently, it also includes a huge market with vendors selling a variety of goods including base layer clothing, Bergans outdoors equipment, crafts, and food. Amusement rides are also featured.

Seljord folk high school is located in Seljord. The school offers a variety of courses including outdoor adventure, theater, music, and art.

General information

The parish of Sillejord (later spelled Seljord) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 11 October 1873, an unpopulated area of Kviteseid Municipality was transferred to Seljord. On 1 January 1883, an area of southeastern Seljord (population: 235) was transferred to the neighboring Bø Municipality. On 23 January 1905, an unpopulated part of Hjartdal Municipality was transferred to Seljord.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Seljord farm (Old Norse: Seljugerði) since the first Seljord Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow". The last element is gerði which means "field". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled "Silgjord" or "Sillejord".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 15 September 1989. The official blazon is "Gules, a sea serpent Or" (Norwegian: På raud grunn ein gull sjøorm). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a sea serpent. 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 design symbolizes the local legend of a sea serpent named Selma who allegedly lives in the lake Seljordsvatn. The arms were designed by Trygve Magnus Barstad. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Seljord. It is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

**Churches in Seljord**
Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Seljord	Flatdal Church	Flatdal	1654
	Mandal Chapel	Mandal	1954
	Seljord Church	Seljord	1180
	Åmotsdal Church	Åmotsdal	1792

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 is under the jurisdiction of the Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Mayors

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

1878-1884: Jørund Telnes
1886-1886: Jørund Telnes
2004-2007: John Kleivstaul (Sp)
2007-2013: Solveig Sundbø Abrahamsen (H)
2013-2015: Jon Svartdal (KrF)
2015-2019: Halfdan Haugan (Ap)
2019-present: Beate Marie Dahl Eide (Sp)

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Seljord is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Seljord kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
Total number of members:		17

Seljord kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13][14]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Seljord kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Seljord kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		25

Seljord kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Seljord kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14][16]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Seljord kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Seljord kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	8
	Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk Bygdeliste)	2
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	14
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	14
Total number of members:		27

Seljord kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	14
Total number of members:		27

Seljord heradsstyre 1960–1963 [26]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	14
Total number of members:		27

Seljord heradsstyre 1956–1959 [27]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	14
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	13
Total number of members:		27

Seljord heradsstyre 1952–1955 [28]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	11
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	13
Total number of members:		24

Seljord heradsstyre 1948–1951 [29]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	12
Total number of members:		24

Seljord heradsstyre 1945–1947 [30]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	24
Total number of members:		24

Seljord heradsstyre 1938–1941* [31]
Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
	Joint list of the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	4
Total number of members:		24
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.

Media gallery

Memorial to Magnus Brostrup Landstad
Mandal Chapel
Åmotsdal Church
Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet)
Flooded boathouse in Seljord

Notable people

Helga Flatland, 2016

Anne Godlid (1773-1863), a 19th century Norwegian storyteller
Jacob Andreas Wille (1777–1850), a priest, teacher, and Mayor of Seljord
Daniel Bremer Juell (1808-1855), the Bishop of Tromsø from 1849-1855
Jørund Telnes (1845-1892), a farmer, teacher, writer, and Mayor of Seljord
Halvor J. Sandsdalen (1911-1998), a writer and folklore collector
Ingebjørg Kasin Sandsdalen (1915-2003), a Norwegian poet
Aslaug Høydal (1916-2007), a Norwegian schoolteacher, novelist, poet, and children's writer
Terje Grøstad (1925–2011), a Norwegian painter and illustrator who lived in Flatdal
Hallvard Flatland (born 1957), a TV personality
Kim Leine (born 1961), a Danish-Norwegian author
Helga Flatland (born 1984), a novelist and children's writer who was brought up in Flatdal

References

"Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
"Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
Rygh, Oluf (1914). Norske gaardnavne: Bratsbergs amt (in Norwegian) (7 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 322–323.
"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
"Seljord, Telemark (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
"Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 15 October 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
"Kommunevåpenet" (in Norwegian). Seljord kommune. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
"Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestfold og Telemark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
"Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.
"Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
"Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
"Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
"Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
"Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
"Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
"Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.

External links

The dictionary definition of Seljord at Wiktionary
Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)* Telemark travel guide from Wikivoyage
Seljord Folk High School

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

[1] "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.

[2] "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.

[ssb_pop-3] Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).

[ssb_area-4] Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).

[Dag-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. 322–323.

[7] "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 13 August 2023.

[8] "Seljord, Telemark (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 13 August 2023.

[9] "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 15 October 1989. Retrieved 13 August 2023.

[10] "Kommunevåpenet" (in Norwegian). Seljord kommune. Retrieved 17 January 2009.

[ks-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 - Vestfold og Telemark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 13 August 2023.

[13] "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.

[ssb_valg-14] "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.

[15] "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.

[16] "Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.

[17] "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.

[18] "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.

[19] "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.

[20] "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.

[21] "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.

[22] "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.

[23] "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.

[24] "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.

[25] "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.

[26] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.

[27] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.

[28] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.

[29] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.

[30] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.

[31] "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.