Etne

Etne is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland, although it is also sometimes considered to be part of the district of Haugaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Etnesjøen. Other villages in the municipality include Skånevik and Fjæra. The two largest villages in the municipality are Etnesjøen with 1,159 residents and Skånevik with 594 residents (all figures from 1 January 2015).[3][4]

Etne kommune
Municipality
View of the lake Løkjelsvatnet in Etne
View of the lake Løkjelsvatnet in Etne
Flag of Etne kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Etne kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Etne kommune
Vestland within
Norway
Etne within Vestland
Etne within Vestland
Coordinates: 59°39′50″N 05°56′00″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictSunnhordland
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreEtnesjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp)
Area
 • Total735.27 km2 (283.89 sq mi)
 • Land691.15 km2 (266.85 sq mi)
 • Water44.12 km2 (17.03 sq mi)  6%
 • Rank#154 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total4,043
 • Rank#201 in Norway
 • Density5.8/km2 (15/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +2%
Demonym(s)Etnebu
Etnesbu[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4611
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 735-square-kilometre (284 sq mi) municipality is the 154th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Etne is the 201st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,043. The municipality's population density is 5.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has increased by 2% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad, Ullensvang, Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord, the latter three are located in the neighboring county of Rogaland.

A Norwegian motion picture called United was shot in Etne with local people as actors.

General information
Mountain cabins
Village of Mosnes

Etne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Originally, Etne encompassed the area around the Etnefjorden and the surrounding valleys. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the neighboring municipality of Skånevik was dissolved and merged into its neighboring municipalities. All of Skånevik located south of the Åkrafjorden and east of the village of Åkra on the north side of the fjord (population: 1,493) was merged into Etne.[7]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Etnefjorden (Old Norse: Eðni). The name is likely derived from the old name for the river "Etneelvi", Atn or Etn. The meaning of the old river name may come from etja which means "to drive forward" or "to goad" or it might come from eta which means "to eat".[8]

See also: Etnedal § Name

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 December 1983. The official blazon is "Per pale dovetailed azure and argent" (Norwegian: Kløyvt av blått og kvitt med duestjertsnitt). This means the arms have are divided with a vertical line that is dovetailed. The field (background) to the left of the line has a tincture of blue. To the right of the line, the field 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 to represent the strong unity between the two former municipalities of Skånevik and Etne that were joined to form one municipality in 1965. The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland and John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Etne. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Etne
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
EtneGjerde ChurchEtnesjøen1676
Grindheim ChurchEtnesjøen1728
Stødle ChurchEtnesjøen1160
SkånevikSkånevik ChurchSkånevik1900
Fjæra ChapelFjæra1913

Geography

Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad and Ullensvang in Vestland county and the municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord in Rogaland county.

Etne has a varied landscape, extending from the Etnefjorden, Skånevikfjorden, and Åkrafjorden at sea level, through the villages up to the high mountains. In the far north, there is a barren and heavily eroded mountain glacier, Folgefonna, where the municipality's highest point rises 1,638 metres (5,374 ft) above sea level. Folgefonna National Park is partially located in Etne. In addition to that national park, Etne has three nature reserves: Brattholmen, Skåno, and Langebudalen. Lakes in the area include Løkjelsvatnet. The famous waterfall Langfossen is located in northern Etne.[11]

History

Recent archeological findings indicate that the area was already inhabited around 500 BC.[12]

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
18452,416—    
18552,553+0.55%
18652,610+0.22%
18752,599−0.04%
18902,324−0.74%
19002,113−0.95%
19102,078−0.17%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19202,118+0.19%
19302,035−0.40%
19462,416+1.08%
19512,452+0.30%
19602,512+0.27%
19703,930+4.58%
19803,980+0.13%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19904,037+0.14%
20003,917−0.30%
20103,882−0.09%
20204,062+0.45%
20234,073+0.09%
Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1965, causing a significant change in the population.
Source: Statistics Norway[13][14] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[15]

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.[16] The municipality falls under the Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Etne kommunestyre 2020–2023 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Etne kommunestyre 2016–2019 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Etne kommunestyre 2012–2015 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Etne kommunestyre 2008–2011 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Etne kommunestyre 2004–2007 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Krinslista)1
Total number of members:21
Etne kommunestyre 2000–2003 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Krinslista)2
Total number of members:21
Etne kommunestyre 1996–1999 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)2
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)3
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1992–1995 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)1
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)3
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1988–1991 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste)2
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)2
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1984–1987 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)2
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)4
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1980–1983 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)1
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)4
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1976–1979 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik)2
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1972–1975 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1968–1971 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:29
Etne kommunestyre 1964–1967 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Etne heradsstyre 1960–1963 [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Etne heradsstyre 1956–1959 [30]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:21
Etne heradsstyre 1952–1955 [31]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:24
Etne heradsstyre 1948–1951 [32]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 14
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:24
Etne heradsstyre 1945–1947 [33]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:24
Etne heradsstyre 1938–1941* [34]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 11
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
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.

Mayors

The mayors of Etne (incomplete list):

  • 2000–2007: Amund Enge (H)
  • 2007–2015: Sigve Sørheim (Sp)
  • 2015–2019: Siri Klokkerstuen (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp)

Transportation

The European route E134 highway runs the length of the municipality connecting it to the city of Haugesund in the southwest and to Oslo in the east. The highway runs through Etnesjøen and then northeastwards along the Åkrafjorden before crossing into the neighboring municipality of Odda. There are many tunnels along the route, some quite long, including the Åkrafjord Tunnel, Fjæra Tunnel, Markhus Tunnel, and Rullestad Tunnel.

The Eintveitbrua is a bridge in rural Etne that is not connected to the road network. It is considered to be a bridge to nowhere.

Notable people
Osmund Kaldheim, 2018

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 (1 January 2013). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  4. Store norske leksikon. "Etne" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 64.
  9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  10. "Etne, Hordaland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. "Point on the glacier". Hordaland fylke. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  12. "Dette funnet er sensasjonelt" (in Norwegian). NRK.
  13. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  14. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  15. Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
  16. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  18. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  19. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Etne.

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