Fjaler

Fjaler is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre is the village of Dale. Other places in Fjaler include Espedal, Flekke, Folkestad, Guddal, and Hellevika.

Fjaler kommune
Ytre Holmedal herred (historic)
Municipality
View of Fjaler to the left of the fjord
View of Fjaler to the left of the fjord
Flag of Fjaler kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Fjaler kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Fjaler kommune
Vestland within
Norway
Fjaler within Vestland
Fjaler within Vestland
Coordinates: 61°18′22″N 05°27′48″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictSunnfjord
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreDale i Sunnfjord
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Kjetil Høgseth Felde (Sp)
Area
 • Total416.60 km2 (160.85 sq mi)
 • Land390.08 km2 (150.61 sq mi)
 • Water26.52 km2 (10.24 sq mi)  6.4%
 • Rank#234 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total2,901
 • Rank#230 in Norway
 • Density7.4/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +2.4%
DemonymsDalsfjording
Fjalerbu[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4646
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Fjaler was the birthplace of famous Norwegian poet Jakob Sande. The UWC Red Cross Nordic at Haugland, one of the eighteen United World Colleges of the world is also located here, as well as the Nordic Art Centre at Dalsåsen. There is a bridge connecting Dale to Eikenes in Askvoll municipality, and buses depart from Dale to Førde, Rysjedalsvika, Hyllestad, and the western part of Fjaler. Førde Airport, Bringeland is located about 28 kilometres (17 mi) to the east, with flights to Oslo and Bergen.

The 417-square-kilometre (161 sq mi) municipality is the 234th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Fjaler is the 230th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,901. The municipality's population density is 7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has increased by 2.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
Dale Church

Ytre Holmedal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The original municipality was identical to the Ytre Holmedal parish (prestegjeld) with the sub-parishes (sokn) of Holmedal, Dale, and Fjaler. In 1912, the name Ytre Holmedal was changed to Fjaler.[5]

On 1 January 1990, some changes were made to the boundaries between the municipalities of Fjaler, Gaular, and Askvoll. The areas surrounding the villages of Fure, Folkestad, and Våge (population: 482) in Askvoll were transferred to Fjaler municipality. The areas surrounding the villages of Vårdal, Holmedal, Rivedal, and a part of Hestad (population: 731) in Fjaler were transferred to Askvoll municipality. The parts of Hestad that did not go to Askvoll (population: 90) were transferred to Gaular municipality.[6]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly created Vestland county after Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland counties were merged.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) was named Ytre Holmedal, after the old Holmedal farm (Old Norse: Hǫlmudalr) since the first Holmedal Church was built there. The meaning of the first element of Holmedal is uncertain, but it may have been an old name for a local river, Holma. It is unknown what the river name meant. The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". The prefix ytre (which means "outer") was added to distinguish the area from its neighbor, Indre Holmedal.[7]

In 1913, the municipality was renamed by bringing back a very old name for the area, Fjaler (Old Norse: Fjalir). The name was the ancient name for the fjord (now called the Dalsfjorden). The name is comes from the plural form of the word fjǫl which means "board" or "table". Older forms of the name were Fjalir or Fjalar.[8][9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 8 February 1991. The official blazon is "Gules, two arched bridges argent" (Norwegian: På raud grunn to sølv kvelvingsbruer). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is two arched stone bridges. 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 two bridges symbolize the old, historic bridges in the municipality that are part of the old post road that goes through Fjaler on its way to Trondheim. The arms were designed by Inge Rotevatn from Nordfjord. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Fjaler. It is part of the Sunnfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Fjaler
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
FjalerDale ChurchDale1864
Folkestad ChapelVåge1913
Guddal ChurchGuddal1870
Hellevik ChapelHellevika1978

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.[13] The municipality falls under the Sogn og Fjordane District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fjaler is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Fjaler kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:23
Fjaler kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 11
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for the school district Rivedal-Holmedal-Vårdal
 (Bygdeliste for skulekrinsane Rivedal-Holmedal-Vårdal)		2
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 2
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:29
Fjaler kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:29
Fjaler heradsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:29
Fjaler heradsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:29
Fjaler heradsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:36
Fjaler heradsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 12
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:36
Fjaler heradsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 11
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:36
Fjaler heradsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:36
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 mayor (ordførar) of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party or a majority coalition of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Kjetil Høgseth Felde of the Liberal Party was elected mayor in the 2019 elections. Leif Jarle Espedal of the Labour Party holds the post of vice mayor.[32]

The mayors of Fjaler:[33]

  • 1838–1847: Johan Widing Heiberg Landmark
  • 1847–1847: Bertel Vonen
  • 1847–1855: Peder J. Fossedal
  • 1855–1860: P. J. Smith
  • 1860–1862: Ola Mathiasson Bakke
  • 1863–1868: Peder C. Mork
  • 1868–1868: J. Vonen
  • 1868–1872: J. Kalstad
  • 1872–1876: Mons Davidson Huustvedt
  • 1876–1880: P. J. Smith
  • 1880–1892: L. Larsen
  • 1892–1896: Mons Davidson Huustvedt
  • 1896–1898: David Olsen Bakke
  • 1899–1904: Ole A. Skarstein
  • 1904–1910: David Olsen Bakke
  • 1911–1913: Øystein Sørebø
  • 1914–1916: Andreas Sande
  • 1917–1919: Ola J. Espedal
  • 1920–1928: Andreas Sande
  • 1929–1934: Knut Bakkelid
  • 1935–1940: Ragnvald Fagerheim
  • 1941–1942: Søren K. Hauge
  • 1945–1945: David M. Hustveit
  • 1945–1947: Ragnvald Fagerheim
  • 1948–1959: Søren K. Hauge
  • 1960–1961: Jonas Mork
  • 1961–1963: Aksel Hovland (V)
  • 1964–1965: Gustav Stavøstrand (V)
  • 1966–1967: Ola Sørebø (V)
  • 1968–1971: Andreas Sande (Sp)
  • 1972–1975: Arne Barnsnes (Ap)
  • 1976–1981: Trygve Bjånes (Ap)
  • 1982–1987: Kåre Kleppe (Sp)
  • 1988–1989: Magnar Vagstad (Ap)
  • 1990–1995: Rasmus Felde (Sp)
  • 1995–2002: Arne Kyrkjebø (Ap)
  • 2002–2003: Jan Ulltang (Sp)
  • 2003–2015: Arve Helle (Ap)
  • 2015–2019: Gunhild Berge Stang (V)
  • 2019–present: Kjetil Høgseth Felde (Sp)

Geography

Fjaler municipality lies to the south of the Dalsfjord in the Sunnfjord region. The municipality of Askvoll lies to the north (across the fjord), the municipality of Sunnfjord lies to the northeast, the municipality of Høyanger lies to the southeast, and the municipalities of Hyllestad and Solund lie to the southwest.

Jakob Sande, 1929

Notable people
  • Nikka Vonen (1836 in Dale – 1933), a Norwegian educator, folklorist and author
  • Haldis Halvorsen (1889 in Dale – 1936), a Norwegian mezzo-soprano opera singer
  • Erik Grant Lea (1892–1979), a mythical tycoon and Norwegian ship-owner, banker, insurer and mill owner; settled in Gjølanger in Fjaler in 1922
  • Jakob Sande (1906 in Dale – 1967), a Norwegian writer, poet and folk singer; wrote in Nynorsk
  • Herbjørn Sørebø (1933 in Fjaler – 2003), a Norwegian journalist and broadcasting personality
  • Gjølanger
    Gjølanger
  • Bygning i klyngetunet Larsbakk i Fjaler
    Bygning i klyngetunet Larsbakk i Fjaler
  • Tyssedalsvatnet i Fjaler
    Tyssedalsvatnet i Fjaler
  • Fure fergekai
    Fure fergekai

References
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  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. Natvik, Oddvar (9 February 2005). "Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1919). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (12 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 263–264.
  8. "F — A Concise Dictionary of Old Icelandic — Словари — Северная Слава".
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  10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  11. "Fjaler, Sogn og Fjordane (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  12. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 15 April 1991. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  13. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  15. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  16. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Sogn og Fjordane". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  32. "Fjaler får ny ordførar" (in Norwegian). NRK Sogn og Fjordane. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  33. "Ordførarar i Fjaler". NRK Fylkesleksikon (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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