Flakstad

Flakstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of the island group Lofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ramberg.

Ramberg
Flakstad kommune
Municipality
View of a beach in Flakstad
View of a beach in Flakstad
Flag of Flakstad kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Flakstad kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Flakstad kommune
Nordland within
Norway
Flakstad within Nordland
Flakstad within Nordland
Coordinates: 68°04′45″N 13°16′28″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictLofoten
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished1 Jan 1964
 • Succeeded byMoskenes Municipality
Re-established1 Jan 1976
 • Preceded byMoskenes Municipality
Administrative centreRamberg
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Trond Kroken (Sp)
Area
 • Total178.44 km2 (68.90 sq mi)
 • Land169.12 km2 (65.30 sq mi)
 • Water9.32 km2 (3.60 sq mi)  5.2%
 • Rank#311 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total1,216
 • Rank#317 in Norway
 • Density7.2/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −12.1%
DemonymFlakstadfjerding[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1859
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Other villages include Fredvang, Napp, Nusfjord, and Vareid.

The municipality is located in the Lofoten Islands and comprises the entire island of Flakstadøya and the northern part of the island of Moskenesøya. The European route E10 highway runs across the whole municipality.

The 178-square-kilometre (69 sq mi) municipality is the 311th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Flakstad is the 317th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,216. The municipality's population density is 7.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 12.1% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
Flakstad church
Skagsanden beach, Flakstad
Nusfjord is a small harbor with traditional rorbus.

The municipality of Flakstad was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1916, the southern part of the municipality (population: 1,306) was separated to form the new Moskenes Municipality. This left Flakstad with 1,667 residents.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Flakstad (population: 2,067) was merged into the neighboring municipality of Moskenes (population: 2,001), creating a new, larger municipality of Moskenes. This merger, however, only lasted for twelve years. On 1 January 1976, the merger was undone with Moskenes (population: 1,705) and Flakstad (population: 2,007) becoming separate municipalities once again.[5]

Name
Flakstad

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Flakstad farm (Norse Flakstaðir), since the first Flakstad Church was built there. Historically, the name was spelled "Flagstad". The first element could be a Norse nickname (flak meaning "reckless") or it could come from the word flag meaning "rock wall", possibly referring to the large cliff near the church site. The last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm".[6][7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 14 July 1989. The official blazon is "Azure, a mooring bollard argent" (Norwegian: I blått en sølv tørnbolt). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a mooring bollard which is a type of fixed device used for tying a hawser line from a boat to the dock. The mooring bollard 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 blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea and the mooring bollard was chosen to represent the municipality's seafaring history. The arms were designed by Jorunn Thomassen and Jarle Henriksen.[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Flakstad. It is part of the Lofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Flakstad
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
FlakstadFlakstad ChurchFlakstad1780

Economy

The municipality's economy is dominated by fishing. The fishing fleet mainly consists of small boats. There are also several fish farm in Flakstad. There is some agriculture in Flakstad, but mostly cattle and sheep farming rather than growing crops.[7]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Flakstad, 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.[11] The municipality falls under the Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Flakstad is made up of 11 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Flakstad kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste)1
 Lofoten List (yes to municipal mergers)
 (Lofotlista (ja til kommunesammenslåing))		1
Total number of members:11
Flakstad kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste)3
Total number of members:11
Flakstad kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste)6
 Fredvang, Krystad and Skjelfjord municipal list
 (Fredvang, Krystad og Skjelfjord bygdeliste)		3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)8
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)7
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)2
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)9
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)8
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)6
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)4
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)5
 Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)6
 Non-party common list for Fredvang-Krystad
 (Upolitisk fellesliste for Fredvang-Krystad)		3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
 Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste)10
 Non-party common list for Fredvang-Krystad area
 (Upolitisk fellesliste for Fredvang, Krystad og omegn)		3
Total number of members:17
Flakstad kommunestyre 1976–1979 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
 Flakstad Common List (Flakstad Samlingsliste)13
 Non-party Common List Fredvang-Krystad
 (Upolitisk Fellesliste Fredvang-Krystad)		4
Total number of members:17
Flakstad herredsstyre 1960–1963 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:13
Flakstad herredsstyre 1956–1959 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 11
Total number of members:13
Flakstad herredsstyre 1952–1955 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 11
Total number of members:12
Flakstad herredsstyre 1948–1951 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:12
Flakstad herredsstyre 1945–1947 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:12
Flakstad herredsstyre 1938–1941* [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
Total number of members:12
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 Flakstad (incomplete list):

Geography

Located near the southern end of the Lofoten archipelago, Flakstad comprises all of the island of Flakstadøya and the northern part of the island of Moskenesøya. The islands are connected by the Fredvang Bridges and the Kåkern Bridge. The large lake Solbjørnvatnet lies on the northern part of Moskenesøya in Flakstad.

Vestvågøy Municipality lies to the northeast on the island of Vestvågøya, the Vestfjorden lies to the southeast, the Moskenes Municipality lies to the southwest on the island of Moskenesøya, and the Norwegian Sea lies to the northwest.

Climate
Climate data for Ramberg, Flakstad 1961-90
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.3
(31.5)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 0.2
(32.4)		 2.3
(36.1)		 6.3
(43.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 11.9
(53.4)		 12.0
(53.6)		 8.8
(47.8)		 5.8
(42.4)		 2.6
(36.7)		 0.5
(32.9)		 4.9
(40.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 175
(6.9)		 144
(5.7)		 126
(5.0)		 95
(3.7)		 60
(2.4)		 61
(2.4)		 85
(3.3)		 91
(3.6)		 155
(6.1)		 218
(8.6)		 175
(6.9)		 195
(7.7)		 1,580
(62.2)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[27]

Notable people
  • Fredrik Arentz Krog (1844 in Flakstad – 1923) a Norwegian barrister
  • Gina Krog (1847 in Flakstad – 1916) a Norwegian suffragist, teacher, liberal politician and editor
  • Birger Eriksen (1875 in Flakstad – 1958) a Norwegian officer, commander of Oscarsborg Fortress in WWII
  • Sigurd Lund Hamran (1902 in Flakstad – 1977) a politician, Mayor and deputy Mayor of Moskenes between 1937 & 1961
  • Alf Ivar Samuelsen (1942 in Flakstad – 2014) a Norwegian politician and Mayor of in Flakstad

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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 347.
  7. Store norske leksikon. "Flakstad" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. "Flakstad, Nordland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 September 1989. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
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