Meløy

Meløy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørnes. Other villages include Eidbukta, Neverdal, Glomfjord, Halsa, Reipå, Støtt, and Ågskardet.

"Meloy" redirects here. For the surname, see Meloy (surname).
Meløy kommune
Municipality
View of Ørnes in winter
View of Ørnes in winter
Flag of Meløy kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Meløy kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Meløy kommune
Nordland within
Norway
Meløy within Nordland
Meløy within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°47′17″N 13°40′33″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictSalten
Established1 Jan 1884
 • Preceded byRødøy Municipality
Administrative centreØrnes
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Sigurd Stormo (Ap)
Area
 • Total873.84 km2 (337.39 sq mi)
 • Land798.08 km2 (308.14 sq mi)
 • Water75.76 km2 (29.25 sq mi)  8.7%
 • Rank#133 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total6,214
 • Rank#153 in Norway
 • Density7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −6.7%
DemonymMeløyfjerding[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1837
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The municipality is situated just to the north of the Arctic Circle on Norway's west coast. It encompasses the island of Meløya and some 700 other islands of various sizes around the Meløyfjorden, Glomfjorden, and Holandsfjorden in the south, along with a stretch of mainland coast.

The 874-square-kilometre (337 sq mi) municipality is the 133rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Meløy is the 153rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,214. The municipality's population density is 7.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (20/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.7% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
View of the Glomfjorden
Kystriksveien, Spilder valley (Spilderdalen) in Meløy
Fore Church

The municipality of Meløy was established on 1 January 1884 when the large Rødøy Municipality was separated into Rødøy (population: 1,945) in the south and Meløy (population: 2,696) in the north. The municipal borders have not changed since then.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Meløya (Old Norse: Mjǫlva), since the first Meløy Church was built there. The old name of the island is probably derived from mjǫl which means "flour" or "meal" (referring to fine sand on the beaches of the island). The last element øy which means "island" was added to the name around 1500. Historically, the name was spelled Melø.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 7 December 1984. The official blazon is "Azure, a poppy plant Or" (Norwegian: I blått en gull valmueplante). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a subspecies of the arctic poppy plant locally known as Svartisvalmue (Papaver radicatum subglobosum). The poppy plant 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 municipality is located near the second largest glacier in continental Norway, the Svartisen (black ice), and the plant is one of the plants found growing closest to the ice. The colors symbolize the blue glacial ice and the yellow flowers. The arms were designed by Rolf Tidemann after the original ideda by Knut Sørensen.[7][8][9]

Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Meløy. It is part of the Bodø domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Meløy
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
Fore og MeløyFore ChurchReipå1909
Meløy ChurchMeløya1867
Ørnes ChurchØrnes1990
GlomfjordGlomfjord ChurchGlomfjord1957
HalsaHalsa ChurchHalsa1960

History
Water is collected from Svartisen to produce hydropower.

Meløy has been inhabited for many centuries and still possesses various relics from the Viking Age. The Benkestok family, one of Norway's original noble families, established one of its seats at Meløy gård (farm) on the island of Meløya in the 16th century.

Due to the expansion of the community during the 19th century, it was split from its southern neighbour Rødøy in 1884. Its administrative centre was originally on Meløya, but it was later moved to the mainland coastal village of Ørnes. Ørnes is one of the stops on the route of the Hurtigruten (coastal express boat), with a notably scenic entrance via the fjord.

The second largest glacier in Norway, Svartisen, is a target for passenger visits. The mountains around Glomfjord are popular for fishing and hunting as well as skiing in the winter time.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Meløy, 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 Salten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Meløy kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:23
Meløy kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Meløy kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Meløy kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Common list (Samlingslista)2
Total number of members:27
Meløy kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Meløy kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Meløy kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 14
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Glomfjord list (Glomfjordlisten)1
 Free voters (Frie Velgere)2
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
 Socialist common list (Venstresosialistiske felleslister)2
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:35
Meløy kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:27
Meløy herredsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 15
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:27
Meløy herredsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 12
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:27
Meløy herredsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:20
Meløy herredsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 11
Total number of members:20
Meløy herredsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:20
Meløy herredsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 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.

Geography
Engabreen (glacier) seen from above as it stretches down towards Holandsfjord

The municipality of Meløy is a coastal community that includes many of the surrounding islands. Many parts of the mainland were fairly isolated until road tunnels were built during the 20th century that connected them to the rest of Norway. Some of the main islands of Meløy are Åmøya, Meløya, Bolga, Mesøya, Grønøya, and Støttvær. Åmøya is connected to the mainland via the Brattsund Bridge. The other islands are all accessible by boat or ferry only. The Kalsholmen Lighthouse is located in the southwestern part of the municipality.

The Vestfjorden passes Meløy in the northwest, and the Meløyfjorden, Glomfjorden, and Holandsfjorden cut into the mainland from the west. The Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is located in the southeast in the Saltfjellet mountain range, surrounding the Svartisen glacier.

Economy

The industrial development—and thus the main contributor to the economic development and growth of the Meløy community—started around the time of World War I. It was based on electrical power production in then new Glomfjord power plant from water coming from the Svartisen glacier and the lake Storglomvatnet and gathered in the mountains. In the bottom of Glomfjorden, Norsk Hydro (today YARA) started out producing fertilizers in Glomfjord, today yara is Meløy's biggest workplace with 190 people working there

A conglomerate of industries is found there today in Glomfjord Industry Park. The municipality's overall industries are some light industry, agriculture, forestry, fishing, salmon production, and tourism.

Meløy Energi, an electrical power company, is one of the most important employers in the municipality (as of Q4 2022).[29]

Notable people

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. 173.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. "Meløy, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 7 December 1984. Retrieved 2 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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. https://www.nrk.no/nordland/meloy-energi-kan-ga-konkurs-_-kan-ramme-meloyfjaeringene-i-kommunen-1.16146289 . NRK.no. Retrieved 2022-10-21
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