Siljan, Norway

Siljan is a municipality in Vestfold og Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Siljan. Other villages in Siljan include Snurråsen and Øverbø.[2]

Siljan kommune
Municipality
View of the Høisetbakkane area
View of the Høisetbakkane area
Flag of Siljan kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Siljan kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Siljan kommune
Vestfold og Telemark within
Norway
Siljan within Vestfold og Telemark
Siljan within Vestfold og Telemark
Coordinates: 59°17′51″N 9°42′23″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestfold og Telemark
DistrictGrenland
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreSiljan
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Kjell Abraham Sølverød (Sp)
Area
 • Total213.95 km2 (82.61 sq mi)
 • Land202.19 km2 (78.07 sq mi)
 • Water11.76 km2 (4.54 sq mi)  5.5%
 • Rank#299 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total2,349
 • Rank#261 in Norway
 • Density11.6/km2 (30/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3.4%
Official language
[1]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3812
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 214-square-kilometre (83 sq mi) municipality is the 299th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Siljan is the 261st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,349. The municipality's population density is 11.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (30/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

The older main road that connects the cities of Skien, Larvik, and Oslo passes through Siljan.

General information

The parish of Slemdal (later renamed Siljan) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, a small area (population: 16) of Hedrum Municipality in Vestfold county was transferred to Siljan Municipality in Telemark county. Again on 1 January 1968, the unpopulated Svartangen area was transferred from Hedrum to Siljan.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) was originally named, Slemdal after the local valley (Old Norse: Sleimdalr). The first element is likely the old name of a river, the meaning of which is uncertain. The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".[6]

In 1918, the name of the municipality was changed to Siljan. This name comes from the old Siljan farm (Old Norse: Seljur) since the first Siljan Church was built there. The name's meaning is uncertain, but it is likely that it comes from the plura form of selja which means "sallow tree" or "willow".[2]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 June 1989. The official blazon is "Vert, three saw blades argent palewise in fess" (Norwegian: I grønt tre opprette sølv sagblad). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a set of three saw blades standing vertically in a horizontal row. 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 green color in the field and the saw blade design symbolize the importance of the timber industry in Siljan. This type of saw blade was used locally throughout history. There were many saw mills located in Siljan along its waterways. The arms were designed by Halvor Holtskog, Jr. 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 Siljan. It is part of the Skien prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Siljan
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
SiljanSiljan ChurchSnurråsenc. 1200

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 Siljan (incomplete list):

  • 1991-2007: Finn Tallakstad (Ap)
  • 2007-2011: Ole Kristian Holtan (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Gunn Berit Rygg Holmelid (Ap)
  • 2015-2023: Kjell Abraham Sølverød (Sp)

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Siljan 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.

Siljan kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13][14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14][16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 9
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Siljan kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan herredsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Siljan herredsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:17
Siljan herredsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:16
Siljan herredsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:16
Siljan herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:16
Siljan herredsstyre 1938–1940* [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:16
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.

Notable people
  • Kristian Norheim (born 1976), a Norwegian politician who was a municipal councillor in Siljan from 1995 to 1999

References
  1. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  2. Nilsen, Jan Erik; Lundbo, Sten, eds. (15 August 2023). "Siljan". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  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. ISBN 9788253746845.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1914). Norske gaardnavne: Bratsbergs amt (in Norwegian) (7 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 93.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  8. "Siljan, Telemark (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 September 1989. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  10. "Siljan kommune, våpen". Digitalarkivet (in Norwegian). Arkivverket. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  11. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestfold og Telemark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  13. "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Telemark". Valg Direktoratet.
  14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  15. "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.

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