Steigen

Steigen ('stejgen) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Leinesfjord. Other villages include Bogen, Leines, Nordfold, Nordskot, and Sørskot. Engeløy Airport, Grådussan is located in the northern part of the municipality. Måløy–Skarholmen Lighthouse is located in the Vestfjorden in the western part of the municipality. The only road access to the municipality is via the Steigen Tunnel.

Steigen kommune
Municipality
View of the village of Nordskot
View of the village of Nordskot
Flag of Steigen kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Steigen kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Steigen kommune
Nordland within
Norway
Steigen within Nordland
Steigen within Nordland
Coordinates: 67°47′54″N 15°10′19″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictSalten
Established1 Jan 1838
Administrative centreLeinesfjord
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Aase Refsnes (SV)
Area
 • Total1,009.26 km2 (389.68 sq mi)
 • Land963.57 km2 (372.04 sq mi)
 • Water45.69 km2 (17.64 sq mi)  4.5%
 • Rank#114 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total2,591
 • Rank#246 in Norway
 • Density2.7/km2 (7/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.7%
DemonymSteigværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1848
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,009-square-kilometre (390 sq mi) municipality is the 114th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Steigen is the 246th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,591. The municipality's population density is 2.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.0/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.7% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The municipality of Steigen was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The southern part of Steigen was separated on 1 September 1900 to form the new Ledingen Municipality. This left 2,216 residents in Steigen.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964 a major municipal merger took place. A new municipality Steigen was created by the merging the following areas:

Prior to the merger, the population of Steigen was 1,843, and after the merger, the new municipality had 4,545 residents.[5][6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Steigen farm (Old Norse: Steig) since the first Steigen Church was built there. The name is derived from the verb stíga which means "mount" or "rise". This is referring to the high and steep mountain Steigtinden (tinden means "the peak") behind the farm.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 October 1988, but they were not formally approved by the government until 11 January 1991. The official blazon is "Or three axe blades sable in bend" (Norwegian: I gull tre svarte øksehoder i skrå rekke). This means the arms have a field (background) that 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 charge is three axe heads from the Viking Age that are lined up diagonally. The design was chosen to represent the Viking history of the municipality. There are three axe heads to represent that three municipalities were merged in 1964 to form the present municipality. The arms were designed by Henry Tømmerås, the municipal cultural secretary at the time.[8][9][10][11]

Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Steigen. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Steigen
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
LeirangerLeiranger ChurchLeines1911
Leinesfjord ChapelLeinesfjorden1912
Sørskot ChapelSørskot1953
NordfoldNordfold ChurchNordfold1976
SteigenSteigen ChurchSteigen (Engeløya)1250
Bogen ChapelBogen1926
  • Part of the old garden at Løvøy
    Part of the old garden at Løvøy
  • Steigen Sagaspill (historical play), based on an old tale
    Steigen Sagaspill (historical play), based on an old tale
  • Løvøy old trading centre in Steigen
    Løvøy old trading centre in Steigen

Geography
Brennviksanden beach and Vestfjord seen from the 1048 m high mountain Kråktind

The municipality is located along the coast of the Vestfjorden, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the town of Bodø, well inside the Arctic Circle. The road to Steigen departs from European route E6 and makes use of the 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) long Steigentunnelen (see World's longest tunnels). Steigen borders Hamarøy Municipality in the north and Sørfold Municipality to the south. The Vestfjorden and Lofoten are located west of Steigen. The Sagfjorden lies on the north and the Folda fjord in the south.

The municipality is mainly located on a peninsula dissected by many fjords. Steigen also includes several islands. The largest island is Engeløya, where there are ancient burial mounds (such as Sigarshaugen) and the world's most northerly naturally occurring Hazel forest in Prestegårdsskogen Nature Reserve. The largest glacier is Helldalsisen encircling a 1,361 metres (4,465 ft) mountain. The island of Engeløya is connected to the mainland by the Engeløy Bridges and just to the north of that lies the uninhabited island of Lundøya.

Steigen winter panorama

Steigen has fertile lowlands in between the mountains and the sea. There are several archeological sites showing settlements from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Viking Age. Lakes in the region include Forsanvatnet, Hopvatnet, Makkvatnet, and Straumfjordvatnet.

Climate

The monthly 24-hr averages range from −1 °C (30 °F) in January and February to 13 °C (55 °F) in July and August, with precipitation ranging from 49 millimetres (1.9 in) in May to 146 millimetres (5.7 in) in October; annual average is 970 millimetres (38.2 in) and mean annual temperature is 5.1 °C (41 °F).[12]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Steigen, 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.[13] The municipality falls under the Salten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Steigen kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Steigen kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 1
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Steigen kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 2
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Steigen kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Steigen kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:17
Steigen kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party list for Steigen (Tverrpolitisk liste for Steigen)3
Total number of members:21
Steigen kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)5
Total number of members:21
Steigen kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk list)2
Total number of members:21
Steigen kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 11
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Free voters non-party list (Frie velgeres upolitiske liste)3
 Fishing industry non-party list (Fiskerinæringens upolitiske liste)3
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 14
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:29
Steigen kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:29
Steigen herredsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 11
Total number of members:17
Steigen herredsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:17
Steigen herredsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:16
Steigen herredsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:16
Steigen herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:16
Steigen herredsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
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.

Mayor

The mayors of Steigen:[32][33]

  • 1838–1839: Christian B. Stoltenberg
  • 1839–1840: Hans P. Meisler
  • 1840–1847: Martin Adolph Sigholt
  • 1848–1851: Thomas Aagesen
  • 1852–1864: Peder Hansen
  • 1865–1868: Fredrik Nikolai Jensen
  • 1869–1870: Thomas Aagesen
  • 1871–1878: Peder Hansen
  • 1878–1879: Jonas Svensen
  • 1879–1880: Gerhard Schøning
  • 1881–1884: Johan C.R. Wisløff
  • 1885–1886: Ole Nilssen
  • 1887–1892: Johan C.R. Wisløff
  • 1893–1894: Lars Fremmerlid
  • 1895–1896: Peter M. Kristiansen
  • 1897–1901: Kristian B. Kristensen
  • 1902-1913: Søren S. Svendsen
  • 1914-1916: Hartvig Olsen
  • 1917-1928: Søren S. Svendsen
  • 1929-1931: Peder Hansen
  • 1932-1937: Søren S. Svendsen
  • 1938-1941: Sigurd Vik (NS)
  • 1941-1945: Johan Beck (NS)
  • 1945-1945: Jakob Aalstad
  • 1946-1955: Gudmund Storsæther (LL)
  • 1956-1959: Ludvig Fjellbakk (Ap)
  • 1960-1963: Sverre Kristiansen (Ap)
  • 1964-1965: Trygve Aasjord (H)
  • 1966-1967: Erling J. Vindenes (V)
  • 1968-1971: Johan O. Skjelstad (Ap)
  • 1972-1979: Jan A. Laxaa (Sp)
  • 1980-1985: Tor Johan Aalstad (Sp)
  • 1985-1991: Ragnar Kildahl (Sp)
  • 1991-1999: Svein Benoni (Sp)
  • 1999-2003: Arne Marhaug (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Berit Woie Berg (V)
  • 2007-2019: Asle Schrøder (Sp)
  • 2019–present: Aase Refsnes (SV)

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. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2001). "1848 Steigen. Population 1 January and population changes during the year. 1951-" (in Norwegian).
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 249.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. "Steigen, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 18 March 1991. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  11. "Kommunevåpen" (in Norwegian). Steigen Kommune. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  12. "1961-90 base period for Grøtøy, Steigen" (in Norwegian). Norges meteorologiske institutt.
  13. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  32. Fygle, Svein (1980). Steigen bygdebok (in Norwegian). Steigen kommune. pp. 138–139. ISBN 8290030606.
  33. Årbok for Steigen (in Norwegian). Vol. 32. Steigen historielag. 2007. p. 38.
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