Sula, Møre og Romsdal

Sula (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈsʉ̀ːɽɑ] ⓘ) is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre district. The administrative centre is the village of Langevåg. Other villages include Solevåg, Fiskarstrand, Veibust, Leirvågen, and Mauseidvåg. Sula is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Møre og Romsdal county, and it is part of the Ålesund Region since it is just south of the city of Ålesund. The municipality encompasses the island of Sula and the many small surrounding islets.[3]

For other uses, see Sula.
Sula kommune
Municipality
View of Langevåg (looking towards the town of Ålesund, administrative center of the neighbouring municipality)
View of Langevåg (looking towards the town of Ålesund, administrative center of the neighbouring municipality)
Flag of Sula kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Sula kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Sula kommune
Møre og Romsdal within
Norway
Sula within Møre og Romsdal
Sula within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°25′29″N 06°12′22″E
CountryNorway
CountyMøre og Romsdal
DistrictSunnmøre
Established1 Jan 1977
 • Preceded byÅlesund Municipality
Administrative centreLangevåg
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Jim Arve Røssevoll (Ap)
Area
 • Total58.52 km2 (22.59 sq mi)
 • Land57.07 km2 (22.03 sq mi)
 • Water1.45 km2 (0.56 sq mi)  2.5%
 • Rank#346 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total9,547
 • Rank#118 in Norway
 • Density167.3/km2 (433/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +15.6%
DemonymSulalending[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1531
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 59-square-kilometre (23 sq mi) municipality is the 346th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Sula is the 118th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 9,547. The municipality's population density is 167.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (433/sq mi) and its population has increased by 15.6% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information
View of the village of Sunde
View of Indre Sula Church

Originally, most of the island of Sula was part of Borgund Municipality and the small southwestern part of the island was part of Ulstein Municipality (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1958, the southwestern part of Sula island was transferred to Borgund, unifying the whole island as part of the same municipality. In 1968, Borgund (including all of the island of Sula) was merged with the town of Ålesund to form the large municipality of Ålesund. On 1 January 1977, the entire island of Sula and the many small islets around it were separated from Ålesund to become the new municipality of Sula. The initial population of the Sula was 6,302.[6]

Name

The municipality is named after the island of Sula (Old Norse: Súla) since the island made up the majority of the municipality. The name is likely derived from the word súla which means "cleft", probably referring to the cleft between the twin peaks of Rundehornet and Vardane.[3][7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 December 1983. The official blazon is "Azure, a chief and pile argent" (Norwegian: I blått eit sølv skjoldhovut med nedvend spiss). This means the arms have are divided with a horizontal line that has a triangular part that drops below the main line. The field (background) below the line has a tincture of blue. Above the line, the field 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 design was chosen to symbolize the cleft of the island between the twin peaks of Rundehornet and Vardane. The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Sula. It is part of the Nordre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Sula
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
SulaLangevåg ChurchLangevåg1948
Indre Sula ChurchMauseidvåg1984

Geography

Sula includes one main island and many small surrounding islets. It is bordered by the Sulafjorden strait to the west, the Storfjorden to the south, the Hessafjorden and Borgundfjorden to the north, and the narrow Vegsundet strait to the east. The only road access to the island is the European route E39 highway bridge over the Vegsundet.

The natural environment is typically coastal with a sparse forest. The landscape is mostly rocky with heather covering the ground. The highest elevation is the 776-metre (2,546 ft) tall mountain Vardane. Its neighbouring municipalities are all separated from it by sea, with Hareid to the west, Ørsta to the south, Giske to the northwest, and Ålesund to the north and east.

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 falls under the Møre og Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Sula is made up of 29 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Sula kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Sula List (Sulalista)4
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 8
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Sula List (Sulalista)4
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Sula List (Sulalista)4
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Sula List, party independent list for Sula
 (Sulalista, partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Sula)		6
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Sula List, party independent list for Sula
 (Sulalista, partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Sula)		4
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Sula List (Sulaliste)8
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independent list for Sula (Uavhengig liste for Sula)8
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independents list for Sula (Uavhengig liste for Sula)10
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Independent list for Inner Sula (Uavhengig liste for Indre Sula)4
 Independent list for Outer Sula (Uavhengig liste for Ytre Sula)3
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Non-party list for Inner Sula (Upolitisk liste for Indre Sula)5
 Non-party list for Outer Sula (Upolitisk liste for Ytre Sula)5
Total number of members:29
Sula kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Non-party election list for Inner Sula
 (Upolitisk valliste for Indre Sula)		5
 Non-party election list for Outer Sula
 (Upolitisk valliste for Ytre Sula)		6
Total number of members:29

Mayors

The mayors of Sula:

  • 1977–1978: Bjarne Bjørkavåg
  • 1978–1979: Per Gundersen
  • 1980–1985: Hallvard Ramnefjell
  • 1986–1995: Ivar H. Molvær (KrF)
  • 1995–1999: Gunvor Reistad Aannø (H)
  • 1999-2003: Egil Weltzien Holst (KrF)
  • 2003-2011: Ronny Harald Blomvik (FrP)
  • 2011-2015: Geir Ove Vegsund (H)
  • 2015–present: Jim Arve Røssevoll (Ap)

Culture

Sula is noted for strong traditions in the field of music. Nils Petter Molvær grew up in Langevåg. Also, the community harbours a strong maritime heritage. The influence of neighbouring city of Ålesund is strong; many live in Sula while working in Ålesund, which is a short ferry ride or a longer car ride away.

Economy

Manufacturing and production is the most important economical sector. Shipyards, fish processing, textile manufacturing, and furniture production are especially vital. The most famous clothing brand from Sula is Devold of Norway, with high quality woolen sweaters and underwear.

View of the Solevågen ferry quay

Transportation

Transportation in the municipality includes the European route E39 highway and several minor highways. The E39 highway enters Sula from the north (Ålesund) and it crosses the bridge at Vegsundet and continues west and then south to the Solevågen ferry quay where there are regular ferry routes to Festøya in Ørsta, across the Storfjorden. Also, there is a ferry connection in southwestern portion of Sula. This ferry has regular routes across the Sulafjorden from Sulasund to the village of Hareid on the island of Hareidlandet in the neighbouring municipality of Hareid.

Notable people
Nils Petter Molvær, 2019

Musicians

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (5 March 2018). "Sula". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 61.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  9. "Sula, Møre og Romsdal (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. "Kommunevåpenet". Sula Kommune. Retrieved 19 October 2008.
  11. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 19 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 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  20. IMDb Database retrieved 24 March 2021

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