Valle, Norway

Valle (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈvɑ̂ɫːə] ⓘ)[3] is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Setesdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Valle. Other villages in Valle include Besteland, Brokke, Homme, Hovet, Rygnestad, Rysstad, and Uppstad.

This article is about the municipality in Setesdal, Norway. For other uses, see Valle (disambiguation).
Valle kommune
Municipality
View of the Rygnestadloftet at the Rygnestadtunet museum
View of the Rygnestadloftet at the Rygnestadtunet museum
Flag of Valle kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Valle kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Valle kommune
Agder within
Norway
Valle within Agder
Valle within Agder
Coordinates: 59.2125°N 07.5358°E / 59.2125; 07.5358
CountryNorway
CountyAgder
DistrictSetesdal
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreValle
Government
 • Mayor (2015)Steinar Kyrvestad (Ap)
Area
 • Total1,265.26 km2 (488.52 sq mi)
 • Land1,129.80 km2 (436.22 sq mi)
 • Water135.46 km2 (52.30 sq mi)  10.7%
 • Rank#82 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total1,169
 • Rank#321 in Norway
 • Density1/km2 (3/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −9.6%
DemonymValldøl[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4221
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 1,265-square-kilometre (488 sq mi) municipality is the 82nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Valle is the 321st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,169. The municipality's population density is 1 inhabitant per square kilometre (2.6/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 9.6% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information
Valle Church

Valle was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1902, the northern part of Valle (population: 476) was separated to become the separate municipality of Bykle. This left Valle with 1,720 inhabitants. On 1 July 1915, the southern district of Valle (population: 658) was separated to form the new municipality of Hylestad. This left Valle with a population of 1,051. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, the municipalities of Hylestad (population: 662) and Valle (population: 902) were merged into one municipality named Valle.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Valle farm (Old Norse: Vallar) since the first Valle Church was built there. The name is the genitive case of the word vǫllr which means "meadow" or "field".[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 May 1984. The official blazon is "Gules, five saltires couped Or in saltire (Norwegian: På raud grunn fem gull Andreas-krossar, 2-1-2). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a group of five saltire (St. Andrew's cross). The crosses are couped which means they are cut off or separate and they are laid out in saltire which means they are in the form of an X, in the pattern 2-1-2, together forming a larger cross. The crosses have a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The design was based on the diagonal beams forming construction and decoration in old Norwegian wooden churches, especially decorating the railings of the second floor balconies. This design was part of the medieval Hylestad Stave Church, located in Rysstad. This pattern is also used in traditional Setesdal sweaters that have long been made and worn in the municipality. The arms were designed by Daniel Rike. 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 the municipality of Valle. It is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Valle
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
Valle og HylestadHylestad ChurchRysstad1838
Valle ChurchValle1844

Geography

The municipality of Valle is bordered to the north by the municipalities of Bykle (in Agder county) and Tokke (in Vestfold og Telemark county). To the east, it is bordered by Fyresdal municipality in Vestfold og Telemark, to the south it is bordered by Bygland municipality in Agder, and to the west it is bordered by Sirdal municipality, also in Agder county.

Valle lies in the middle of Setesdal, a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder that included the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes. The Otra river flows from the Hardangervidda plateau in Telemark to the north, through the Setesdal valley (and through Valle), into the sea near the city of Kristiansand.

  • View of the area near Brokkestøyl
    View of the area near Brokkestøyl
  • Farmhouse near the lake Mykelvatnet
    Farmhouse near the lake Mykelvatnet
  • View of the Veiåjuvet canyon
    View of the Veiåjuvet canyon
  • View of the Rv9 road
    View of the Rv9 road
  • Evangsnuten mountain
    Evangsnuten mountain

Valle is separated from the neighbouring valleys in the east and west by the large Setesdalsheiene mountain plateaus. Before the valley was linked by road to Kristiansand in the 1840s, people routinely traveled east and west across these moorlands. The highest point is the 1,418-metre (4,652 ft) tall Skammevarden. Other high mountains in Valle include Bergeheii, Skjerkenuten, Svarvarnuten, and Urddalsknuten.

The high mountains are the starting points for several large rivers including the Kvina and Tovdalselva. Several large lakes are also located in Valle including Botnsvatnet, Kolsvatnet, Rosskreppfjorden, Store Bjørnevatn, Straumsfjorden, and Øyarvatnet. The Hallandsfossen and the Gloppefossen are two larger waterfalls in Valle.

There are two central population centres in the municipality: Valle and Rysstad. The village of Valle is the site of the municipal administration and Rysstad was the site of the municipal administration in the old municipality of Hylestad.

Climate

Situated in a long valley at some altitude, Valle has a humid continental climate (Dfb), close to a boreal climate. The driest season is spring, while the wettest is autumn and early winter.

Climate data for Valle 1991-2020 (308 m, recording since 1872)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −3
(27)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 0
(32)		 4.1
(39.4)		 8.7
(47.7)		 12.7
(54.9)		 14.9
(58.8)		 13.5
(56.3)		 10
(50)		 4.8
(40.6)		 0.6
(33.1)		 −2.8
(27.0)		 5.0
(41.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 115
(4.5)		 73
(2.9)		 58
(2.3)		 49
(1.9)		 68
(2.7)		 74
(2.9)		 89
(3.5)		 117
(4.6)		 108
(4.3)		 132
(5.2)		 122
(4.8)		 117
(4.6)		 1,122
(44.2)
Source: Yr.no statistics[11]

History
Sigurd Fåvnesbane featured on the portal plank from Hylestad Stave Church

The Hylestad stave church, constructed in the 12th century in Setesdal was demolished in the 19th century. Its portal, with several carved scenes illustrating the legend of Sigurd Fåvnesbane (Sigurd the Dragon-slayer), is on display at University Museum of Antiquities in Oslo (Universitetets Oldsaksamling, Historisk Museum, Oslo). Sigurd's slaying of Fafnir with his sword Gram is described in the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson and the Volsunga saga as well as alluded to in Beowulf and Njáls saga.[12]

Rygnestadtunet is a historical family farm in Rygnestad, built by Vonde-Åsmund (Åsmund the Evil) in the mid-1500s. Today, it is an open-air museum that is part of the Setesdal Museum. The farm was sold to museum by Gyro Rygnestad and her family in the 1920s. Today, it is represented to visitors exactly as it was in 1919. Grave findings around the farm indicate that the site was settled as early as 900 AD. Another farm museum in Valle is Tveitetunet. There are also several old silver smithies and barns that can be seen in Rysstad.

Historically, Valle was very isolated from other parts of Setesdal. To get from Valle to the Bykle area to the north, residents had to traverse the Byklestigen pass along the river Otra. The pass was a torturous trail up a steep cliff face. Until the 1870s, it was the only route to travel from Valle in the middle Setesdal valley to Bykle in the north. It runs above the river Otra and was the site of numerous accidents on the hazardous route. Today, the Norwegian National Road 9 passes through the mountain in a tunnel providing a fast, easy route north.

Between Valle in Setesdal on the western side of the mountains and Fyresdal on the eastern side, one finds a medieval trail over the high plateau that priests and bishops used in order to get between the counties of Agder and Telemark. This track is named Bispevegen ("Bishop's Road") and every year a march called "Bispevegmarsjen" ("The Bishop's Road March") starts at Kleivgrend in Fyresdal.

Traditional music is popular in this region. There is a Jew's harp monument in Valle. (Photo)

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.[13] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Valle is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Valle kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:15
Valle kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:15
Valle kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:15
Valle kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
Total number of members:21
Note: In the 2007 municipal elections, 48.9% of voters in Valle voted for the Conservative Party, the highest percentage in all of Norway.
Valle kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
 Local list (Bygdelista)2
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
 Local list (Bygdelista)2
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Valle kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:21
Valle heradsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:17
Valle heradsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 9
Total number of members:17
Valle heradsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Valle heradsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:16
Valle heradsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:16
Valle heradsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Joint list of the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 1
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.

Mayors

The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Valle:[32]

  • 1838–1844: Johan Koren Dahl
  • 1844–1856: Olav H. Kyrvestad
  • 1856–1857: Tor B. Homme
  • 1857–1863: Torleiv Bjugson Aakre
  • 1863–1865: Olav Olsson Aamli
  • 1865–1880: Peder Blom
  • 1880–1885: Knut Olsson Løyland
  • 1889–1895: Olav Pålsson Kjelleberg
  • 1895-1907: Hallvard K. Kvassaker
  • 1908-1916: Olav M. Harstad
  • 1917–1922: Knut K. Løyland
  • 1923–1931: Tarald Å. Åmli
  • 1932–1945: Knut O. Løyland
  • 1945-1945: Aasulv K. Austad
  • 1945-1945: Olav D. Rike
  • 1945-1945: Tarald Å. Åmli
  • 1946–1947: Knut O. Rike
  • 1948–1951: Torgeir Sagneskar
  • 1952–1957: Knut O. Løyland
  • 1958–1961: Daniel A. Homme
  • 1962–1963: Torjus Nomeland
  • 1964–1975: Dreng Brokka (Sp)
  • 1976–1987: Gudmund Åkre (Sp)
  • 1988–1991: Pål Åmlid (Ap)
  • 1992–1999: Tarald Myrum (Sp)
  • 1999–2007: Steinar Kyrvestad (Sp)
  • 2007–2011: Bjørgulv S. Lund (H)
  • 2011-2015: Tarald Myrum (Sp)
  • 2015-present: Steinar Kyrvestad (Ap)

Notable people
Bjug Harstad, 1897

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Berulfsen, Bjarne (1969). Norsk Uttaleordbok (in Norwegian). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co (W Nygaard). p. 351.
  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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt (in Norwegian) (8 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 216.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. "Valle, Aust-Agder (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 15 July 1984. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  11. "yr.no Valle statistics".
  12. Haimerl, Edgar. "Sigurd—ein Held des Mittelalters" (PDF) (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  13. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Agder". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  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 - Aust-Agder". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  32. "Ordførarar i Valle kommune". setesdalswiki.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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