Austevoll
Austevoll is a municipality and an archipelago in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Midthordland in Western Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Storebø on the island of Huftarøy. Other villages include Årland, Austevollshella, Bakkasund, Bekkjarvik, Birkeland, Haukanes, Husavik, Kolbeinsvik, Otterå, Våge, and Vinnes.
Austevoll kommune | |
---|---|
Bekkjarvik harbour | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Vestland within Norway | |
![]() Austevoll within Vestland | |
Coordinates: 60°02′16″N 05°16′06″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Vestland |
District | Midhordland |
Established | 1 Jan 1886 |
Administrative centre | Storebø |
Government | |
• Mayor (2015) | Morten Storebø (H) |
Area | |
• Total | 117.19 km2 (45.25 sq mi) |
• Land | 114.24 km2 (44.11 sq mi) |
• Water | 2.95 km2 (1.14 sq mi) 2.5% |
Area rank | 323 in Norway |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,236 |
• Rank | 174 in Norway |
• Density | 45.8/km2 (119/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | 14.5% |
Demonym(s) | Austevolling[1] |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-4625 |
Official language form | Nynorsk[2] |
Website | austevoll |
The municipality consists of hundreds of islands located southwest of the city of Bergen. The municipality is considered to be among the ports in the world with the largest ocean-going fishing trawler fleet. Since the 1980s, the offshore oil industry and fish farming industry have both grown to be important industries in Austevoll.
The 117-square-kilometre (45 sq mi) municipality is the 323rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Austevoll is the 174th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,236. The municipality's population density is 45.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (119/sq mi) and its population has increased by 14.5% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
General information
![](../I/m/Flag-of-Austevoll.gif)
The municipality of Austevoll was established on 1 January 1886 when it was separated from the municipality of Sund. The initial population for the new municipality of Austevoll was 2,396. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the southern part of the islands of Selbjørn and Huftarøy (population: 696) was transferred from Fitjar Municipality to Austevoll. This put the whole Austevoll archipelago in the municipality of Austevoll.[5]
Name
The municipality is named after the old Austevoll farm (Old Norse: Austrvǫllr), since this was the old site of the Austevoll Church. The farm is now part of the village of Austevollshella. The first element is austr which means "east" and the last element is vǫllr which means "meadow". The municipality has changed the spelling of its name three times. Before 1889 the name was written "Østevold" or "Østervold". From 1889–1917, it was spelled "Austevold", and since 1918 it has been spelled "Austevoll".[6]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms were granted on 30 November 1984. The arms are blue with four silver-colored fish swimming up to the left. The shoal of herring was chosen for the arms since herring fishing is a very important part of the local economy.[7]
Churches
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Austevoll. It is part of the Fana prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Austevoll | Austevoll Church | Storebø | 1890 |
Bekkjarvik Church | Bekkjarvik | 1895 | |
Hundvåkøy Church | Austevollshella | 1990 | |
Møkster Church | Stolmen | 1892 | |
Store-Kalsøy Chapel | Bakkasund | 1975 |
Geography
Austevoll consists of 667 islands off the west coast of Western Norway. The municipality has a total land area of 114.23 square kilometres (44.10 sq mi) and a coastline of 337 kilometres (209 mi). It lies south of the Korsfjorden, west of the Bjørnafjorden, and north of the Selbjørnsfjorden.[8] The highest point in Austevoll is the mountain Loddo, reaching 244 metres (801 ft) above sea level. The Marstein Lighthouse lies in the northwestern part of the municipality.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1855 | 2,057 | — |
1865 | 2,260 | +9.9% |
1875 | 2,396 | +6.0% |
1890 | 2,332 | −2.7% |
1900 | 2,434 | +4.4% |
1910 | 2,459 | +1.0% |
1920 | 2,760 | +12.2% |
1930 | 2,928 | +6.1% |
1946 | 3,272 | +11.7% |
1951 | 3,231 | −1.3% |
1961 | 3,366 | +4.2% |
1971 | 3,854 | +14.5% |
1981 | 3,912 | +1.5% |
1991 | 4,148 | +6.0% |
2001 | 4,446 | +7.2% |
2011 | 4,680 | +5.3% |
2019 | 5,212 | +11.4% |
Source: Statistics Norway.[9][10] |
Of the 667 islands, only eight are populated year-round. About 29% of the inhabitants live in densely populated areas. About 28% of the inhabitants are under the age of 17, which is 4.4% over the national average. About 4.7% of the inhabitants are 80 years or older.[8]
Villages
Rank | Village | Village Population (2005)[11] | District Population (2001)[12] |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Storebø | 1,032 | 1,341 |
2 | Bekkjarvik | 355 | 489 |
3 | Kolbeinsvik | 481 | |
4 | Vinnes | 378 | |
5 | Haukanes | 235 |
Inhabited islands
Rank | Island | Area (km²) | Population [12] | Density (/km²) | Largest settlement | Highest point | Elevation (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Huftarøy | 50.4 | 2,435 | 48.3 | Storebø | Loddo | 244 |
2 | Selbjørn | 25 | 956 | 38.24 | Bekkjarvik | Kongsafjellet | 185 |
3 | Hundvåkøy | 10.7 | 554 | 51.7 | Austevollshella | 61 | |
4 | Stolmen | 7.9 | 206 | 26.0 | Våge | Såta | 60 |
5 | Storekalsøy | 6 | 167 | 27.0 | Bakkasund | Mjuken | 57 |
6 | Møkster | 65 | |||||
7 | Litlekalsøy | 26 |
Gallery
Industry
Fishing is the most important industry in Austevoll, as it has been for centuries. Traditionally, fishing has taken place in coastal areas, not far off shore. After decades of overfishing, the herring disappeared in the 1950s. This forced a restructuring of the fishing fleet. Since the 1960s, the shipping companies built bigger ships, and went further out into the seas, and they began fishing for other fish species, not just herring. The overfishing of herring also forced better research on fishing, resulting in the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. Austevoll is the home of the Austevoll Aquaculture Research Station.
Since the early 1980s, the offshore supply industry has emerged in the wake of the offshore Norwegian oil industry. The offshore shipping company DOF, which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, has its headquarters at Storebø.
Education
There are five primary schools and one middle school in Austevoll, all run by the municipality. There is also one secondary school, teaching mainly fishing and nautical subjects. This is operated by the Hordaland County Municipality.
Transportation
Austevoll has car ferry connections from Hufthammar on the north tip of Huftarøy to Krokeide in Bergen, and from Husavik on the south tip of Huftarøy to Sandvikvåg in Fitjar. The municipality is also connected by express boats to Bergen in the north, and Stord, Haugesund, and Stavanger in the south. All express boat routes are operated by Norled, and ferry routes are operated by Fosen Namsos.
The islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn, Selbjørn and Stolmen, and Hundvåkøy and Storekalsøy are connected with bridges. A fourth bridge, connecting Huftarøy and Hundvåkøy, was opened on 17 November 2007. This bridge, which in fact consists of two bridges and two stone fillings, bears the name "Austevollsbrua".
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Austevoll, 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 Bergen District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Austevoll is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms.
From 1995 to 1999 the Socialist Left Party held one seat. In the 1999-2003 election period an all-party female electoral list held one seat in the council. In the 2003-2007 election period The Liberal Party was represented in the municipal council and held one seat.
From 2011–2015, a coalition of the Progress Party and Center Party held power in the council. The coalition also consisted of the Christian Democratic Party before 2011. In 2011, the coalition won 12 of the 21 seats in the municipal council and had an electoral and political cooperation. The Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Christian Democratic Party make up the opposition.
The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 10 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Austevoll List (Austevolllista) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 11 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 10 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 8 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 8 | |
New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Selbjørn common list (Selbjørn Fellesliste) | 5 | |
Non-party local list for Storekalsøy (Upolitisk Bygdeliste for Storeka1søy) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 12 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 27 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 27 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 23 | |
Total number of members: | 23 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 23 | |
Total number of members: | 23 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 16 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 16 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) | 3 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 13 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Mayor
The following is a list of mayors of Austevoll:[32][33]
# | Name | Office | Political Party | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ole Olsen Strømme | 1886–1901 | Church bell ringer | ||
Peder Olai Kleppe | 1902–1919 | Fisherman | ||
Olai Naustheller | 1920–1925 | Farmer | ||
Mikkel Nilsen Birkeland | 1926–1935 | Farmer | ||
Magnus Larssen | 1935–1937 | School teacher | ||
Salomon O. Fagerbakke | 1938–1945 | Fisherman | ||
Salomon V. Kalvenes | 1946–1959 | Fisherman | ||
Rikard S. Storebø | 1960–1969 | Liberal Party | Social security manager | |
Peder Kalve | 1970–1975 | Conservative Party | Maritime pilot | |
Magnus Stangeland | 1976–1981 | Centre Party | School principal | |
Knut K. Kalvenes | 1982–1985 | Conservative Party[34] | Retailer | |
Hallvard Møgster | 1986–1989 | Christian Democratic Party | Captain | |
Inge Bjarne Storebø | 1990–2001 | Conservative Party | Bank manager | |
Olav P. Årland | 2001–2003 | Christian Democratic Party | Shipmaster | |
Helge André Njåstad | 2003–2011 | Progress Party | Student | |
Renate Møgster Klepsvik | 2011–2015 | Progress Party | ||
Morten Storebø | 2015–present | Conservative Party | Politician |
Notable residents
- Halvor Olai Birkeland, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Rasmus Ingvald Birkeland, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Knut Fagerbakke, Deputy Mayor of Trondheim
- Claus Lundekvam, professional footballer
- Abelone Møgster, merchant and resistance fighter during World War II
- Halvor O. Larsen Møgster, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Magnus Stangeland, member of parliament, mayor and entrepreneur
- Henrik Olsen Østervold, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Jan Bertin Østervold, known as Jan Thomas, stylist and actor
- Jan Olsen Østervold, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Kristian Olsen Østervold, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
- Ole Olsen Østervold, gold medalist in 1920 Summer Olympics
References
- "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 251–252.
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- Statistics Norway (2006). "Tall om Austevoll kommune" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - Projected population - Statistics Norway
- Per 1 January 1964, a part of 1222 Fitjar (696 persons) and 1244 Austevoll were merged to one municipality, 1244 Austvoll.
- Statistics Norway (1 January 2006). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality". Archived from the original on 21 August 2006. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - Statistics Norway. "Folke- og bustadteljing 2001" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Former mayors of Austevoll municipality" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
- "Fattigstyret i Møkster sokn" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 3 October 2011.
- "Knut Kalvenes" (in Norwegian). Høyre. 2003. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
External links
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Austevoll. |
The dictionary definition of Austevoll at Wiktionary Hordaland travel guide from Wikivoyage Austevoll travel guide from Wikivoyage- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
- The gavl-boat "Notmann" sailing under the Selbjørn bridge
- 3-mountain hike in Austevoll in 10 minutes
- Kayaking in Austevoll
- Diving in Austevoll