Overhalla

Overhalla is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ranemsletta (also called Overhalla). Other villages include Melen, Skage, Skogmo, Svalia, and Øysletta.

Overhalla kommune
Municipality
Coat of arms Trøndelag within Norway
Overhalla within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 64°30′28″N 11°53′38″E
Country	Norway
County	Trøndelag
District	Namdalen
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Ranemsletta
Government
• Mayor (2011)	Per Olav Tyldum [1] (Sp)
Area
• Total	729.79 km^2 (281.77 sq mi)
• Land	689.08 km^2 (266.06 sq mi)
• Water	40.71 km^2 (15.72 sq mi)  5.6%
Area rank	155 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,884
• Rank	206 in Norway
• Density	5.6/km^2 (15/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	8.6%
Demonym(s)	overhallning[2]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5047
Official language form	Neutral[3]
Website	overhalla.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The population is concentrated in the relatively broad Namsen river valley at the center. Public services, agriculture, and tourism are the main sources of income. Overhallahus (a house building company) and Pharmaq (a fish vaccine factory) are located in the municipality.

The 730-square-kilometre (280 sq mi) municipality is the 155th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Overhalla is the 206th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,884. The municipality's population density is 5.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has increased by 8.6% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

Ranem Church

The municipality of Overhalla was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee, although Overhalla's borders were only slightly modified. On 1 January 1964, the Galguften and Hauknes area (population: 15) of Høylandet (on the southern shore of the lake Eidsvatnet) was transferred to Overhalla.[6] On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was œfri halfa which means "the upper half (of Namdalen)". Historically, the Namdalen district was divided in two parts: "the upper half" and "the lower half". The municipality of Overhalla today is, however, just a fraction of the old part of œfri halfa.[7][8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms for Overhalla was granted in 1989. They are inspired by an old seal for the district by King Håkon Magnusson from 1344. It shows seven red greek crosses arranged in a circle on a gold background.[8][9]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Overhalla. It is part of the Namdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Overhalla

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Ranem	Ranem Church	Ranemsletta	1187
Skage	Skage Church	Skage	1903

Geography

View of the river Namsen

The municipality includes part of the lake Eidsvatnet, from which the river Bjøra flows into the river Namsen, which runs from the east to the west. By the time it reaches the border to Namsos, Namsen is already brackish and influenced by the tides the ocean. The river Nordelva also empties into the estuary here. On the south side of Namsen, there is an area of mountains, including Reinsjøfjell and mountain lakes; the Bangsjøene lakes form the border with Snåsa. The western approaches to Geitfjell lies in Overhalla, while the summit lies in Grong. The southern tip of the lake Storgrønningen lies in Overhalla, while the vast majority of the lake lies in Høylandet.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Overhalla, 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.[10] The municipality falls under the Namdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Overhalla is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	13
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	13
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	12
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		16

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		16

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		16

Overhalla Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		16

Transportation

The historic Namsos Line railway traversed the municipality on its way from Grong to Namsos, but the line was closed to passenger traffic in 1978. Freight traffic on the line was discontinued in 2002. The Norwegian County Road 17 also crosses the municipality.

Notable residents

• Hans Andersen Barlien (1772–1842), Norwegian politician, credited with the establishment of a Norwegian-American immigrant settlement in Sugar Creek, Iowa
• Bjarne Brøndbo (born 1964) and Eskil Brøndbo (born 1970) rock musicians
• Gunhild Følstad (born 1981) international women's footballer
• Trine Skei Grande (born 1969), Norwegian politician and leader of the Liberal Party of Norway
• Christian Møinichen Havig (1825–1912), politician
• Alf Hildrum (born 1948), media executive and politician
• Johannes Rian (1891–1981), painter

References

1. "Ordføreren i Overhalla" (in Norwegian). Overhalla kommune. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
2. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
3. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "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.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (dokpro.uio.no) (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 306.
8. "Fakta om Overhalla" (in Norwegian). Overhalla kommune. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
12. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-02.

External links

• Trøndelag travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)