Vega, Norway

Vega is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Gladstad. Other villages include Holand and Ylvingen.

This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the island in this municipality, see Vega (island in Norway).

Vega kommune
Municipality
View of Nes harbour in Vega
Coat of arms Nordland within Norway
Vega within Nordland
Coordinates: 65°40′31″N 11°57′28″E
Country	Norway
County	Nordland
District	Helgeland
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Gladstad
Government
• Mayor (2007)	Andre Møller (Ap)
Area
• Total	164.79 km^2 (63.63 sq mi)
• Land	162.54 km^2 (62.76 sq mi)
• Water	2.25 km^2 (0.87 sq mi)  1.4%
Area rank	314 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,200
• Rank	322 in Norway
• Density	7.4/km^2 (19/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	-6.8%
Demonym(s)	vegværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1815
Official language form	Bokmål[2]
Website	vega.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Vegaøyan
The Vega Archipelago

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: v
Reference	1143
Inscription	2004 (28th session)
Area	107,294 ha
Buffer zone	28,952 ha

The municipality comprises about 6,500 islands in the Vega Archipelago. The main island of the municipality is the island of Vega, and it is also the largest at 163 square kilometres (63 sq mi). Bremstein Lighthouse is located in the southwestern part of the municipality.[3]

The 165-square-kilometre (64 sq mi) municipality is the 314th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vega is the 322nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,200. The municipality's population density is 7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

The municipality of Vega was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 1965, the Skogsholmen area (population: 196) was transferred from Tjøtta Municipality to Vega Municipality. Then on 1 January 1971, the Skålvær islands (population: 32) in the northeastern part of Vega was transferred to Alstahaug Municipality.[6]

Name

The municipality is named after the main island of Vega (Old Norse: Veiga). The name is probably derived from veig which means "liquid" or "fluid" (referring to the lakes and the marshes of the island). The name was written "Vegø" prior to 1891.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 20 November 1987. The arms show a gold-colored bailer for a boat on a red background. A bailer is an essential tool that is important to the municipality due to its dependence on the sea. An earlier suggestion for the Vega coat of arms picturing the black silhouette of a sailing boat on a yellow background is now used as the coat of arms of Nordland county.[8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vega. It is part of the Sør-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Vega

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Vega	Vega Church	Gladstad	1864
	Ylvingen Chapel	Ylvingen	1967

History

Early settlements on the main island date back 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest places of inhabitance in Northern Norway. Agriculture and fishing are at present as they were in the past, key fields of labour. Today's inhabitants are concentrated in Holand, Valla, Igerøy, Ylvingen, and Gladstad, the latter being the location of the municipal council and most of the island's commerce.

Geography

In 2004, the archipelago's cultural landscape was inscribed by UNESCO on the World Heritage Site list as representative of "the way generations of fishermen/farmers have, over the past 1,500 years, maintained a sustainable living in an inhospitable seascape near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique practice of eider down harvesting." The oceanic climate and limestone bedrock has allowed 10 different species of orchids to grow in Vega, and 210 species of birds have been recorded at the archipelago.

Eidemsliene nature reserve has many warmth-loving species of plants and the most oceanic pine forest in North Norway.[9] Holandsosen nature reserve is an important wetland area with a shallow lake and soil rich in lime; 149 species of birds have been observed in this reserve which has a rich bird life all year (many birds use this as their winter quarter). Lånan nature reserve preserves many types of coastal nature and is a very important area for many species of birds; eider down harvesting is still practiced here.[10]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Vega, 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.[11] The municipality falls under the Brønnøy District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vega is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Vega Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Red Party (Rødt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
Total number of members:		15

Vega Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		15

Vega Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		15

Vega Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		15

Vega Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
Total number of members:		15

Vega Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Vega Social Democrat list (Vega sosialdemokratiske liste)	1
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Vega Social Democrat List (Vega sosialdemokratiske liste)	4
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Vega Social Democrat list (Vega Sosialdemokratiske liste)	3
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		19

Vega Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	4
Total number of members:		17

Vega Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Vega Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Vega Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		16

Vega Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	2
Total number of members:		16

Vega Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		16

Vega Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [29]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		16

Media gallery

• 
  The Vega islands
• 
  Søla island
• 
  A summer day

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Store norske leksikon. "Vega (bilde)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2011-11-14.
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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 32.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
9. "Eidemsliene naturreservat" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
10. "Lånan - Skjærvær naturreservat/Fuglefredningsområde" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
11. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-02.

External links

• Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Vega Havhotell (in Norwegian)
• Images of Vega Island and the surrounding region by Dana Morris