Vestnes

Vestnes is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Vestnes is part of the traditional district of Romsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vestnes. Other villages in the municipality include Vikebukt, Vik, Øverås, Fiksdal, Tomrefjord, and Tresfjord.

This article is about the municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. For the village in Vestnes, see Vestnes (village).
Vestnes kommune
Municipality
View of Vestnes with mountains in the background
Coat of arms
Møre og Romsdal within
Norway
Vestnes within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°35′04″N 07°01′06″E
CountryNorway
CountyMøre og Romsdal
DistrictRomsdal
Established1838
Administrative centreVestnes
Government
 • Mayor (2011)Geir Inge Lien (Sp)
Area
 • Total351.70 km2 (135.79 sq mi)
 • Land347.18 km2 (134.05 sq mi)
 • Water4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi)  1.3%
Area rank249 in Norway
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,532
 • Rank150 in Norway
 • Density18.8/km2 (49/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
0.4%
Demonym(s)Vestnesing[1]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1535
Official language formNynorsk[2]
Websitevestnes.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The area is known for nature and outdoor pursuits, and has a long history in ship building and maritime crafts. The village of Vestnes (Helland) dates back to early medieval times, and has 24-hour ferry and water taxi service with the town of Molde to the northeast. The ferry takes about 35-minutes each way.

The 352-square-kilometre (136 sq mi) municipality is the 249th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vestnes is the 150th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,532. The municipality's population density is 18.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (49/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.4% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
View of the Tresfjord Church
View of the Tresfjorden

The municipality of Vestnes was established in the fall of 1838 when the western district of the large Veøy Municipality was separated to form its own municipality (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1899, the southern district of the municipality (population: 1,408) was separated from Vestnes to form the new municipality of Sylte. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipalities of Vestnes (population: 3,895) and Tresfjord, formerly known as Sylte, (population: 1,319) were merged to form a new, larger municipality called Vestnes.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Vestnes farm (Old Norse: Vestnes), since the first Vestnes Church was built there. The first element is vestr which means "west" and the last element is nes which means "headland". Before 1889, the name was written Vestnæs.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 April 1980. The arms have a red background with two triangular gold spikes pointing right. The arms represent the geography of the municipality: a headland between two fjords—the Tresfjorden and the Tomrefjorden.[7]

Museums

The Møre og Romsdal Agricultural Museum (Landbruksmuseet for Møre og Romsdal) was established in the municipality at the Gjermundnes Farm in 1979.[8][9]

Churches

The Church of Norway has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vestnes. It is part of the Indre Romsdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Vestnes
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
VestnesVestnes ChurchVestnes1872
FiksdalFiksdal ChurchFiksdal1866
TresfjordTresfjord ChurchTresfjord1828
VikeVike ChurchVikebukt1970

Geography
view of Fiksdal village

Vestnes is located in an area of great natural splendour on the southern shores of the vast Romsdal Fjord. The Tresfjorden and Tomrefjorden branch off Romsdal Fjord to the south. Vestnes borders Rauma Municipality to the east, as well as Stordal Municipality and Ørskog Municipality to the south. Across the Moldefjorden to the north is Midsund Municipality and Molde Municipality.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Vestnes, 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 Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestnes is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Vestnes Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)1
 Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:23
Vestnes Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)1
 Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)10
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:23
Vestnes Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)5
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
Total number of members:23
Vestnes Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)8
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)2
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:27
Vestnes Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)7
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:27
Vestnes Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)8
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)1
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)8
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Independent election list for Tomrefjord and Øverås/Nerås
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Tomrefjord og Overås/Nerås)		6
 Independent election list for the Helland school area
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Helland skulekrins)		3
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)8
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Independent election list for Tomrefjord and Øverås/Nerås
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Tomrefjord og Overås/Nerås)		6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høgre)6
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		5
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)8
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		4
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)7
 Conservative Party (Høgre)5
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)3
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		4
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)7
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)7
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
 Liberal Party (Venstre)5
 Area list for Tomrefjord and Overås (Krinsliste for Tomrefjord og Overås)6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høgre)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Conservative Party (Høgre)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)12
 Conservative Party (Høgre)1
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)7
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:33
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)8
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)11
Total number of members:25
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)2
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)12
Total number of members:25
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)7
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)1
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)12
Total number of members:24
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)2
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)13
Total number of members:24
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)7
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)		3
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)8
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)6
Total number of members:24
Vestnes Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)9
 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)12
Total number of members:24

Mayor

The mayors of Vestnes (incomplete list):

  • 2015–present: Geir Inge Lien (Sp)
  • 2007-2015: Øyvind Uren (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Knut Magne Flølo (FrP)
  • 1999-2003: Roald Fiksdal (Ap)
  • 1987-1999: Petter Inge Bergheim (Sp)

Economy

Vestnes is a relatively good agricultural community with emphasis on livestock and milk production. Vestnes, however, is primarily a manufacturing district. The main industry is the ship-building industry with a number of different companies located in Vestnes. A total of 63% of industry employment (2004) in Vestnes is part of the ship-building industry. Other that shipbuilding, there are several companies in the food, textile and clothing, wood products, furniture, and metal products industries in Vestnes.[7]

Media

The newspaper Vestnesavisa is published in Vestnes.[29]

Transportation

The European route E39 highway goes through Vestnes on its way from Sjøholt to Molde. The European route E136 highway goes through Vestnes on its way from Ålesund to Dombås. The two highways intersect and share part of the route through Vestnes. The new Tresfjord Bridge carries the E136 highway over the Tresfjorden rather than the previous roadway that follows the shoreline all the way around the fjord.

Notable residents
  • Mali Furunes (1888–1968)
  • Bjørn Rune Gjelsten (born 1956), a Norwegian businessman
  • Bernt Hulsker (born 1977), a Norwegian retired footballer
  • Sigrun Misund (born 1955), poet and writer
  • Kjetil Rekdal (born 1968), a Norwegian football manager and a former footballer
  • Terje Rypdal (born 1947), a Norwegian guitarist and composer
  • Lars Vistnes (born 1927-2016), a Norwegian plastic surgeon
  • Barry Gjerde (born 1951), Norwegian-Canadian gaijin tarento in Japan
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gollark: So you can ping event participants?
gollark: You should have had people upload their entire calendar.
gollark: I'm reporting you to the SCP Foundation.

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 217.
  7. Store norske leksikon. "Vestnes" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  8. "Landbruksmuseet for Møre og Romsdal, Gjermundnes". Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  9. "Gjermundnes" (PDF). Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommune. Vestnes kommune. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  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 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  29. Smith-Meyer, Trond, ed. (2012-05-12). "VestnesAvisa". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
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