Volda

Volda is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Volda. Other villages in the municipality include Dravlaus, Folkestad, Fyrde, Lauvstad, Straumshamn, Leira, Bjørke, and Grodås. The municipality is located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of the city of Ålesund.

This article is about the municipality in Sunnmøre, Norway. For the village in this municipality, see Volda (village).

Volda kommune
Municipality
View of Volda and the Voldsfjorden
Coat of arms Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Volda within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°05′16″N 06°00′51″E
Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Sunnmøre
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Volda
Government
• Mayor (2015)	Jørgen Amdam (Ap)
Area
• Total	876.87 km^2 (338.56 sq mi)
• Land	833.62 km^2 (321.86 sq mi)
• Water	43.25 km^2 (16.70 sq mi)  4.9%
Area rank	132 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,473
• Rank	107 in Norway
• Density	12.6/km^2 (33/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	6.9%
Demonym(s)	Volding[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1577
Official language form	Nynorsk[2]
Website	volda.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 877-square-kilometre (339 sq mi) municipality is the 132nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Volda is the 107th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 10,473. The municipality's population density is 12.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (33/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.9% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

Farm of Sivert Aarflot. The Sivert Aarflot museum to the left.

The municipality of Volden was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The original municipality was the same as the parish (prestegjeld) of Volden, including the sub-parishes of Ørsta and Dalsfjord. On 1 August 1883, the sub-parish of Ørsta (population: 2,070) was separated from Volden to form a new municipality of its own. This left Volden with 3,485 residents. On 1 January 1893, the Ytrestølen farm in Ørsta municipality (population: 13) was transferred to Volden municipality. In 1918, the name was changed from Volden to Volda. On 1 July 1924, the sub-parish of Dalsfjord (population: 960) was separated from Volda to become a municipality of its own. This left Volda with 4,715 residents.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Dalsfjord (population: 1,151) and Volda (population: 6,056) were merged back together. The new Volda municipality had 7,207 residents.[5]

On 1 January 2020, another large municipal border adjustment took place. The neighboring municipality of Hornindal (in Sogn og Fjordane county) and the Bjørke and Leira areas of Ørsta Municipality were merged with Volda to make a much larger Volda Municipality (in Møre og Romsdal county).[6]

Name

The municipality is named after the Voldsfjorden (Vǫld). The name is probably derived from an old word meaning "wave". (Compare with the German: Welle which means "wave".) Before 1918, the name was written Volden.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was adopted in 2019 for use starting in 2020. The arms from 1987 were modified by adding two scythes on either side of the tip of a fountain pen. The scythes were taken from the old arms of the former Hornindal Municipality which joined Volda in 2020.[8]

The old arms were granted on 19 June 1987. The arms show a white- or silver-colored tip of a fountain pen on a blue background. This is a symbol for the long history of education in Volda.[9]

• 
  Current arms since 2020.
• 
  Arms in use from 1987 to 2019.

Churches

The Church of Norway has six parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Volda. It is part of the Søre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Volda

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Austefjord	Austefjord Church	Fyrde	1773
Dalsfjord	Dalsfjord Church	Dravlaus	1910
Hornindal	Hornindal Church	Grodås	1856
Kilsfjord	Kilsfjord Church	Straumshamn	1974
Storfjorden	Bjørke Church	Bjørke	1919
Volda	Volda Church	Volda	1932

Geography

Volda's main geographical feature is the Voldsfjorden which branches off into the Austefjorden, Kilsfjorden, and Dalsfjorden. It is also mountainous, particularly southeast of the fjords, with the Sunnmørsalpene mountains surrounding the region. The 1,482-metre (4,862 ft) tall mountain Eidskyrkja is located in the southeastern part of the municipality.

Volda is bordered by Vanylven Municipality to the south-west/west, the municipalities of Herøy and Ulstein (only by sea) to the west, and Ørsta Municipality to the north and east. To the south it is adjacent to the municipalities of Stryn and Stad in Vestland county.

The dominant centre, both in terms of population and administration, is the village of Volda, in the northernmost part of the municipality. Other population concentrations include Mork, Ekset, Folkestad, Fyrde, Steinsvika, Lauvstad, Bjørkedal, Grodås, and Straumshamn.

Some of the mountains in Volda include Hornindalsrokken, Kvitegga, and Jakta.

Climate

Climate data for Volda
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	0 (32)	1 (34)	3 (37)	5 (41)	10 (50)	13 (55)	14 (57)	15 (59)	11 (52)	8 (46)	3 (37)	1 (34)	7 (45)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−1.5 (29.3)	−1 (30)	0 (32)	2 (36)	7 (45)	10 (50)	11 (52)	11.5 (52.7)	8.5 (47.3)	6 (43)	1 (34)	−1 (30)	4.5 (40.1)
Average low °C (°F)	−3 (27)	−3 (27)	−3 (27)	−1 (30)	4 (39)	7 (45)	8 (46)	8 (46)	6 (43)	4 (39)	−1 (30)	−3 (27)	2 (36)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	188 (7.4)	146 (5.7)	154 (6.1)	100 (3.9)	77 (3.0)	95 (3.7)	117 (4.6)	136 (5.4)	238 (9.4)	237 (9.3)	218 (8.6)	237 (9.3)	1,943 (76.4)
Average precipitation days	25	22	22	19	16	17	21	22	26	25	25	27	267
Mean monthly sunshine hours	14	39	86	136	200	197	171	151	80	58	28	0	1,159
Source: World Climate Guide[10]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Volda, 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 Søre Sunnmøre District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Volda is made up of 33 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Volda Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Red Party (Raudt)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Volda List (Voldalista)	3
Total number of members:		33

Volda Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	4
	Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Volda Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Ferry list (Ferjelista)	2
Total number of members:		27

Volda Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Volda Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Volda Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	10
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [15]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Centrum List (Sentrumslista)	1
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [16]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Cross-party list for the west side of the Voldsfjorden (Tverrpolitisk liste for vestsida av Voldsfjorden)	1
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [17]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
	Kindergarten List (Barnehagelista)	1
	Non-party election list for the west side of the Voldsfjorden (Upolitisk valliste for Vestsida av Voldsfjorden)	2
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [18]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	8
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
	Non-party election list for the west side of the Voldafjord (Upolitisk valliste for Vestsida av Voldafjorden)	3
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [19]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
	Election list for Dravlausbygda and Innselset area (Valliste for Dravlausbygda og Innselset krins)	1
	Local list for Lid and Yksnøy (Krinsliste for Lid og Yksnøy)	1
	Non-party list for the Mork area (Upolitisk liste for Mork krins)	1
	Non-party list for the west side of the Voldsfjorden (Upolitisk liste for Vestsida av Voldsfjorden)	2
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [20]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	8
	New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
	Election list for Mork (Valliste for Mork)	1
	Local list for Lid og Yksnøy (Krinsliste for Lid og Yksnøy)	1
	Non-party election list for Folkestad, Høydal, Fylsvik and the Bjørkedal area (Upolitisk Valliste for Folkestad, Høydal, Fylsvik og Bjørkedal Krins)	1
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [21]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	8
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [22]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	9
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		35

Volda Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [23]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	8
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	8
Total number of members:		35

Volda Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [24]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	15
Total number of members:		27

Volda Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [25]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		27

Volda Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [26]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		24

Volda Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [27]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	20
Total number of members:		24

Volda Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [28]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	17
Total number of members:		24

Volda Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [29]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	18
Total number of members:		24

Mayor

The mayors of Volda (incomplete list):

• 2015–present: Jørgen Amdam (Ap)
• 2011-2015: Arild Iversen (KrF)
• 2003-2011: Ragnhild Aarflot Kalland (Sp)
• 1988-2003: Knut Bere (H)
• 1980-1988: Rasmus R. Aarflot (Sp)

Culture

Volda Church

Volda is primarily known for strong cultural heritage and academic traditions. A private library at Egset, the first rural of its kind in Norway, is said to have inspired the young Ivar Aasen in the 19th century. Martin Ulvestad, Norwegian–American author who published an English-Danish-Norwegian dictionary in 1895, (Engelsk-Dansk-Norsk Ordbog med fuldstændig Udtalebetegnelse) was born in Volda. The Norsk Landboeblad newspaper was based in Volda in the 1800s. Volda landsgymnas (established 1910) was the first Norwegian secondary school outside a major city. Among the most important institutions today is the Volda University College.

Volda University College is one of 25 university colleges in Norway. Volda University College enrolls about 3,000 students and specializes in education of teachers, animators, and journalists.

There is a thriving creative community in the town, with several animation companies, as well as the Norsk Animasjonsentrum/Norwegian Animation Centre and a yearly animation festival, run in cooperation with Volda University College.

Volda also hosts a national documentary film festival as well as an annual student festival. The festival, Den Norske Dokumentarfilmfestivalen is usually held in late April. The national ski festival X2 is also held in Volda during April every year. The Volda TI sports club includes a Third Division association football team that competes in Volda.

As a logical consequence of the huge influx of students, as well as a county hospital, public services are by far the most dominant sector, representing almost 50% of economic life in Volda. Industry and agriculture are also prevalent. Bjørkedalen is noted for its tradition in building wooden boats.

The Sivert Aarflot Museum is located at Ekset in Volda.[30] Volda and its environs are featured prominently in the film Troll Hunter (2010).

Transportation

The Ørsta-Volda Airport, Hovden is located in neighbouring Ørsta Municipality, just north of the village of Volda. The European route E39 highway passes north through the municipality on its way to the city of Ålesund. As noted, the municipality is criss-crossed by fjords; therefore, both Lauvstad and Folkestad are linked to the population centre Volda by ferry. In February 2008, the underwater Eiksund Tunnel connected the municipalities of Ulstein, Hareid, Herøy, and Sande to Ørsta and Volda. The tunnel is the deepest undersea tunnel in the world. The Kviven Tunnel was completed in 2012, connecting Fyrde to the village of Grodås to the south on the other side of a large mountain. This tunnel led to the old Hornindal Municipality joining Volda in 2020.

Notable residents

• Ragnhild Aarflot Kalland, a local politician
• Olav Rune Ekeland Bastrup, writer
• Simone Larsen, artist and lead vocalist of D'Sound
• Beate S. Lech, jazz vocalist and lead singer of Beady Belle
• Eirik Sognnes, artist and notable singer of pop/folk music.
• Martin Ulvestad (1865-1942), Norwegian-American historian and philologist

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. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
6. "Nye Volda" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-20.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 67.
8. "Forslag til kommunevåpen og alle innsende forslag" (in Norwegian). NyeVolda.no. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-09-21.
10. "Volda Climate Guide, Norway". World Climate Guide. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
11. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
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 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
30. "Sivert Aarflot Museum, Volda". Stiftinga Sunnmøre Museum. Retrieved February 1, 2018.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Official website (in Norwegian)
• Website about Volda (in Norwegian)
• Weather forecast for Volda