Alstahaug

Alstahaug is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandnessjøen. Some of the villages in Alstahaug include Søvika and Tjøtta.

The old trading centre at Tjøtta

The old parsonage at Alstahaug is protected

Alsten island, with lowland at the foot of the Seven Sisters mountains

Alstahaug kommune
Municipality
Village of Tjøtta in Alstahaug
Coat of arms Nordland within Norway
Alstahaug within Nordland
Coordinates: 65°57′24″N 12°34′22″E
Country	Norway
County	Nordland
District	Helgeland
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Sandnessjøen
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Peder Talseth (Sp)
Area
• Total	188.12 km^2 (72.63 sq mi)
• Land	187.15 km^2 (72.26 sq mi)
• Water	0.97 km^2 (0.37 sq mi)  0.5%
Area rank	307 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,447
• Rank	137 in Norway
• Density	39.8/km^2 (103/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	3.5%
Demonym(s)	Alstahaugværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1820
Official language form	Neutral[2]
Website	alstahaug.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Most residents of Alstahaug live in the town of Sandnessjøen which is situated on the island of Alsta. The characteristic Seven Sisters mountain range is found on the eastern part of the island. Local legend has made this chain of peaks into seven sisters, two adjacent peaks representing twin sisters.

The island is connected to the mainland via the impressive Helgeland Bridge along Norwegian County Road 17. The Sandnessjøen Airport, Stokka is located just south of Sandnessjøen.

The 188-square-kilometre (73 sq mi) municipality is the 307th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Alstahaug is the 137th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 7,447. The municipality's population density is 39.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (103/sq mi) and its population has increased by 3.5% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The large municipality of Alstahaug was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1862, the southern district (population: 2,781) was separated to become the new municipality of Tjøtta (Vevelstad Municipality was later separated from Tjøtta). This left Alstahaug with about 3,280 residents. Just two years later, in 1864, the western island district (population: 2,438) was separated to become the new municipality of Herøy. Then on 1 July 1899, the northern district (population: 2,673) was separated to form the new municipality of Stamnes (Leirfjord Municipality was later separated from Stamnes).

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, several major municipal changes took place. First, the Husvær island area of Alstahaug (population: 461) was transferred from Alstahaug to Herøy Municipality. On the same day, the following areas were merged to form the new, larger municipality of Alstahaug:

• most of the municipality of Tjøtta, except the Skogsholmen area (population: 1,477)
• the municipality of Sandnessjøen (population: 3,856)
• the municipality of Alstahaug (population: 970)

On 1 January 1971, the Skålvær islands (population: 32) were transferred from Vega Municipality to Alstahaug. On 1 January 1995, the mainland areas of Alstahaug (population: 70) were transferred to Vefsn Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Alstahaug farm (Old Norse: Alastarhaugr), since the first Alstahaug Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the island Alöst (now Alsta) and the last element is haugr which means "hill" or "mound".[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 8 August 1986. The arms show the Seven Sisters (Norwegian: De syv søstre), a row of mountains in the area, mirrored in the clear waters of the fjord.[7]

The medieval Alstahaug Church

Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Alstahaug. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Alstahaug

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Alstahaug	Alstahaug Church	Alstahaug	12th century
Sandnessjøen	Sandnessjøen Church	Sandnessjøen	1882
Tjøtta	Skålvær Church	Skålvær	1851
	Tjøtta Church	Tjøtta	1867

History

At Alstahaug, on the southern end of the island of Alsta, lies the medieval Alstahaug Church, where the poet and minister Petter Dass worked around 1700. Tjøtta, an island south of Alsta, is the place where the famous Viking Hårek resided in the 11th century.

Nature

Birdlife

Lying just south of the Arctic Circle in an area that is known as Outer Helgeland, Alstahaug offers the visiting bird watcher a chance to do some birding in spectacular scenery, be it coastal or inland where The Seven Sisters mountain chain marks the boundary between the habitats. One of the better areas to birdwatch is Tjøtta. Here you will find the small nature reserve Ostjønna.

The Seven Sisters Mountains in Alstahaug

Geography

Alstahaug is a municipality consisting entirely of islands. Most residents live on the main islands of Alsta and Tjøtta, and Alstahaug stretches from the Skålvær island group in the west, to the Vefsnfjorden in the east, and to Mindlandet island to the south. The municipalities of Leirfjord, Vefsn, and Vevelstad lie to the east and Dønna, Herøy, and Vega lie to the north, west, and south, respectively.

Climate

Alstahaug has an oceanic climate. February is often the coldest month, and August is often the warmest. October is almost as warm as May. The mean annual precipitation is 1,510 millimetres (59 in) at Sandnessjøen and 1,020 millimetres (40 in) at Tjøtta. The wettest period is from September to January with approximately 150 millimetres (5.9 in) each month, while in May and June it averages 60 to 70 millimetres (2.4 to 2.8 in) each month.[8]

Climate data for Sandnessjøen (10 last years)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	2 (36)	−1 (30)	1 (34)	6 (43)	11 (52)	12 (54)	15 (59)	15 (59)	13 (55)	10 (50)	7 (45)	4 (39)	8 (46)
Average low °C (°F)	0 (32)	−4 (25)	−2 (28)	2 (36)	7 (45)	8 (46)	11 (52)	12 (54)	10 (50)	7 (45)	4 (39)	1 (34)	5 (41)
Source: [9]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Alstahaug, 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 Alstahaug District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Alstahaug is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Red Party (Rødt)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	12
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	City and rural - cross-party list (By og land - tverrpolitisk liste)	2
Total number of members:		27

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Red Party (Rødt)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		27

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Red Party (Rødt)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		27

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Sandnessjøen cross-party list—Town list (Sandnessjøen tverrpolitiske liste—Bylista)	3
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Joint list of the Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	13
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	15
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	14
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Alstahaug Free Voters (Alstahaug Frie Velgere)	1
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	15
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	16
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		31

Alstahaug Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		13

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		13

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	13
Total number of members:		13

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		12

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		12

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	11
Total number of members:		12

Alstahaug Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	11
Total number of members:		12

Mayors

The mayors of Alstahaug (incomplete list):

• 2019-present: Peder Talseth (Sp)
• 2011-2019: Bård Anders Langø (Ap)
• 2007-2011: Stig Sørra (H)
• 2004-2007: Magne Greger (Ap)
• 2003-2004: Håkon Mørk (Sp)
• 1999-2003: Bjarne Myhre (H)
• 1993-1999: Bill Rønning (Ap)
• 1984-1993: Gunnar Breimo (Ap)
• 1968-1974: Torvald Kibsgaard (Ap)

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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 89.
7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
8. Alstahaug climate statistics Archived 15 July 2012 at Archive.today
9. "Sandnessjøen average conditions; base period 10 last years". Storm Weather Center. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.

External links

• sandnessjoen.com - Local portal for Sandnessjøen and Alstahaug (in Norwegian)

• Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Picture: Beach south of Sandnessjøen
• Summer picture with the mountains in the background
• Skeilia nature reserve (in Norwegian)