Fitjar

Fitjar (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈfɪ̂tːjɑr] (listen)) is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The municipality is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland. Fitjar municipality includes the northern part of the island of Stord and the hundreds of surrounding islands, mostly to the northwest of the main island. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fitjar.[3]

This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the village in this municipality, see Fitjar (village).
Fitjar kommune
Municipality
View of the village of Fitjar
Coat of arms
Vestland within
Norway
Fitjar within Vestland
Coordinates: 59°55′08″N 05°22′17″E
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictSunnhordland
Established1 Jan 1863
Administrative centreFitjar
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Harald Rydland (KrF)
Area
 • Total142.46 km2 (55.00 sq mi)
 • Land134.47 km2 (51.92 sq mi)
 • Water7.99 km2 (3.08 sq mi)  5.6%
Area rank317 in Norway
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,189
 • Rank223 in Norway
 • Density23.7/km2 (61/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
8.8%
Demonym(s)Fitjabu[1]
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4615
Official language formNynorsk[2]
Websitefitjar.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 142-square-kilometre (55 sq mi) municipality is the 317th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Fitjar is the 223rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,189. The municipality's population density is 23.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (61/sq mi) and its population has increased by 8.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information
View of Fitjar by night
Aerial view of the Fitjar islands
Fitjar Church

The parish of Fitje was established as a municipality on 1 January 1863 when it was separated from the large Stord Municipality. Initially, the population of Fitje was 2,313. On 1 January 1868, a small area in the municipality of Finnaas (population: 10) was transferred to Fitje. In 1900, the name was changed to Fitjar. The original municipality included all of the land surrounding the Selbjørnsfjorden.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the area of Fitjar located north of the Selbjørnsfjorden on the islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn (population: 696) was transferred to the neighboring Austevoll Municipality. On 1 January 1995, the islands of Aga, Agasystra, Gisøya, Vikøya, Selsøy, Risøya, and many smaller surrounding islands (population: 225) were transferred from Fitjar to the neighboring Bømlo Municipality. These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Fitjar farm, since the first Fitjar Church was built there. The name is the plural form of fit which means "vigorous meadow". Before 1900, the name was written "Fitje".[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted in the late 1940s. The arms show a golden Viking helmet on a blue background. The helmet and the color are derived from the belief that King Håkon the Good wore a golden helmet at the Battle of Fitjar in 961, which was fought in this municipality.[8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Fitjar. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Fitjar
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
FitjarFitjar ChurchFitjar1867

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Fitjar, 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.[9] The municipality falls under the Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fitjar is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Fitjar Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [10]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
Total number of members:17
Fitjar Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)7
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
Total number of members:17
Fitjar Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)1
 Conservative Party (Høgre)7
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
Total number of members:17
Fitjar Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)1
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)3
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:17
Fitjar Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)6
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)2
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)4
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
Total number of members:17
Fitjar Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)3
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
 Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)2
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)1
 Local list for the islands in Fitjar
 (Kretsliste for øyane i Fitjar)		1
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)5
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)6
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Local list for the islands (Kretsliste for Øyane)2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Conservative Party (Høgre)5
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)7
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Local list for the islands in Fitjar
 (Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar)		2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)4
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)8
 New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)1
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
 Local list for the islands in Fitjar
 (Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar)		2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)7
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)2
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)4
 Conservative Party (Høgre)3
 Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)5
 Centre Party (Senterpartiet)3
 Liberal Party (Venstre)4
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)18
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)1
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)20
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)21
Total number of members:21
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)20
Total number of members:20
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)2
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)18
Total number of members:20
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)17
 List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders
(Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)		3
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)17
Total number of members:20
Fitjar Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  
Party Name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
 Local List(s) (Lokale lister)20
Total number of members:20

Mayors
  • 1864–1865: Johannes Sørfonden
  • 1866–1871: Østen Hageberg
  • 1872–1875: Mikkel Sjursen Eide
  • 1876–1895: Østen Hageberg (H)[28]
  • 1896–1904: Anders Aarbø (H)[29]
  • 1905–1913: Mikal Hageberg (H)[29]
  • 1913: Tharald Vestbøstad (H)[29]
  • 1914–1919: Lars Rydland
  • 1920–1925: Peder Rygg
  • 1926–1928: Lars Rydland
  • 1929–1951: Berje Aarbø (Bp)[30]
  • 1952–1955: Harald Henriksen (V)[31]
  • 1956–1967: Peder Nilsen Aga (V)[31]
  • 1968–1971: Knut L. Rydland (H)
  • 1972–1975: Ole Havn (KrF)
  • 1976–1977: Knut L. Rydland (H)
  • 1978–1979: Finn Havnerås (Ap)[32]
  • 1980–1981: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
  • 1982–1983: Alf Gjøsæter (H)[33]
  • 1984–1985: Torvald Ingebrigtsen (Ap)[34]
  • 1986–1987: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
  • 1988–1991: Kjell Nesbø (Ap)
  • 1992–1995: Johannes Koløen (H)
  • 1995–1998: Per-Gunnar Bukkholm (KrF)
  • 1998–1999: Odd Bondevik (Sp)[35]
  • 1999–2007: Agnar Aarskog (Ap)
  • 2007–2011: Harald Rydland (KrF)
  • 2011–2019: Wenche Tislevoll (H)
  • 2019-present: Harald Rydland (KrF)

History
Historical population
YearPop.±%
19513,092—    
19603,172+2.6%
19702,520−20.6%
19802,888+14.6%
19903,072+6.4%
20002,992−2.6%
20102,931−2.0%
20193,201+9.2%
Source: Statistics Norway.

King Haakon I of Norway (Haakon the Good) maintained his residence at Fitjar. The Battle of Fitjar (Slaget ved Fitjar på Stord) took place in Fitjar on the island of Stord in the year 961 between the forces of King Haakon I and the sons of his half-brother, Eric Bloodaxe. Traditionally, important shipping routes have passed through the area, and the municipality contains several trading posts dating as far back as 1648. Fitjar was separated from Stord in 1863. There have been discussions about a possible reunion of the two municipalities, but no decision has been made.

Geography

The island municipality of Fitjar lies south of the Selbjørnsfjorden, west of the Langenuen strait, east of the island of Bømlo. The municipality includes over 350 islands, although most are uninhabited. The majority of the residents live on the island of Stord, the northern portion of which is in Fitjar. The southern portion of the island is part of the municipality of Stord. The island municipality of Austevoll lies to the north, across the fjord and the island municipality of Tysnes lies across the Langenuen strait to the east, and the island municipality of Bømlo lies to the west.[3]

Attractions
Fitjar Church and Håkonarparken

Fitjar Church was built in 1867 over the site of the old medieval stone church which had been demolished. Stone blocks taken from the old stone church were used as foundations for the present-day church as well as for the walling enclosing the churchyard. Opposite Fitjar Church is Haakon's Park (Håkonarparken), the location of a sculpture of Haakon the Good sculpted by Anne Grimdalen. The statue was erected in 1961 at the one thousand year commemoration of the Battle of Fitjar.[36]

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. "Fitjar" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  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 (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 156.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  9. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
  10. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Vestland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  11. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  19. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  20. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  28. Utheim, John (1892). Oversigt over Valgmands- og Storthingsvalgene 1891. Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. p. 35.
  29. Utheim, John (1901). Oversigt over valgtingene og valgmandstingene 1900. Kristiania: Steenske bogtrykkeri. pp. 57–58.
  30. Andersen, Thor M. (1931). Norges ordførere 1929–1931. Kristiania: A.M. Hanches Forlag. p. 159.
  31. Norske kommunalpolitikere: Norges styresmenn. 2. Oslo: Bokdepotet forlag. 1956. pp. 323–325.
  32. Rimmereid, Ingolv (14 November 2000). "Jubilant". Bergens Tidende. p. 24.
  33. "Ordførar frå Høgre i Fitjar". Bergens Tidende. 16 December 1981. p. 58.
  34. "T. Ingebrigtsen Fitjar-ordførar". Bergens Tidende. 17 November 1983. p. 10.
  35. Olderkjær, Ove (2 April 1998). "Bondevik styrer Fitjar". Bergens Tidende. p. 7.
  36. "Carwalk Fitjar". VisitNorway.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-17.
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