Ibestad

Ibestad (Northern Sami: Ivvárstádik) is a municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Central Hålogaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hamnvik. Some of the other larger villages in Ibestad include Engenes, Laupstad, Rollnes, Sørrollnes, Sørvika, and Å.

Ibestad kommune Ivvárstáđiid suohkan
Municipality
Coat of arms Troms og Finnmark within Norway
Ibestad within Troms og Finnmark
Coordinates: 68°49′46″N 17°14′45″E
Country	Norway
County	Troms og Finnmark
District	Hålogaland
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Hamnvik
Government
• Mayor (2011)	Dag Brustind (H)
Area
• Total	241.06 km^2 (93.07 sq mi)
• Land	234.17 km^2 (90.41 sq mi)
• Water	6.90 km^2 (2.66 sq mi)  2.9%
Area rank	292 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,361
• Rank	307 in Norway
• Density	5.8/km^2 (15/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	-3.3%
Demonym(s)	Ibestadværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5413
Official language form	Bokmål[2]
Website	ibestad.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 241-square-kilometre (93 sq mi) municipality is the 292nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Ibestad is the 307th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,361. The municipality's population density is 5.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.3% over the last decade.[3][4]

General information

Ibestad includes the two islands in the central part of this picture

Ibestad Church

The municipality of Ibestad was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Initially, Ibestad municipality covered a large area from the Vågsfjorden to the border with Sweden (the old Astafjord church parish). In 1854, the rural eastern half of the municipality (population: 757) was separated from Ibestad to form the new Bardu Municipality. This left Ibestad with 4,741 residents.

Then, on 1 January 1871, the northeastern part of the municipality (population: 1,384) was separated from Ibestad to form the new Salangen Municipality. This left Ibestad with 4,301 inhabitants. On 1 January 1907, the easternmost area of Ibestad (population: 1,536) became the separate Lavangen Municipality. Ibestad had 5,709 residents remaining after the split. In 1926, the municipality of Ibestad was divided into four separate municipalities: Andørja (population: 1,420) in the northeast, Gratangen (population: 1,967) in the southeast, Astafjord (population: 1,018) in the southwest, and (a much smaller) Ibestad (population: 1,768) in the northwest.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Ibestad (population: 1,821) was merged with the municipality of Andørja (population: 1,330) and the part of Skånland Municipality located on the island of Rolla (population: 143), creating a new Ibestad Municipality with a total of 3,294 residents.[5]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ibestad farm (Old Norse: Ívarsstaðir), since the first Ibestad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name Ívarr and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm". Prior to 1918, the name was spelled Ibbestad.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is modern and it was approved on 19 December 1986. The blue and white arms symbolize one of the oldest Norwegian stone churches. The church was built in Ibestad around the year 1200. As a symbol for this church, the arms show a cross on a medieval tombstone that was found at the church in 1960.[8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Ibestad. It is part of the Trondenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Ibestad

Parish (Sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Andørja	Andørja Church	Engenes	1914
Ibestad	Ibestad Church	Hamnvik	1881
	Sørrollnes Chapel	Sørrollnes	1976

Geography

The municipality encompasses the islands of Andørja and Rolla and the tiny surrounding islets. The two main islands are connected by the undersea Ibestad Tunnel. The Mjøsund Bridge connects Andørja to Salangen Municipality on the mainland. There is a regular ferry connection from Sørrollnes on Rolla to the town of Harstad.

The Astafjorden forms the southeastern border of the municipality and the Vågsfjorden forms the western and northern borders. The small Mjøsundet strait forms the eastern border. The highest point in Ibestad is the 1,276-metre (4,186 ft) tall Langlitinden mountain.

Climate

Climate data for Hamnvik
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.4 (25.9)	−3.1 (26.4)	−1.5 (29.3)	1.6 (34.9)	6.2 (43.2)	10.0 (50.0)	12.4 (54.3)	11.9 (53.4)	8.0 (46.4)	3.9 (39.0)	−0.1 (31.8)	−2.4 (27.7)	3.6 (38.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	89 (3.5)	82 (3.2)	66 (2.6)	56 (2.2)	42 (1.7)	49 (1.9)	63 (2.5)	74 (2.9)	99 (3.9)	128 (5.0)	97 (3.8)	105 (4.1)	950 (37.4)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[9]

Government

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

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ibestad is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Andørja Common List (Andørja Fellesliste)	5
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Andørja Common List (Andørja fellesliste)	7
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Joint list of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre)	8
	Andørja common list (Andørja fellesliste)	7
	Ibestad local list (Ibestad bygdeliste)	2
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Joint list of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party (Venstre)	11
	Andørja common list (Andørja fellesliste)	8
Total number of members:		21

Ibestad Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Andørja common list (Andørja fellesliste)	7
Total number of members:		21

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Rolla Youth List (Rolla Ungdomsliste)	2
	Andørja Common List (Andørja Fellesliste)	5
Total number of members:		21

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Outer Andørja Common List (Ytre Andørja Fellesliste)	2
	Common list for Inner Andørja (Fellesliste for Indre Andørja)	1
	Rolla common list (Rolla fellesliste)	3
	Kråkre and Furnes election list (Kråkre og Furnes valgliste)	1
Total number of members:		21

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Outer Andørja Common List (Ytre Andørja Fellesliste)	3
	Common list for Inner Andørja (Fellesliste for Indre Andørja)	3
	Rolla common list (Rolla fellesliste)	1
	Kråkre and Furnes election list (Kråkre og Furnes valgliste)	1
Total number of members:		21

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Outer Andørja Common List (Ytre Andørja Fellesliste)	4
	Common list for Inner Andørja (Fellesliste for Indre Andørja)	5
	Rolla common list (Rolla fellesliste)	2
Total number of members:		25

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Outer Andørja Common List (Ytre Andørja Fellesliste)	4
	Common list for Inner Andørja (Fellesliste for Indre Andørja)	5
Total number of members:		25

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Outer Andørja Common List (Ytre Andørja Fellesliste)	4
	Common list for Inner Andørja (Fellesliste for Indre Andørja)	4
Total number of members:		25

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	20
Total number of members:		29

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	18
Total number of members:		29

Ibestad Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	25
Total number of members:		29

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	16
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	18
Total number of members:		19

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	9
Total number of members:		16

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		16

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	7
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	9
Total number of members:		16

Ibestad Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [28]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	8
Total number of members:		16

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. Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (2019-12-24). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 40.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
9. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 2004-06-14.
10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2018-08-28.
11. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
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 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-18.

External links

• Media related to Ibestad at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition of ibestad at Wiktionary
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Troms travel guide from Wikivoyage