Ølen is a former municipality in the Vestlandet region of Norway. The municipality existed from 1916 until 2006, and originally it was a part of Hordaland county, but in 2002 it was transferred to Rogaland county prior to its dissolution in 2006. The 181-square-kilometre (70 sq mi) municipality was located on the south side of the Bjoafjorden and east of the Ålfjorden. The administrative center of Ølen was the village of Ølensjøen. The municipality of Ølen makes up the northern part of the present-day Vindafjord Municipality in Rogaland county.[4]

Ølen Municipality
Ølen kommune
View over Ølensjøen and Ølensvåg
View over Ølensjøen and Ølensvåg
Rogaland within Norway
Rogaland within Norway
Ølen within Rogaland
Ølen within Rogaland
Coordinates: 59°38′59″N 05°38′13″E / 59.64972°N 5.63694°E / 59.64972; 5.63694
CountryNorway
CountyRogaland
DistrictHaugalandet
Established1 Jan 1916
 • Preceded byFjelberg Municipality
Disestablished1 Jan 2006
 • Succeeded byVindafjord Municipality
Administrative centreØlensjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2004–2006)Arne Bergsvåg (Sp)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total
181 km2 (70 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total
3,426
 • Density19/km2 (49/sq mi)
DemonymØlsbu[1]
Official language
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC 01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1159[3]

History

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Map of Ølen in Hordaland county prior to 2002 when it was transferred to Rogaland county
 
View of Ølen in the first half of the 20th century
 
Ølen Church

The parish of Ølen was established as a municipality on 1 July 1916 when it was split off from the large municipality of Fjelberg. Initially, Ølen had 1,715 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipality of Vikebygd was dissolved and the eastern half of it (population: 578) was merged into the municipality of Ølen.[5]

On 1 January 2002, the municipality of Ølen was transferred administratively from Hordaland county to Rogaland county. On 1 January 2003, the people of Ølen and the neighboring municipality of Vindafjord held a merger referendum which was successful. On 1 January 2006, Ølen and Vindafjord merged, forming a larger municipality called Vindafjord. Before the merger, Ølen had a population of 3,426. The coat of arms of the new Vindafjord municipality bears the design of the old Ølen arms and the colours of the old Vindafjord arms.[4][5]

Name

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The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Ølsfjorden (Old Norse: Ǫlund) since it was a central geographical feature of the municipality. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it may come from the word ala which means "to produce" or "to nourish", possibly referring to the rich fishing in the fjord.[6]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 4 April 1986. The official blazon is "Gyronny embowed argent and vert" (Norwegian: Åttedelt av sølv og grønt ved virvelsnitt). This means the arms are a whirl design that divides the shield into 8 curved sections. The field (background) alternates colors, with half having a tincture of green and the other half have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design was chosen to symbolise the way that several major roads come together in the municipality, making it an important centre of trade. The arms were designed by Vigdis Viland. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9]

Government

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While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[10] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Mayors

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The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Ølen (incomplete list):

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ølen was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four-year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council of Ølen was as follows:

Ølen kommunestyre 2004–2005 [11]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet
(Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
4
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet
(Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
2
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1996–1999 [12]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet
(Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
2
 Vikebygd local list (Vikebygd bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1992–1995 [13]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa, and Haugsgjerdet
(Krinsliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
2
 Local list for Vikebygd (Bygdeliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1988–1991 [14]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Local list for Bjoa (Krinsliste for Bjoa)2
 Local list for Vikebygd (Bygdeliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1984–1987 [15]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Local list for Vikebygd, Bjoa, and Haugsgjerdet
(Krinsliste for Vikebygd, Bjoa, og Haugsgjerdet)
4
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1980–1983 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa and Haugsgjerdet
(Bygdeliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
3
 Local list for Vikebygd (Krinsliste for Vikebygd)2
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1976–1979 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Local list for Utbjoa, Innbjoa and Haugsgjerdet
(Bygdeliste for Utbjoa, Innbjoa og Haugsgjerdet)
3
 Local list for Vikebygd (Krinsliste for Vikebygd)3
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1972–1975 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1968–1971 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:21
Ølen kommunestyre 1964–1967 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1960–1963 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1956–1959 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 15
Total number of members:21
Ølen heradsstyre 1952–1955 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1948–1951 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1945–1947 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:20
Ølen heradsstyre 1938–1941* [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:20
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^ a b Store norske leksikon. "Ølen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ^ a b Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  6. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 91.
  7. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Vindafjord". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 April 1986. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  10. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  12. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1995. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1992. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 16 May 2020.