Leirfjord Municipality

(Redirected from Coat of arms of Leirfjord)

Leirfjord is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Leland. Other villages in Leirfjord include Bardal and Sundøya. The large Helgeland Bridge is partly located in the municipality, connecting it to Alstahaug Municipality and the town of Sandnessjøen.

Leirfjord Municipality
Leirfjord kommune
View of Angerneset in western Leirfjord
View of Angerneset in western Leirfjord
Flag of Leirfjord Municipality
Coat of arms of Leirfjord Municipality
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Leirfjord within Nordland
Leirfjord within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°06′46″N 13°07′51″E / 66.11278°N 13.13083°E / 66.11278; 13.13083
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictHelgeland
Established1 July 1915 (1915-07-01)
 • Preceded byStamnes Municipality
Administrative centreLeland
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Kay Rune Nersund (FrP)
Area
 • Total
465.26 km2 (179.64 sq mi)
 • Land450.82 km2 (174.06 sq mi)
 • Water14.44 km2 (5.58 sq mi)  3.1%
 • Rank#212 in Norway
Highest elevation994.9 m (3,264.1 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
2,352
 • Rank#263 in Norway
 • Density5.1/km2 (13/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase  7.5%
DemonymLeirfjording[2]
Official language
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC 01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1822[4]
WebsiteOfficial website

The 465-square-kilometre (180 sq mi) municipality is the 212th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Leirfjord is the 263rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,352. The municipality's population density is 5.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has increased by 7.5% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

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View of the Ranfjorden

The municipality of Leirfjord was established on 1 July 1915 when it was separated from Stamnes Municipality. Initially, the municipality had 2,003 residents. In 1945, a small part of Nesna Municipality (population: 45) was merged into Leirfjord Municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Leirfjord Municipality (population: 1,936) was merged with the parts of Nesna Municipality located south of the Ranfjorden (population: 580) and the parts of Tjøtta Municipality on the island of Alsta (population: 180) to form a new, larger Leirfjord Municipality.[7]

Name

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The municipality is named after the Leirfjorden. The old name of the fjord was probably just Leiri, derived from the name of the river Leira, which has its mouth in the end of the fjord. The river name is derived from the word leirr which means "clay".[8]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 30 October 1992. The official blazon is "Or, a cross raguly vert" (Norwegian: I gull et grønt grenkors). This means the arms have a field (background) that has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The charge is cross with edges that are designed with a raguly edge. It symbolizes forestry and agriculture in the municipality as well as the central location of the north–south and east–west roads through the municipality. The arms were designed by Jarle E. Henriksen from the nearby town of Sandnessjøen.[9][10][11][12]

Churches

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The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Leirfjord Municipality. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Leirfjord
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Leirfjord Bardal Church Bardal 1887
Leirfjord Church Leland 1867

Geography

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Panoramic view from Leirfjord

The municipality of Leirfjord is centered on the Leirfjorden, with most of the municipality on the mainland and a small part on the northeastern part of the island of Alsta. The Sundøy Bridge connects the mainland to the northeastern part of the island of Alsta and the Helgeland Bridge connects it to the rest of Alsta and the town of Sandnessjøen. The Ranfjorden runs along the northern part of Leirfjord and the Vefsnfjorden runs along the southern part of the municipality. The highest point in the municipality is the 994.9-metre (3,264 ft) tall mountain Nordtoven, on the border with Vefsn Municipality.[1]

Government

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Leirfjord Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[13] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Leirfjord is made up of 19 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Leirfjord kommunestyre 2023–2027 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 2019–2023 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 2015–2019 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 2011–2015 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 2007–2011 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)1
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 2003–2007 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord Bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:19
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1999–2003 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)6
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1995–1999 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord Bygdeliste)7
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1991–1995 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)3
 Sundøy common list (Sundøy samlingsliste)2
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1987–1991 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Joint list of the Liberal Party and independent voters
(Venstre og uavhengige velgere)
1
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)5
 Sundøy common list (Sundøy samlingsliste)2
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1983–1987 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Joint list of the Liberal Party and independent voters
(Venstre og uavhengige velgere)
1
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)6
 Sundøy common list (Sundøy samlingsliste)1
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1979–1983 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Free voters (Frie velgere)1
 Leirfjord local list (Leirfjord bygdeliste)8
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1975–1979 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Free voters list (Frie velgeres liste)1
 Sundøy area non-party list (Sundøy Krets Upolitiske Liste)1
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1971–1975 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1967–1971 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord kommunestyre 1963–1967 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1959–1963 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:17
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1955–1959 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:17
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1951–1955 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:16
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1947–1951 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:16
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1945–1947 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:16
Leirfjord herredsstyre 1937–1941* [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:16
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.

Mayors

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The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Leirfjord is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[33]

  • 1915-1920: Jens Johnsen[34]
  • 1920-1926: Lars Jaastad[35]
  • 1926-1928: S. Kibsgård[36]
  • 1928-1931: J.E. Bergh (H)[37]
  • 1932-1935: Edvard A. Nilssen[38]
  • 1935-1941: Einar Leknes (V)[39][40]
  • 1942-1945: Thoralf Mørk[41]
  • 1945-1955: Einar Leknes (V)[42]
  • 1955-1957: Birger Jåstad (LL)[43]
  • 1957-1959: Kåre Hjartland (Sp)[44]
  • 1959-1964: Hans Nersund (Ap)[45]
  • 1964-1967: Einar Leknes (V)[46]
  • 1967-1971: Trygve Meisfjord (Ap)[47]
  • 1971-1975: Arnfinn Jøsevold (Ap)
  • 1975-1983: Carl Klæboe (Ap)
  • 1983-1987: Arnfinn Jøsevold (LL)
  • 1987-1991: Harald Jarle Pedersen (Ap)
  • 1991-1995: Åshild Albertsen (Sp)
  • 1995-1999: Harald Jarle Pedersen (LL)
  • 1999-2003: Oddvar Sjursen (Sp)
  • 2003-2011: Ivan Haugland (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Nils Magnar Johnsen (Sp)
  • 2015-2023: Ivan Haugland (Ap)
  • 2023–present: Sten Rino Bonsaksen (Ap)

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ Store norske leksikon. "Leirfjord" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  9. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Leirfjord, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  11. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 January 1993. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Leirfjord" (in Norwegian). Leirfjord kommune. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  13. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  17. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  33. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  34. ^ "Leirfjord herredstyre". Nordlandskysten (in Norwegian). 6 January 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Ordførervalgene". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 2 January 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Leirfjord herredstyre". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 4 September 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  37. ^ "Ordførervalgene". Helgeland (in Norwegian). 22 December 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Ordførervalgene". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 21 December 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  39. ^ "De nye ordførere i Nordland fylke". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 18 February 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  40. ^ "De nye ordførere og varaordførere i Nordland opnevnt". Lofotposten (in Norwegian). 16 January 1941. pp. 1 & 6. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Leirfjord herredsting". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 6 February 1942. p. 4. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  42. ^ "De nye, midlertidige ordførere i Nordland og Troms". Lofotposten (in Norwegian). 14 May 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  43. ^ "Birger Jåstad ny ordfører i Leirfjord". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 23 December 1955. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Leirfjord uten varaordfører". Nordlands Avis (in Norwegian). 22 November 1957. p. 2. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Hans Nersund ny ordfører i Leirfjord". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 21 December 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  46. ^ "Leknæs første ordfører i Stor-Leirfjord". Helgelands Blad (in Norwegian). 30 October 1963. p. 1. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  47. ^ "Trygve Meisfjord (A) ny Leirfjord-ordfører". Rana Blad (in Norwegian). 25 November 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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