Gildeskål Municipality

Gildeskål is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Bodø Region and the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Inndyr. Other villages include Forstranda, Lekanger, Mevik, Mårnes, Nygårdsjøen, Saura, Storvik, Sør-Arnøy, Sørfinnset, and Våg.

Gildeskål Municipality
Gildeskål kommune
Gildeskaal herred  (historic name)
View of Inndyr
View of Inndyr
Flag of Gildeskål Municipality
Coat of arms of Gildeskål Municipality
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Gildeskål within Nordland
Gildeskål within Nordland
Coordinates: 67°01′24″N 14°04′38″E / 67.02333°N 14.07722°E / 67.02333; 14.07722
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictSalten
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreInndyr
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Bjørn Magne Pedersen (H)
Area
 • Total
664.70 km2 (256.64 sq mi)
 • Land622.27 km2 (240.26 sq mi)
 • Water42.43 km2 (16.38 sq mi)  6.4%
 • Rank#170 in Norway
Highest elevation1,331.83 m (4,369.52 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
1,958
 • Rank#285 in Norway
 • Density2.9/km2 (8/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3.2%
DemonymsGildeskålfjerding
Gildeskålværing[2]
Official language
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1838[4]
WebsiteOfficial website

The 665-square-kilometre (257 sq mi) municipality is the 170th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Gildeskål is the 285th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,958. The municipality's population density is 2.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.5/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.2% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

edit
 
Fugløya ('Bird Island')
 
The 900-year-old Old Gildeskål Church

The municipality of Gildeskaal (later spelled Gildeskål) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1853, the eastern (inland) district of Gildeskaal Municipality (population: about 1,150) was separated to become the new Beiarn Municipality. This left Gildeskaal Municipality with about 2,400 residents. The municipal boundaries have not changed since.[7]

Name

edit

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Gildeskaal farm (Old Norse: Gildaskáli) since the first Gildeskål Church was built there. The first element is the plural genitive case of gildi which means "feast" or "banquet". The last element is skáli which means "hall".[8] On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Gildeskaal with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Gildeskål, using the letter å instead.[9][10]

Coat of arms

edit

The coat of arms was granted on 12 February 1988. The official blazon is "Azure, a chalice argent" (Norwegian: I blått en sølv kalk). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a chalice. The chalice has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms are canting since the meaning of the municipal name Gildeskål refers to a banquet hall (or guildhall) which, of course, is a place where one might drink from a chalice. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[11][12][13]

Churches

edit

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Gildeskål Municipality. It is part of the Bodø domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Gildeskål
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Gildeskål Gildeskål Church Inndyr 1881
Old Gildeskål Church Inndyr 12th century
Saura Church Saura 1884
Mevik Chapel Mevik 1910
Nordstranda Chapel Lekanger 1963
Sørfjorden Chapel Sørfinnset 1957

Geography

edit

Gildeskål is a coastal municipality that encompasses part of the mainland as well as many islands. Major islands include Fleina, Fugløya, Nord-Arnøya, Sør-Arnøya, and Sandhornøya. The southern part of the municipality includes part of the Saltfjellet mountains and the northern part of the municipality borders the Saltfjorden and the Vestfjorden.

There are many lakes in the municipality including: Fellvatnet, Langvatnet, Litle Sokumvatnet, and Sokumvatnet. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,331.83-metre (4,369.5 ft) tall mountain Memaurtinden.[1]

Government

edit

Gildeskål 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.[14] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.[citation needed]

Municipal council

edit

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Gildeskål is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Gildeskål kommunestyre 2023–2027 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Gildeskål List (Gildeskållista)2
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 2019–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Gildeskål List (Gildeskållista)4
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Arnøy List (Arnøylista)1
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Gildeskål common list (Gildeskål Felleslister)2
Total number of members:17
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1959–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1955–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:25
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1951–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:24
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1947–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:24
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:24
Gildeskål herredsstyre 1937–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:24
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

edit

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Gildeskål 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:[34]

  • 1838–1847: Stein Eilert Berner
  • 1848–1849: Ole Helgesen
  • 1850–1851: Peder H. Berg
  • 1852–1860: Edvard Pedersen
  • 1860–1862: Hans Henrik Holck Daae
  • 1863–1866: Jørgen Blix
  • 1867–1868: Hans Henrik Holck Daae
  • 1869–1870: Hans Olsen
  • 1871–1872: Eilert Nicolai Friis
  • 1873–1876: Hans Hansen
  • 1877–1878: Abel Ellingsen
  • 1879–1882: Hans Hansen
  • 1883–1884: Christoffer Arntzen
  • 1885–1888: Hans Hansen
  • 1889–1894: Håkon Hansen
  • 1895–1910: O. Laugsand
  • 1911–1913: Paulius Danielsen
  • 1914–1919: Jens Johansen
  • 1920–1922: Daniel Johan Eilertsen
  • 1923–1925: Johan Nilsen-Nygaard
  • 1926-1926: Daniel Johan Eilertsen
  • 1927–1928: Øyvind Heen
  • 1929–1940: Peder Johnsen
  • 1941-1941: Øyvind Heen
  • 1941–1945: Lars Norum
  • 1945-1945: Peder Johnsen
  • 1946–1947: Astrup Johansen
  • 1948–1958: Reidar Juliussen Myrhaug
  • 1958–1961: Magnus Sundsfjord
  • 1962–1963: Øivind Kaspersen
  • 1964–1969: Meyer Madsen
  • 1970–1971: Rolf Fagermo
  • 1972-1972: Meyer Madsen
  • 1972–1975: Andreas Opsahl
  • 1976–1979: Håkon Willumsen
  • 1980–1981: Harald Joakimsen
  • 1982–1983: Svein Christensen
  • 1984–1995: Roger Granberg (Ap)
  • 1995–1999: Jon Gisle Karlsen
  • 1999-2003: Gunnar T. Skjellvik (Ap)
  • 2003-2011: Walter Pedersen (H)
  • 2011-2019: Petter Jørgen Pedersen (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Bjørn Magne Pedersen (H)

Buildings and structures

edit
 
View from Sandhornøya, in Gildeskål

Sandhornøy Bridge connects the island of Sandhornøya to the mainland. The Kjellingstraumen Bridge crosses the outer end of the Beiar Fjord.

There is a VLF-transmitter in Gildeskål that is used for sending messages to submerged submarines (call sign: JXN, frequency: 16.4 kHz). It uses as antenna multiple wires spun between two mountains (photo). The transmitter building is located at 66°58′58″N 13°52′23″E / 66.98278°N 13.87306°E / 66.98278; 13.87306 (JXN transmitter).

Notable people

edit
  • Elias Blix (1836–1902), a professor, theologian, hymn writer, and politician
  • Harald Sund (1876–1940), an architect, artist, and illustrator
  • Håvard Lund (born 1970), a jazz musician (clarinet and saxophone) and composer

References

edit
  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.
  8. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 182.
  9. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
  10. ^ Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
  11. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Gildeskål, Nordland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 12 February 1988. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Ordførere i Gildeskål kommune" (in Norwegian). Gildeskål kommune. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
edit