Herøy, Møre og Romsdal
Herøy is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the town of Fosnavåg on the island of Bergsøya. The industrial area of Eggesbønes is located south of Fosnavåg on the same island. The Runde Environmental Centre is located in the northern part of the municipality on Runde island. Other population centres in Herøy include the villages of Leikong, Kvalsund, or Moltustranda.
Herøy kommune | |
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![]() View of Fosnavåg | |
![]() Møre og Romsdal within Norway | |
![]() Herøy within Møre og Romsdal | |
Coordinates: 62°21′20″N 05°32′40″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Møre og Romsdal |
District | Sunnmøre |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
Administrative centre | Fosnavåg |
Government | |
• Mayor (2019) | Bjørn-Halvor Prytz (Ap) |
Area | |
• Total | 119.52 km2 (46.15 sq mi) |
• Land | 118.01 km2 (45.56 sq mi) |
• Water | 1.51 km2 (0.58 sq mi) 1.3% |
Area rank | 320 in Norway |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,900 |
• Rank | 122 in Norway |
• Density | 75.4/km2 (195/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | 6.2% |
Demonym(s) | Herøyværing[1] |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-1515 |
Official language form | Nynorsk[2] |
Website | heroy |
The 120-square-kilometre (46 sq mi) municipality is the 320th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Herøy is the 122nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 8,900. The municipality's population density is 75.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (195/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.2% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
General information
The prestegjeld (parish) of Herøy was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1867, the western district of Herøy was separated to become the new Sande Municipality. This left Herøy municipality with 1,999 residents. On 1 January 1873, an area of Sande (population: 362) was transferred back to Herøy. On 1 January 1889, the Eiksund area and Ekø island (population: 119) were transferred from Sande to Herøy.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, three farms in the Gurskedalen valley (population: 25) were transferred from Herøy to Sande. Also on that date, the Eiksund area and the Eika island (population: 222) were transferred from Herøy to neighboring Ulstein Municipality.[5]

Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after an archipelago of small islands (Old Norse: Herøyjar). The first element is herr which means "army" (here in the sense skipaherr which means "military fleet") and the last element is the plural form of øy which means "island". Before 1918, the name was written Herø.[6]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 27 March 1987. The arms show two silver or white stems of a ship on a blue background. This design was chosen to represent the 7th century Kvalsund boats found in the municipality.[7]
Churches
The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Herøy. It is part of the Søre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Herøy | Herøy Church | Fosnavåg | 2003 |
Indre Herøy | Indre Herøy Church | Stokksund on Gurskøya | 1916 |
Leikanger | Leikanger Church | Leikong | 1807 |
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Herøy, 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.[8] The municipality falls under the Søre Sunnmøre District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Herøy is made up of 33 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 10 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
People's list (Folkelista) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 11 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 15 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 14 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
People's list - cross-party list for village and town (Folkelista – tverrpolitisk liste for bygd og by) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
People's list - cross-party list (Folkelista - Tverrpolitisk liste) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 25 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 8 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Herøy List (Herøylista) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Herøy List (Herøylista) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 8 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Herøy List cross-party election list (Herøylista Tverrpolitiske valliste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 10 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 10 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 9 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 10 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Liberal People's Party and Independents (Det Nye Folkepartiet og Upolitiske) | 1 | |
Non-party list for Moltustranda, Sandvik, Notøy, and Flåvær (Upolitisk liste for Moltustranda, Sandvik, Notøy og Flåvær) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 9 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 7 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 11 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 29 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 32 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 28 | |
Total number of members: | 33 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 1 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 31 | |
Total number of members: | 32 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 32 | |
Total number of members: | 32 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 29 | |
Total number of members: | 32 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 3 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 24 | |
Total number of members: | 32 |
Mayor
The mayors of Herøy (incomplete list):
- 2019–present: Bjørn-Halvor Prytz (Ap)
- 2003-2019: Arnulf Goksøyr (H)
- 1999-2003: Svein Gjelseth (Ap)
- 1995-1999: Leif G. Igesund (KrF)
- 1989-1995: Svein Gjelseth (Ap)
- 1988-1989: Per Rolf Sævik (KrF)
- 1980-1987: Charles Remø (H)
Geography

The main population and administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Fosnavåg, located on the island of Bergsøya. The municipality is entirely composed of islands located north of the Rovdefjorden. It includes the main islands of Bergsøya, Leinøya, Nerlandsøya, Remøya, Runde, Skorpa, Flåvær, and the eastern part of Gurskøya, plus many smaller islands. The island of Runde is especially notable for its large seabird colonies (and Runde Lighthouse), while Skorpa is famous for its role as a station for the Shetland bus. The islands are connected together via a series of bridges including the Runde Bridge, Remøy Bridge, Herøy Bridge, and Nerlandsøy Bridge.
The Herøyfjorden bisects Herøy municipality. The half located south of the fjord is referred to as Inner Herøy, while the half located north of the fjord is referred to as Outer Herøy. Inner and Outer Herøy are tied together by the Herøy Bridge which connects the islands of Gurskøy and Leinøya. Along this main route of traffic is the islet Notøy and the even smaller Herøya islet, an old trading station (now museum) and the original location of the original Herøy Church.
The fishing station Flåvær is located on a group of islets and skerries in the Herøyfjord, It includes the islets Flåvær, Husholmen, Torvholmen and Varholmen. The Flåvær Lighthouse is located on Varholmen.
The Svinøy Lighthouse is located on the very small island of Svinøy, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of the island of Skorpa.
References
- "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 36.
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
- Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Møre og Romsdal. |
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
- The Bird Island of Runde (in German)
- Herøy Kommune (in Norwegian)