Vefsn
Vefsn (Southern Sami: Vaapste) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mosjøen (population: 9,843). Some of the notable villages in Vefsn include Drevvassbygda, Elsfjord, and Husvik.
Vefsn kommune | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Nordland within Norway | |
 Vefsn within Nordland | |
| Coordinates: 65°47′57″N 13°15′02″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Nordland |
| District | Helgeland |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| Administrative centre | Mosjøen |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2019) | Berit Hundåla (Sp) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,929.41 km2 (744.95 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1,838.13 km2 (709.71 sq mi) |
| • Water | 91.28 km2 (35.24 sq mi) 4.7% |
| Area rank | 41 in Norway |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 13,278 |
| • Rank | 91 in Norway |
| • Density | 7.2/km2 (19/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | −0.8% |
| Demonym(s) | vefsning[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1824 |
| Official language form | Neutral[2] |
| Website | vefsn |
The 1,929-square-kilometre (745 sq mi) municipality is the 41st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vefsn is the 91st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 13,278. The municipality's population density is 7.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
History
The municipality of Vefsn was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). In 1862, the vast eastern district of Vefsn (population: 921) was separated from Vefsn to become the new municipality of Hattfjelldal. This left Vefsn with 5,051 residents. In 1876, the town of Mosjøen (population: 379) was separated from Vefsn to become a separate municipality. This left Vefsn with 4,672 residents.
In 1927, Vefsn municipality was split into three: the small northern district (population: 964) became the new municipality of Drevja and the large southern district (population: 1,746) became the new municipality of Grane. After the split, Vefsn had 3,119 residents remaining. In 1939, a small area of Vefsn (population: 45) was transferred to neighboring town of Mosjøen.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, the municipality of Vefsn (population: 5,358) was merged with the neighboring town of Mosjøen (population: 4,628) and the neighboring municipalities of Drevja (population: 1,001) and Elsfjord (population: 920) to form a new, larger municipality of Vefsn. On 1 January 1995, the mainland areas of the neighboring Alstahaug Municipality (population: 70) were transferred to Vefsn.[5]
Name
The municipality is named after the river Vefsna which flows through the municipality into the Vefsnfjorden. The meaning of the river name is unknown. Historically, the spelling has varied from Vefsen to Væffsn.[6]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 13 September 1974. They show a gray and red rooster on a black background. The rooster is a symbol for watchfulness and alertness. It was adopted by the municipality of Mosjøen on 25 March 1960. After the merger with Vefsn, Drevja, and Elsfjord in 1962, the new name of the municipality became Vefsn and the old arms of Mosjøen were chosen for the new municipality. Since the arms officially became obsolete after the merger, they were re-granted in 1974.[7]
Churches
The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vefsn. It is part of the Indre Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
| Parish (sokn) | Church Name | Location of the Church | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolstad | Dolstad Church | Mosjøen | 1735 |
| Drevja | Drevja Church | Drevja | 1883 |
| Elsfjord | Elsfjord Church | Elsfjord | 1955 |
Geography
The administrative centre of Vefsn is the town of Mosjøen which is situated along the innermost part of the Vefsnfjorden. Outside Mosjøen, the large municipality of Vefsn is dominated by spruce forests, mountains, lakes, agriculture, and the Vefsna river. The municipality is served by Mosjøen Airport, Kjærstad.
The mountain Lukttinden is located in the northern part of the municipality. There are many large lakes in Vefsn including Drevvatnet, Finnknevatnet, Fustvatnet, Hundålvatnet, Luktvatnet, Mjåvatnet, and Ømmervatnet. The Lomsdal–Visten National Park is partially located in Vefsn.
Birdlife
The bird watcher that visits Vefsn soon realizes that it will take more than a day to cover all the interesting habitats and birding areas. Here you will find areas of virtually untouched coniferous woodlands, both inland and along the coast. The Skjørlegda nature reserve is a good example of woodland protection. Here you will find a virtually untouched coniferous forest covering the Eiterå valley. The valley stretches inland to a higher mountainous habitat that is also worth checking.
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Vefsn, 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 Alstahaug District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vefsn is made up of 29 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
| Red Party (Rødt) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Vefsn Cross-Politics Party (Vefsn tverrpolitiske parti) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 | |
| Red Party (Rødt) | 4 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Vefsn Cross-Politics Party (Vefsn tverrpolitiske parti) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Red Party (Rødt) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 16 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 17 | |
| Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 16 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 35 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 32 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 9 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 32 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 27 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 12 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 27 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 29 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 27 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 6 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 29 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 6 | |
| Total number of members: | 53 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 7 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
Mayor
The mayors of Vefsn (incomplete list):
- 2019-present: Berit Hundåla (Sp)
- 2000-2019: Jann-Arne Løvdahl (Ap)
- 1998-2000: Britt Jonassen (Ap)
- 1993-1998: Knut Petter Torgersen (Ap)
- 1990-1993: Roy Skogsholm (Ap)
- 1980-1989: Peder Hyttebakk (Ap)
Notable people
Notable people that were born or lived in Vefsn include:
- Thorolf Holmboe (1866 in Vefsn –1935), painter, illustrator and designer
- Nils Mjaavatn (1883 in Vefsn – 1951), farmer, teacher and politician
- David Monrad Johansen (1888 in Vefsn – 1974), composer
- Aage Grundstad (1923 in Vefsn – 2012), award-winning accordion player [27]
- Erling Bauck (1924 in Mosjøen – 2004) a Norwegian resistance member and writer.
- Kjell Eliassen (born 1929 in Vefsn), diplomat
- Trond Øyen (1929 in Mosjøen – 1999) a Norwegian violinist
- Baard Owe (1936 in Mosjøen – 2017) an actor, moved to Denmark in 1956 [28]
- Inga Juuso (1945 in Mosjøen – 2014) a yoiker, Sami singer and actress [29]
- Odd Eriksen (born 1955) worked in Mosjøen, a politician also known for stopping an Algerian hijacker from crashing a Kato Air-flight in 2004.
- Frode Fjellheim (born 1959 in Mussere) a yoiker and musician on piano and synthesizer
- Finn Guttormsen (born 1968 in Mosjøen) a Jazz musician on upright bass
- Aleksander L. Nordaas (born 1982 in Mosjøen) a screenwriter and film director [30]
- Silje Reinåmo (born 1982 in Mosjøen) an actress, dancer and musical performer [31]
- Sandra Lyng (born 1987 in Mosjøen) a Norwegian singer
Sport
- Johan Lind (born 1942 in Mosjøen) a speed skater, competed at the 1968 and 1972 Winter Olympics
- Bent Inge Johnsen (born 1972 in Mosjøen) a former footballer with 284 club caps and assistant manager
- Anette Sagen (born 1985 in Mosjøen) a Norwegian former ski jumper
- Thomas Drage (born 1992 in Mosjøen) a football player with over 220 club caps
See also
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 (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 64.
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
- "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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-02.
- "In Loving Memory of Aage Grundstad" (PDF). Norwegian American Weekly (123(28)). July 13, 2012. p. 21. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- IMDb Database retrieved 03 September 2020
- IMDb Database retrieved 03 September 2020
- IMDb Database retrieved 03 September 2020
- IMDb Database retrieved 03 September 2020
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vefsn. |
Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
- mosjoen.com - local portal for Mosjøen and Vefsn (in Norwegian)
- Local history and genealogy (in Norwegian)
- Andås nature reserve with mixed forest (in Norwegian)
- Skjørlægda nature reserve preserving an intact valley ecosystem (in Norwegian)
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