Øksnes

Øksnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is located on the northwestern part of the large island of Langøya, which is a part of the traditional region of Vesterålen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Myre. Other villages in Øksnes include Alsvåg, Barkestad, Breidstrand, Nyksund, Strengelvåg, and Stø.[3]

Øksnes kommune
Municipality
View of Alsvåg in Øksnes
View of Alsvåg in Øksnes
Flag of Øksnes kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Øksnes kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Øksnes kommune
Nordland within
Norway
Øksnes within Nordland
Øksnes within Nordland
Coordinates: 68°53′18″N 15°11′00″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictVesterålen
Established1 Jan 1838
Administrative centreMyre
Government
 • Mayor (2019)John H. Danielsen (Sp)
Area
 • Total319.59 km2 (123.39 sq mi)
 • Land310.71 km2 (119.97 sq mi)
 • Water8.88 km2 (3.43 sq mi)  2.8%
 • Rank#257 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total4,458
 • Rank#193 in Norway
 • Density14.3/km2 (37/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.2%
DemonymØksnesværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1868
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 320-square-kilometre (120 sq mi) municipality is the 257th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Øksnes is the 193rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,458. The municipality's population density is 14.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (37/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information
Part of the road to Nyksund.
Auenfjorden, Øksnes
View of Øksnes Church on Skogsøya island

The municipality of Øksnes was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1866, a small area of southern Øksnes (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring Bø Municipality. On 1 July 1919, the northeastern part of Øksnes along the Gavlfjorden (population: 1,085) was separated to form the new Langenes Municipality. This left Øksnes with 2,296 residents.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Krakberget area and the part of Øksnes on the peninsula north of Krakberget (population: 271) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Bø. On the same date the municipality of Langenes was merged with Øksnes. Prior to the merger, Øksnes had 3,112 residents and Langenes had 2,037 residents.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Øksnes farm (Old Norse: Yxnes), since the first Øksnes Church was built there. The first element is probably an old name of Skogsøya island (Old Norse: Yxn) and the last element is nes which means "headland". The old name of the island is identical with the word yxn (plural form of uxi which means "ox"). The mountains of the island have maybe been compared with a group of oxen.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 22 August 1986. The official blazon is "Or two hooks addorsed sable" (Norwegian: I gull to adosserte svarte angler). 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 two black fishing hooks. The design was chosen to symbolize a municipality which is dependent on fishing and sailing. The hooks were based on the bone hooks that were used for fishing in this area prior to 17th century. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[8][9][10]

See also: the coats of arms of Båtsfjord, Frøya, and Træna

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Øksnes. It is part of the Vesterålen prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Øksnes
Parish (sokn)Church NameLocation of the ChurchYear Built
ØksnesAlsvåg ChurchAlsvåg1923
Langenes ChurchStø1500s
Myre ChurchMyre1979
Øksnes ChurchSkogsøya1703

Environment

Geography
View of Strengelvag

Øksnes municipality encompasses the northwestern part of the island of Langøya in the Vesterålen archipelago. It also includes many small islands around there including the islands of Anden, Dyrøya, Nærøya, Skogsøya, and Tindsøya. The Gavlfjorden flows along the northeastern part of the boundary with Andøy Municipality on the other side. The southeastern part of Øksnes borders Sortland Municipality and the southwestern part borders Bø Municipality (both municipalities are also located on Langøya island). The rest of the municipality borders the Norwegian Sea.

The municipality is quite rugged with the exception of the area east of Myre which is very flat and marshy. The large lake Alsvågvatnet lies near this flat area, just east of the village of Alsvåg. This flat area lies just to the north of the large mountain Snøkolla. The Anda Lighthouse is located on the tiny island of Anden.

Important Bird Area

An area of about 6000 ha at the north-eastern end of the island, comprising coastal lagoons, fens, transition mires, springs and mudflats, including the Grunnfjorden nature reserve and Grunnfjorden Ramsar site as well as other wetlands, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International (BLI) because it supports populations of pink-footed and barnacle geese on passage migration.[11]

Climate
Climate data for Myre, Øksnes
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.0
(28.4)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 1.5
(34.7)		 5.8
(42.4)		 9.1
(48.4)		 11.6
(52.9)		 11.5
(52.7)		 8.1
(46.6)		 4.5
(40.1)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −1.0
(30.2)		 3.9
(39.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 130
(5.1)		 121
(4.8)		 105
(4.1)		 91
(3.6)		 64
(2.5)		 69
(2.7)		 82
(3.2)		 86
(3.4)		 141
(5.6)		 195
(7.7)		 146
(5.7)		 150
(5.9)		 1,380
(54.3)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[12]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Øksnes, 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.[13] The municipality falls under the Vesterålen District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Øksnes is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Øksnes kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Øksnes kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Øksnes cross-party list (Øksnes tverrpolitiske liste)4
Total number of members:21
Øksnes kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Øksnes cross-party list (Øksnes tverrpolitiske liste)5
Total number of members:21
Øksnes kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Øksnes cross-party list (Øksnes tverrpolitiske liste)7
Total number of members:21
Øksnes kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Øksnes cross-party list (Øksnes Tverrpolitiske liste)4
Total number of members:21
Øksnes kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Øksnes Free Voters' List (Øksnes Frie Velgeres Liste)2
 Øksnes West and Midtbygd's common list
 (Øksnes Vest- og Midtbygds fellesliste)		2
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Øksnes Free Voters' List (Øksnes Frie Velgeres Liste)4
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:31
Øksnes kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:31
Øksnes herredsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:21
Øksnes herredsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 21
Total number of members:21
Øksnes herredsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
Total number of members:16
Øksnes herredsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:16
Øksnes herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:16
Øksnes herredsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
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.

Mayor

The mayors of Øksnes (incomplete list):

  • 1967-1973: Finn Knutsen (Ap)
  • 1991-1999: Finn Knutsen (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Per-Ole Larsen (Sp)
  • 2007-2011: John H. Danielsen (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Jørn Martinussen (H)
  • 2015-2019: Karianne Bråthen (Ap)
  • 2019–present: John H. Danielsen (Sp)
Maria Solheim, 2011

Notable people
  • Oskar J. W. Hansen (1892 in Langenes – 1971) a naturalized American sculptor, worked at the Hoover Dam
  • Lydolf Lind Meløy (1908 in Meløya – 1999) a Norwegian educator, trade unionist and politician
  • Finn Knutsen (born 1932 in Langenes) a Norwegian politician, frequent Mayor of Øksnes
  • Ove Kristian Sundberg (1932 in Øksnes – 2019) a church musician, musicologist and historian of ideas
  • Maria Solheim (born 1982 in Alsvåg) a Norwegian singer-songwriter

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Store norske leksikon. "Øksnes" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 382, 387.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  9. "Oksnes, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 22 August 1986. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  11. "Øksnes". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  12. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  13. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  16. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
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