Alstahaug

Alstahaug is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandnessjøen. Some of the villages in Alstahaug include Søvika and Tjøtta.

The old trading centre at Tjøtta
Alsten island, with lowland at the foot of the Seven Sisters mountains

Alstahaug kommune
Municipality
Village of Tjøtta in Alstahaug
Village of Tjøtta in Alstahaug
Flag of Alstahaug kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Alstahaug kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Alstahaug kommune
Nordland within
Norway
Alstahaug within Nordland
Alstahaug within Nordland
Coordinates: 65°57′24″N 12°34′22″E
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictHelgeland
Established1 Jan 1838
Administrative centreSandnessjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Peder Talseth (Sp)
Area
 • Total188.17 km2 (72.65 sq mi)
 • Land187.20 km2 (72.28 sq mi)
 • Water0.97 km2 (0.37 sq mi)  0.5%
 • Rank#307 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total7,333
 • Rank#136 in Norway
 • Density39.2/km2 (102/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.5%
DemonymAlstahaugværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1820
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Most residents of Alstahaug live in the town of Sandnessjøen which is situated on the island of Alsta. The characteristic Seven Sisters mountain range is found on the eastern part of the island. Local legend has made this chain of peaks into seven sisters, two adjacent peaks representing twin sisters.

The island is connected to the mainland via the large Helgeland Bridge along Norwegian County Road 17. The Sandnessjøen Airport, Stokka is located 10 km south of Sandnessjøen.

The 188-square-kilometre (73 sq mi) municipality is the 307th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Alstahaug is the 136th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 7,333. The municipality's population density is 39.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (102/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.5% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

The large municipality of Alstahaug was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1862, the southern district (population: 2,781) was separated to become the new municipality of Tjøtta (Vevelstad Municipality was later separated from Tjøtta). This left Alstahaug with about 3,280 residents. Just two years later, in 1864, the western island district (population: 2,438) was separated to become the new municipality of Herøy. Then on 1 July 1899, the northern district (population: 2,673) was separated to form the new municipality of Stamnes (Leirfjord Municipality was later separated from Stamnes).

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, several major municipal changes took place. First, the Husvær island area of Alstahaug (population: 461) was transferred from Alstahaug to Herøy Municipality. On the same day, the following areas were merged to form the new, larger municipality of Alstahaug:

  • most of the municipality of Tjøtta, except the Skogsholmen area (population: 1,477)
  • the municipality of Sandnessjøen (population: 3,856)
  • the municipality of Alstahaug (population: 970)

On 1 January 1971, the Skålvær islands (population: 32) were transferred from Vega Municipality to Alstahaug. On 1 January 1995, the mainland areas of Alstahaug (population: 70) were transferred to Vefsn Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Alstahaug farm (Old Norse: Alastarhaugr) since the first Alstahaug Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the island Alöst (now Alsta). The linguist Magnus Olsen believed this old island name means "eel grounds" and it was an old taboo word for the sea. The last element is haugr which means "hill" or "mound".[6][7]

Coat of arms
The medieval Alstahaug Church
The old parsonage at Alstahaug is protected

The coat of arms was granted on 8 August 1986. The official blazon is "Argent, a fess engrailed azure" (Norwegian: I sølv en blå bjelke dannet ved taggesnitt). This means the arms have a field (background) that 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 charge is a fess (bar) with engrailed edges running horizontally through the arms. The design symbolizes the Seven Sisters (Norwegian: De syv søstre), a row of mountains in the area, mirrored in the clear waters of the fjord. The arms were designed by Jarle E. Henriksen.[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Alstahaug. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Alstahaug
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
AlstahaugAlstahaug ChurchAlstahaug12th century
SandnessjøenSandnessjøen ChurchSandnessjøen1882
TjøttaSkålvær ChurchSkålvær1851
Tjøtta ChurchTjøtta1867

History

At Alstahaug, on the southern end of the island of Alsta, lies the medieval Alstahaug Church, where the poet and minister Petter Dass worked around 1700. Tjøtta, an island south of Alsta, is the place where the famous Viking Hårek resided in the 11th century.

Nature

Birdlife

Lying just south of the Arctic Circle in an area that is known as Outer Helgeland, Alstahaug offers the visiting bird watcher a chance to do some birding in spectacular scenery, be it coastal or inland where The Seven Sisters mountain chain marks the boundary between the habitats. One of the better areas to birdwatch is Tjøtta. Here you will find the small nature reserve Ostjønna.

The Seven Sisters Mountains in Alstahaug

Geography

Alstahaug is a municipality consisting entirely of islands. Most residents live on the main islands of Alsta and Tjøtta, and Alstahaug stretches from the Skålvær island group in the west, to the Vefsnfjorden in the east, and to Mindlandet island to the south. The municipalities of Leirfjord, Vefsn, and Vevelstad lie to the east and Dønna, Herøy, and Vega lie to the north, west, and south, respectively.

Climate

The official weather station is located at Sandnessjøen Airport Stokka, on Alsten island. Alstahaug has a temperate oceanic climate (marine west coast climate). The record high was recorded July 2019, and the all-time low was recorded February 2010. The warmest high recorded in the municipality is 33.1 °C (92 °F) recorded July 2019 at Tjøtta island. The November record high 19.4 °C (67 °F) set 6 November 2003 is warmest November temperature recorded in Nordland.

Climate data for Sandnessjøen Airport 1991-2020 (17 m, precipitation Tjøtta, extremes 2003-2022)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9)		 12.2
(54.0)		 13.1
(55.6)		 20.1
(68.2)		 25.6
(78.1)		 30.5
(86.9)		 31.8
(89.2)		 28.9
(84.0)		 24.8
(76.6)		 20.9
(69.6)		 19.4
(66.9)		 12.5
(54.5)		 31.8
(89.2)
Average high °C (°F) 2
(36)		 2
(36)		 4
(39)		 8
(46)		 11
(52)		 14
(57)		 18
(64)		 17
(63)		 14
(57)		 9
(48)		 5
(41)		 4
(39)		 9
(48)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)		 0.3
(32.5)		 1.4
(34.5)		 4.5
(40.1)		 8
(46)		 11.3
(52.3)		 14.5
(58.1)		 13.9
(57.0)		 11
(52)		 6.5
(43.7)		 3.9
(39.0)		 1.9
(35.4)		 6.5
(43.7)
Average low °C (°F) −1
(30)		 −1
(30)		 −1
(30)		 2
(36)		 5
(41)		 9
(48)		 12
(54)		 11
(52)		 9
(48)		 5
(41)		 2
(36)		 1
(34)		 4
(40)
Record low °C (°F) −15.5
(4.1)		 −15.6
(3.9)		 −12.4
(9.7)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 0.9
(33.6)		 4.7
(40.5)		 3.2
(37.8)		 0.7
(33.3)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −10.1
(13.8)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 −15.6
(3.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 128
(5.0)		 105
(4.1)		 107
(4.2)		 89
(3.5)		 69
(2.7)		 73
(2.9)		 71
(2.8)		 93
(3.7)		 150
(5.9)		 137
(5.4)		 117
(4.6)		 149
(5.9)		 1,288
(50.7)
Source 1: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[11]
Source 2: Weatheronline climate robot[12]

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Alstahaug, 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 Alstahaug District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Alstahaug is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Alstahaug kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Red Party (Rødt) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 12
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 City and rural – cross-party list (By og land – tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:27
Alstahaug kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:27
Alstahaug kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:27
Alstahaug kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Sandnessjøen cross-party list—Town list (Sandnessjøen tverrpolitiske liste—Bylista)3
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint list of the Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Alstahaug Free Voters (Alstahaug Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:31
Alstahaug kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:13
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:13
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:13
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:12
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:12
Alstahaug herredsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:12
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

The mayors of Alstahaug (incomplete list):

  • 1968-1974: Torvald Kibsgaard (Ap)
  • 1975-1983: Andreas Grimsø (H)[32]
  • 1984-1993: Gunnar Breimo (Ap)
  • 1993-1999: Bill Rønning (Ap)
  • 1999-2003: Bjarne Myhre (H)
  • 2003-2004: Håkon Mørk (Sp)
  • 2004-2007: Magne Greger (Ap)
  • 2007-2011: Stig Sørra (H)
  • 2011-2019: Bård Anders Langø (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Peder Talseth (Sp)

Notable people
Torolf Prytz, 1934

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 89.
  7. Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (26 January 2023). "Alstahaug". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway – Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  9. "Alstahaug, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 8 August 1986. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  11. "Weatheronline". Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. "Weatheronline climate robot (average high and low)".
  13. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  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 2 April 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  32. "Grimsø, Andreas (1917-2004)". Stortinget.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  33. IMDb Database. Retrieved 29 December 2020
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