Folldal

Folldal is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Folldal. The municipality was established in 1914 when it was separated from Alvdal Municipality.

This article is about the municipality in Østerdalen, Norway. For the village in this municipality, see Folldal (village).
Folldal kommune
Municipality
Flag of Folldal kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Folldal kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Folldal kommune
Innlandet within
Norway
Folldal within Innlandet
Folldal within Innlandet
Coordinates: 62°11′57″N 10°2′7″E
CountryNorway
CountyInnlandet
DistrictØsterdalen
Established1 Jan 1914
 • Preceded byAlvdal Municipality
Administrative centreFolldal
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Kristin Langtjernet (Ap)
Area
 • Total1,277.07 km2 (493.08 sq mi)
 • Land1,260.27 km2 (486.59 sq mi)
 • Water16.80 km2 (6.49 sq mi)  1.3%
 • Rank#79 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total1,530
 • Rank#301 in Norway
 • Density1.2/km2 (3/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −6.8%
DemonymFolldøl[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3429
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Folldal is bordered on the north by Oppdal and Tynset municipalities, in the east by Alvdal municipality, in the south by Stor-Elvdal, Sør-Fron and Sel municipalities, and in the west by Dovre municipality. Mining at the Folldal mines was the main industry for Folldal's residents from the 18th century until the last mine related operation in 1993.

The 1,277-square-kilometre (493 sq mi) municipality is the 79th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Folldal is the 301st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,530. The municipality's population density is 1.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.1/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.8% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information
Winter in Folldal.
Credit: Stiftelsen Folldal Gruver

Historically, the parish of Folldal was a part of Alvdal Municipality since 1838 (see Formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1914, the parish of Folldal was separated from Alvdal to become a separate municipality. Initially, Folldal had a population of 2,284. On 1 January 1970, the three western farms at Børgsungsætri (population: 11) were transferred from the neighboring Dovre Municipality (in Oppland county) to Folldal Municipality (in Hedmark county). On 28 September 1990, a small, unpopulated part of Sør-Fron Municipality (in Oppland county) was transferred to Folldal Municipality (in Hedmark county).[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Folldal farm since the first Folldal Church was built there. The first element comes from the name of the local river Folla which has an unknown meaning (perhaps something like "the broad one"). The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". Historically, the area name was spelled Foldalen, but more recently it has been spelled Folldal.[6]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 21 September 1988. The official blazon is "Gules, a pickaxe Or in bend issuant from base sinister" (Norwegian: I rødt en skrått framvoksende gull hakke). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a diagonal pickaxe. The pickaxe has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. This design was chosen to represent the mining and agriculture industries in the municipality. The pickaxe was an important tool of miners and thus symbolizes the mining industry, which was the reason for Folldal municipality to be established in 1914. There was mining activity in the Folldal area from 1748 until 1993. The pickaxe also stands for farming as it was an essential tool in clearing the ground for farms in Folldal back when the area was first settled. The arms were designed by Sverre Morken. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[7][8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Folldal. It is part of the Nord-Østerdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Folldal
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
FolldalFolldal ChurchFolldal1882
Egnund ChapelEinabu1975
Øvre FolldalDalen ChurchDalholen1934

The main Folldal Church was historically a satellite church of the nearby Lesja Church, as was the church at the iron ore mines at Lesjaverk (Lesja Iron Works). Per Berg reports,

"When the sexton Ola Kring died in Lesja in 1751, Frederik Wiborg was appointed sexton there and was presented to the congregation on the third Sunday following Trinity. There certainly wasn't anything very special about being a teacher in Ringsaker, if he was willing to change that for being a sexton. No house or land went with the post and the work was hard. In the Lesja parish there were three satellite churches - Lesjeverk, Dovre, and Folldal. The travel distances were great and it could be very difficult in the winter."[11]

History
Interior view of the Gammelgruva mine.

Mining has been important to Folldal's development from the 18th century to the present. The Folldal works (Norwegian: Folldal Verk) was founded in 1748. Folldal's main copper mine, Gammelgruva, also opened in 1748. The mine employed up to 550 people. Until 1878, ore was transported by horse-drawn vehicles to the Lovise smelter located in neighboring Alvdal municipality. From 1878 to 1906 there was a lull in operations. Operations were restarted in 1906 when ore was transported by a 34-kilometre (21 mi) long cable car (Northern Europe's longest) to the smelter. The main mine played out and was closed in 1941. Smelting continued using ore from several other deposits in the area until 1968. Then the mining and ore dressing moved to Tverrfjellet at Hjerkinn, in neighboring Dovre municipality, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Folldal. The business was closed in 1993.

Government

All municipalities in Norway are 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.[12] The municipality falls under the Østre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Folldal is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Folldal kommunestyre 2020–2023 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Common List (Samlingslista)2
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14][15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
 Common list (Samlingslista)4
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 2012–2015 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 2008–2011 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 2004–2007 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)2
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 2000–2003 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)3
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1996–1999 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1992–1995 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1988–1991 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)1
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1984–1987 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)2
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1980–1983 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)3
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1976–1979 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
 Free Voters (Frie Velgere)2
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1972–1975 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1968–1971 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:17
Folldal kommunestyre 1964–1967 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:17
Folldal herredsstyre 1960–1963 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:17
Folldal herredsstyre 1956–1959 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
Total number of members:17
Folldal herredsstyre 1952–1955 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:12
Folldal herredsstyre 1948–1951 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:12
Folldal herredsstyre 1945–1947 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:12
Folldal herredsstyre 1938–1941* [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
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 Folldal (incomplete list):

  • 1972-1987: Håvard Bonesvoll (Sp)[32]
  • 1987-1999: Erling Brandsnes (Ap)
  • 1999-2003: Hans Einar Thompson (Ap)
  • 2003-2011: Eva Tørhaug (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Egil Eide (Sp)
  • 2015–2019: Hilde F. Tveråen (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Kristin Langtjernet (Ap)[33]

Geography
Train with tourists heading into the mine. Reprinted with permission from Foundation Folldal Mines

Folldal is located along the northern border of Innlandet county. It is bordered in the northwest by Oppdal (in Trøndelag county). The rest of the surrounding municipalities are all in Innlandet county. The municipality of Tynset lies to the northeast, Alvdal is to the east, Stor-Elvdal is to the southeast, Sør-Fron and Sel are to the south, and Dovre is to the west.

Folldal Municipality is notable because the village of Folldal, its administrative center, has the highest elevation (712.5 metres or 2,338 feet above sea level) of all administrative centres in Norway. The village has picturesque scenery with mountains and valleys. The village lies at the foot of Rondeslottet mountain and Snøhetta mountain.

The area also has many interesting geologic features from the last Ice Age. Norway's longest seter valley, the 55-kilometre (34 mi) long Einunndalen, lies within the municipality. The Einunndalen valley is still actively used for summer grazing at the seters (mountain summer farms) established in the 1700s. Almost half of the municipal land is protected as conservation areas and national parks, including parts that are included in the Rondane National Park and Dovre National Park.

A national tourist road, the Norwegian County Road 27, runs through the municipality.

Climate

Folldal has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with short, cool summers and long, cold winters. Situated in a mountain valley on the southern, continental side of the Dovre mountain range at 694 metres (2,277 ft) above sea level, it has the coldest winters in the southern half of Norway.

Climate data for Folldal
Mean average temperatures and precipitation (694 m).
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.4
(13.3)		 −8.9
(16.0)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 0.5
(32.9)		 5.3
(41.5)		 9.5
(49.1)		 12.3
(54.1)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.5
(43.7)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −5.9
(21.4)		 −9.7
(14.5)		 0.4
(32.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 22.0
(0.87)		 16.2
(0.64)		 15.6
(0.61)		 13.7
(0.54)		 34.4
(1.35)		 53.7
(2.11)		 67.9
(2.67)		 78.1
(3.07)		 29.2
(1.15)		 28.8
(1.13)		 25.6
(1.01)		 20.9
(0.82)		 406.1
(15.97)
Source: Folldal at yr.no[34]

Outdoors

Folldal offers a wide variety of outdoor activities. Hiking is good with marked trails and several cabins to visit. Fishing can be done in the rivers Folla, Einunna, or Glomma. The opportunities for hunting in the area are also good.

Notable people
Ivar Mortensson Egnund, 1924
  • Ivar Mortensson-Egnund (1857–1934), a Norwegian author, journalist, theologian, researcher, translator, writer, philosopher and advocate of nynorsk, lived at Einabu in Folldal from 1894
  • Olav Dalgard (1898 in Folldal – 1980), a literary and art historian, filmmaker, author and educator [35]
  • Tore Segelcke (1901–1979), an actress, from 1959 she spent many summers in Folldal [36]
  • Olav Odden (1914 in Folldal – 1969), a Norwegian skier, competed in cross-country skiing and Nordic combined at the 1948 Winter Olympics
  • Erling Brandsnes (born 1945 in Folldal), a Norwegian politician and mayor of Folldal from 1987-1999
  • Hans Einar Krokan (born 1945 in Folldal), a Norwegian physician and cancer researcher
  • Svein Borkhus (born 1955 in Dalholen), a Norwegian politician and mayor of Alvdal from 1999-2007 and from 2011

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. ISBN 9788253746845.
  6. Rygh, Oluf (1900). Norske gaardnavne: Hedmarkens amt (in Norwegian) (3 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 385.
  7. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  8. "Folldal, Hedmark (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  9. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 23 February 1988. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  10. Nøkleby Brendryen, Åse (8 January 2019). "Kommunevåpen" (in Norwegian). Folldal kommune. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  11. Berg, Per. Ei Wiborg-ættegrein på Lesja 1751–1900 (in Norwegian).
  12. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Hedmark". Valg Direktoratet.
  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 - Hedmark". Valg Direktoratet.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984.
  21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  32. "Fullsatte tilhører benker ved ordfører valget i Folldal". Østlendingen (in Norwegian). 17 December 1971. p. 16.
  33. "Loddtrekning om siste plass i formannskapet i Folldal. Her holder gammelordfører Hilde svaret i handa". ostlendingen.no (in Norwegian). 3 October 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  34. "Folldal". yr.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  35. Olav Dalgard at IMDb. Accessed on 2020-10-06.
  36. Tore Segelcke at IMDb. Accessed on 2020-10-06.

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