Hitra

Hitra is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The municipality covers the island of Hitra and hundreds smaller islands, islets, and skerries. It is part of the Fosen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fillan. Other villages include Andersskogan, Ansnes, Forsnes, Hestvika, Knarrlagsund, Kvenvær, Melandsjøen, Nordbotn, Sandstad, and Ulvan.

This article is about the municipality in Trøndelag, Norway. For other uses, see Hitra (disambiguation).
Hitra kommune
Municipality
View of Fillan in Hitra
View of Fillan in Hitra
Flag of Hitra kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Hitra kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Hitra kommune
Trøndelag within
Norway
Hitra within Trøndelag
Hitra within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 63°32′50″N 08°51′17″E
CountryNorway
CountyTrøndelag
DistrictFosen
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreFillan
Government
 • Mayor (2007)Roy Myhren Talseth (Ap)
Area
 • Total755.88 km2 (291.85 sq mi)
 • Land715.26 km2 (276.16 sq mi)
 • Water40.62 km2 (15.68 sq mi)  5.4%
 • Rank#149 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total5,156
 • Rank#179 in Norway
 • Density7.2/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +14.6%
DemonymHitterværing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5056
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 756-square-kilometre (292 sq mi) municipality is the 149th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Hitra is the 179th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,156. The municipality's population density is 7.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has increased by 14.6% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

Hitra is famous in Norway for its large and dense population of Red Deer (as symbolised in its coat of arms — see image right). Hitra is a member of the International Island Games Association.

General information
Map of the old municipal borders on the island of Hitra
Hopsjøbrygga, Hitra

The prestegjeld of Hitra was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1877, the northern island district of Frøya (population: 3,949) was separated from Hitra to form a municipality of its own. On 1 January 1886, the southern and eastern parts of Hitra were separated into a new municipality of Fillan. This left Hitra with 2,241 residents. Then on 1 January 1913, the western part of Hitra was separated to form the new municipality of Kvenvær. This left Hitra with 1,439 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Hitra, Kvenvær, Fillan, and Sandstad were merged to form a new, larger Hitra municipality. Prior to the merger, Hitra had 1,344 residents.[5]

On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Sør-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

On 1 January 2020, the island of Hemnskjela and the northwestern corner of the mainland municipality of Snillfjord was merged into Hitra.[6][7]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Hitra (Old Norse: Hitr). The name is probably derived from a word meaning "split" or "cleft" (referring to the many inlets of the island). Until 1918, the name of the island and municipality was spelled Hitteren.[8]

See also: Hidra

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 7 August 1987. The official blazon is "Azure, a stag's head couped argent" (Norwegian: I blått et sølv hjortehode). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is the head of a stag. The stag's head 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 blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea for the island municipality. The design of the stag's head symbolizes that Hitra is home to one of Northern Europe's largest populations of red deer. The arms were based on an idea by Ketil Gylland from Fillan and drawn by the designer Einar Skjervold from Trondheim.[9][10][11]

See also: Coats of arms of Gjemnes, Hjartdal, and Voss

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Hitra. It is part of the Orkdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Hitra
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
Hitra og FillanHitra ChurchMelandsjøen1927
Dolm ChurchDolmøya1188
Fillan ChurchFillan1789
Nordbotn ChurchNordbotn1900
Kvenvær og SandstadKvenvær ChurchKvenvær1909
Forsnes ChapelForsnes1935
Sandstad ChurchSandstad1888

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Hitra, 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.[12] The municipality falls under the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hitra is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Hitra kommunestyre 2019–2023 [13]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 4
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Hitra kommunestyre 2016–2019 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 2012–2015 [15]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 2008–2011 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 2004–2007 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 2000–2003 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 1996–1999 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 1992–1995 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:23
Hitra kommunestyre 1988–1991 [18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Non-party list for Fjellværøy/Ulvøy (Upolitisk liste for Fjellværøy/Ulvøy)2
Total number of members:29
Hitra kommunestyre 1984–1987 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Hitra non-party list (Hitra upolitiske liste)2
 Non-party list for Fjellværøy/Ulvøy
 (Upolitisk liste for Fjellværøy/U1vøy)		3
Total number of members:29
Hitra kommunestyre 1980–1983 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Non-party list (Upolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:29
Hitra kommunestyre 1976–1979 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Non-party list (Upolitisk Liste)1
Total number of members:29
Hitra kommunestyre 1972–1975 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:29
Hitra kommunestyre 1968–1971 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:37
Hitra kommunestyre 1964–1967 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 20
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:37
Hitra herredsstyre 1960–1963 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 15
Total number of members:17
Hitra herredsstyre 1956–1959 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:17
Hitra herredsstyre 1952–1955 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:16
Hitra herredsstyre 1948–1951 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:16
Hitra herredsstyre 1945–1947 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:16
Hitra herredsstyre 1938–1941* [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
 Hitra Voters' Association (Hitra Velgerforening)8
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.

Mayors

The mayors of Hitra (incomplete list):[31]

  • 1920–1922: Fredrik H. Strøm (Bp)
  • 1923–1925: Morten Lossius (V)
  • 1926–1931: Fredrik H. Strøm (Bp)
  • 1932–1934: Johan Olaus Asmundvaag (H)
  • 1935–1940: Ludvig Smaage (V)
  • 1941–1942: Morten Lossius (V)
  • 1942–1945: Sigbjørn Årnes (NS)
  • 1945-1945: Ludvig Smaage (V)
  • 1946–1947: Sten Hamnes (Ap)
  • 1948–1955: Ludvig Smaage (V)
  • 1956–1959: Peder Roksvåg (Ap)
  • 1960–1963: Jakob Storvik (LL)
  • 1964–1967: Arne Schanche Nilsen (Sp)
  • 1968–1971: Isak Hegerberg (H)
  • 1972–1975: Arne Schanche Nilsen (Sp)
  • 1976–1981: Isak Hegerberg (H)
  • 1982–1983: Bergljot Stokkan (Sp)
  • 1984–1987: Helge Jektvik (Ap)
  • 1988–1999: Egil Hestnes (H)
  • 1999–2003: Sigmund Jessen (Ap)
  • 2003–2007: Egil Hestnes (H)
  • 2007–present: Ole Haugen (Ap)

Geography
View of Hitra
Entrance to the Hitra Tunnel

Hitra is the seventh largest island of mainland Norway. It is bordered by the municipality of Frøya to the north and the mainland municipalities of Hemne and Snillfjord to the south. It lies between the Trondheimsleia strait and the Frøyfjorden. The 345-metre (1,132 ft) tall Mørkdalstuva is the highest point on the island.

Other than the large island of Hitra, there are many other islands in the municipality, notably Fjellværsøya, Ulvøya, Dolmøya, Helgbustadøya, and Bispøyan. The Børøyholmen Lighthouse and Terningen Lighthouse are located in the Trondheimsleia in the southeast part of Hitra municipality.

Transportation
Hitra landscape with wind turbines, near Straum

The company Kystekspressen runs westamaran services from Trondheim and Kristiansund. The 5,610-metre (3.5 mi) long undersea tunnel called the Hitratunnelen connects the island of Hitra to the mainland to the south and the 5,305-metre (3.3 mi) long Frøya Tunnel connects Hitra to the neighboring island of Frøya to the north.

Energy

There is a wind farm in the central part of the island, Hitra Wind Farm, founded in 2004, which has 24 wind turbines which produce a total of 55 megawatts (74,000 hp).

Notable people
Margaret Berger, 2013
  • Simon Michelet (1863–1942) a Norwegian theologian, teacher and academic; brought up in Hitra
  • John Aalmo (1902–1981) a Norwegian politician, Mayor of Sandstad 1934 to 1957 (except 1946-1947)
  • Martin Skaaren (1905 in Hitra – 1999) a Norwegian politician, Mayor of Kvenvær municipality 1945 to 1961
  • Kjerstin Øvrelid (1929 in Hitra – 1989) a Norwegian painter of flowers and the sea and skerries
  • Knut Børø (born 1948 in Hitra) a retired 5,000 and 10,000 metres runner; competed in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics
  • Rita Ottervik (born 1966 in Hitra) a Norwegian politician, Mayor of Trondheim 2003-2023
  • Anders Jektvik (born 1982 in Hitra) a Norwegian musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist
  • Margaret Berger (born 1985) a Norwegian singer, songwriter, music director and DJ; brought up in Hitra

See also

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. "Velkommen Snillfjordinger" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  7. "Veien videre- Hitra, Snillfjord" (in Norwegian). Snillfjord kommune. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  8. Rygh, Oluf (1901). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (14 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 63.
  9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  10. "Hitra, South Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  11. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 7 August 1987. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  12. Hansen, Tore, ed. (12 May 2016). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Sør-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  31. "Ordførere i Hitra fra 1964". Hitterslekt.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 12 February 2023.
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