Nord-Aurdal

Nord-Aurdal is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town Fagernes. Other urban centres in Nord-Aurdal include the villages of Aurdal, Leira, and Skrautvål. The municipality is served by Fagernes Airport, Leirin. In Nord-Aurdal, there is an alpine skiing center called Valdres Alpinsenter.[3]

Nord-Aurdal kommune
Nordre Aurdal herred (historic)
Municipality
View over Strandefjorden, with Fagernes to the right
View over Strandefjorden, with Fagernes to the right
Flag of Nord-Aurdal kommune
Flag
Coat of arms of Nord-Aurdal kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Nord-Aurdal kommune
Innlandet within
Norway
Nord-Aurdal within Innlandet
Nord-Aurdal within Innlandet
Coordinates: 60°57′35″N 9°15′51″E
CountryNorway
CountyInnlandet
DistrictValdres
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreFagernes
Government
 • Mayor (2011)Inger Torun Klosbøle (Ap)
Area
 • Total906.47 km2 (349.99 sq mi)
 • Land849.13 km2 (327.85 sq mi)
 • Water57.34 km2 (22.14 sq mi)  6.3%
 • Rank#128 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total6,354
 • Rank#152 in Norway
 • Density7.5/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −1.2%
DemonymNordaurdøl[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3451
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 906-square-kilometre (350 sq mi) municipality is the 128th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Nord-Aurdal is the 152nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,354. The municipality's population density is 7.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 1.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information
View of the Dokkafjorden area
Nord.Aurdal seen from Hippesbygde

The parish of Nordre Aurdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1894, the new Etnedal Municipality was established by merging the eastern valley area of Nordre Etnedal (population: 362) from Nordre Aurdal municipality and the Søndre Etnedal area (population: 1,331) from the neighboring municipality of Søndre Aurdal. On 1 January 1979, there was a border adjustment in an unpopulated area where part of Etnedal was transferred to Nord-Aurdal and another part of Nord-Aurdal that was transferred to Etnedal. Then on 1 January 1984, the unpopulated northern side of the Makalaus mountain was transferred from Sør-Aurdal to Nord-Aurdal.[6][3]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Aurdalen valley (Old Norse: Aurardalr) since it was a central geographic feature of the area. The first word in the name is nord which is essentially a prefix that means "north". The second word comes from the local valley name. The first element of that word is the genitive case of the old river name, Aur, now named Bøaelva. The river name comes from the word aurr which means "gravel". The last element of the second word is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". Originally the municipality was named Nordre Aurdal. In the early 20th century, the name was changed to Nord-Aurdal. Both nordre and nord mean "north" (more specifically, "nordre" means "northern"), so the name Nord-Aurdal means "(the) northern (part of) Aurdal". (The Church of Norway parish of Aurdal that had existed for centuries was divided into two in 1805, just over 30 years before the parish borders were used to defin the new municipality that was established in 1838.)[7]

See also: Sør-Aurdal § Name

Coat of arms
Gentiana nivalis which is the flower depicted on the arms for Nord-Aurdal

The coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 13 December 1985. The official blazon is "Or, three cinquefoils azure" (Norwegian: På gull grunn tre blå fembladingar, 2-1). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 three five-petaled flowers. The arms show three blue flowers of the species Gentiana nivalis which are commonly called "Snow Gentian". The flowers, which are locally known as "the blue eyes of Christ", grow all over Norway, but they grow abundantly in this area. Three flowers were chosen to represent the three main settlements of the municipality: Aurdal, Fagernes, and Leira. This type of flower only opens in sunlight and heat, so it was chosen to symbolize being open and positive. The arms were designed by Bjørn Arnesen who based it off an idea by Ivar Aars. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[8][9][10][11]

Churches

The Church of Norway has six parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Nord-Aurdal. It is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Nord-Aurdal
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
AurdalAurdal ChurchAurdal1737
SkrautvålSkrautvål ChurchSkrautvål1785
SvenesStrand ChurchSynnstrond1735
TingnesTingnes ChurchFagernes1972
TisleidalenTisleidalen ChurchHovda1957
UlnesUlnes ChurchUlnes1250

Geography
Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Nord-Aurdal by country of origin in 2017[12]
AncestryNumber
 Lithuania81
 Poland73
 Romania62
 Netherlands38
 Syria36
 Eritrea34
 Denmark33

Nord-Aurdal municipality is located to the north of Sør-Aurdal Municipality, east of Etnedal Municipality and Gausdal Municipality, and south of Øystre Slidre Municipality and Vestre Slidre Municipality. To the west, it is bordered by Hemsedal Municipality and Gol Municipality in Buskerud county. Nord-Aurdal measures about 52.4 kilometres (32.6 mi) on the north–south axis and 43.3 kilometres (26.9 mi) on the east–west axis.

The municipality lies in the western side of Innlandet county. Although Fagernes is the administrative center of Nord-Aurdal, the village of Aurdal was the historic centre of the centuries-old Church of Norway parish of Aurdal. Nord-Aurdal is part of the traditional district of Valdres in the central part of southern Norway, situated between the valleys of Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.

The highest point in Nord-Aurdal is the Duptjernkampen at 1,325 metres (4,347 ft). About 50% of the land is above 900 metres (3,000 ft). The Tisleifjorden and Aurdalsfjorden are large inland lakes that are located in Nord-Aurdal. The river Begna flows through the municipality as well, with the Strondafjorden being a large lake that the river flows through.

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.[13] The municipality falls under the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2020–2023 [14]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2016–2019 [15][16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2012–2015 [17]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2008–2011 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2004–2007 [16]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 2000–2003 [16][18]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1996–1999 [19]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1992–1995 [20]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1988–1991 [21]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1984–1987 [22]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1980–1983 [23]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1976–1979 [24]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1972–1975 [25]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1968–1971 [26]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal kommunestyre 1964–1967 [27]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 1
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1960–1963 [28]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1956–1959 [29]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1952–1955 [30]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 12
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1948–1951 [31]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 17
Total number of members:24
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 15
Total number of members:25
Nord-Aurdal herredsstyre 1938–1940* [33]  
Party Name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 16
Total number of members:25
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 Nord-Aurdal:[34]

  • 1838-1839: Amund Wessel Kolderup
  • 1840-1841: Thore S. Belgum
  • 1842-1845: Torger Melbye
  • 1846-1849: Amund Wessel Kolderup
  • 1850-1853: Thore S. Belgum
  • 1854-1859: Jean Marie L'Abee
  • 1860-1865: Nils Frydenlund
  • 1866-1881: Erik Kjørstad
  • 1882-1901: Ole Skrutvold
  • 1902-1907: O.T. Svennæs
  • 1908-1913: Th. Aaberg
  • 1914-1919: O.T. Svennæs
  • 1920-1926: Erik Strand
  • 1926-1945: Ivar Simensen
  • 1946-1971: Asbjørn Granheim (Sp)
  • 1972-1981: Nils T. Døvre (KrF)
  • 1982-1987: Lage Westerbø (Sp)
  • 1988-2003: Ola N. Døvre (Sp)
  • 2003-2007: Svein Erik Hilmen (Sp)
  • 2007-2011: Helge Halvorsen (Ap)
  • 2011-2019: Inger Torun Klosbøle (Ap)
  • 2019-present: Knut Arne Fjelltun (Sp)

Attractions

The Valdres Folkemuseum is located just outside Fagernes and has large collections of old houses, textiles, and music instruments.

  • Valdres Folkemuseum
    Valdres Folkemuseum
  • Valdres Museum
    Valdres Museum
  • Skattebustugu
    Skattebustugu

Notable people
Knut Hamsun, 1939

International relations
Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Twin towns — Sister cities

Nord-Aurdal has sister city agreements with the following places:[39]

References
  1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. Svendsen, Trond Olav, ed. (26 June 2022). "Nord-Aurdal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  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. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. Rygh, Oluf (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 221.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  9. "Nord-Aurdal, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 13 December 1985. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  11. "Kommunevåpenet for Nord-Aurdal" (in Norwegian). Nord-Aurdal kommune. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
  12. "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  13. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Oppland". Valg Direktoratet.
  16. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Oppland". Valg Direktoratet.
  18. Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
  19. Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
  20. Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
  21. Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
  22. Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
  23. Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
  24. Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
  25. Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
  26. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  27. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  34. "Ordførere i gjennom tidene". Nord-Aurdal kommune (in Norwegian). 14 October 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  35. "Hamsun, Knut" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  36. "Knut Hamsun". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 8 March 2005.
  37. "Knut Hamsun". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 29 August 2005.
  38. Lovell, Odd (29 June 2022). "J.C.M. Hanson". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  39. "Vennskapsbyer" (in Norwegian). Nord-Aurdal kommune. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
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