Austrheim Municipality

Austrheim Municipality
Austrheim kommune
Municipality
Austreim herred  (historic name)
View of the Mongstad area
Flag
Coat of arms
Vestland within Norway
Austrheim within Vestland
Coordinates: 60°46′16″N 04°55′34″E / 60.77111°N 4.92611°E / 60.77111; 4.92611
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictNordhordland
Established1 Jan 1910
 • Preceded byLindås Municipality
Administrative centreÅrås
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Morten Sognnes (H)
Area
 • Total
57.54 km2 (22.22 sq mi)
 • Land56.80 km2 (21.93 sq mi)
 • Water0.74 km2 (0.29 sq mi)  1.3%
 • Rank#348 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
109.13 m (358.0 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
2,915
 • Rank#234 in Norway
 • Density50.7/km2 (131/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
 +1.7%
DemonymAustrheiming[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4632[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Austrheim is a municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årås. Other villages in the municipality include Austrheim and Kaland. The Mongstad industrial area lies along the border of Austrheim and neighboring Alver Municipality. The westernmost point of mainland Norway is Vardetangen which is located in the municipality.

The 57.54-square-kilometre (22.22 sq mi) municipality is the 348th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Austrheim Municipality is the 234th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,915. The municipality's population density is 50.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (131/sq mi) and its population has increased by 1.7% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

Historically, the area that is now Austrheim Municipality was a part of the large Lindås Municipality. On 1 January 1910, the northwestern district of Lindås (population: 2,518) was separated from Lindås to form the new Austrheim Municipality. On 1 January 1947, all of the islands located west of the Fedjefjorden (population: 920) were separated to form the new Fedje Municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Straume area on the island of Radøy (population: 56) was transferred from Austrheim Municipality to the new Radøy Municipality.[7]

Historically, this municipality was part of the old Hordaland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Vestland county (after Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties were merged).[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austrheim farm (Old Norse: Austrheimr) since the first Austrheim Church was built there. The first element is austr which means "east". The last element is heimr which means "homestead" or "village".[9] Until 1889, the village and parish name was written Østereim. After that the spelling was changed to Austreim, using the Nynorsk spelling. On 30 April 1907, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name to Austrheim after a recommendation to change from Postvesenet, the Norwegian postal service.[10] The municipality was established in 1910, but the old Austreim spelling was still used for some time until the new spelling became more commonly used.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 February 1989. The official blazon is "Azure, three bars embowed argent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn tre sølv bjelkar bøygde oppover). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the ordinary is a set of three arched bars. The bars have a tincture of argent which means they are commonly colored white, but if the arms are made out of metal, then silver is used. The three bows represent the many bridges in the island municipality. The color blue was chosen to represent the sea and the white/silver was to represent the land. The arms were designed by Svein Skauge. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[11][12][13]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Austrheim Municipality. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Austrheim Municipality
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Austrheim Austrheim Church Austrheim 1865

Government

Austrheim Municipality is 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.[14] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Austrheim Municipality is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Austrheim kommunestyre 2023–2027 [15]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Common List in Austrheim (Samlingslista i Austrheim)2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2019–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Local List in Austrheim (Bygdelista i Austrheim)1
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Bygdelista)3
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Bygdelista)2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Bygdelista)3
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Local list (Bygdeliste)2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1959–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1955–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 15
Total number of members:17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1951–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:16
Austrheim heradsstyre 1947–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:16
Austrheim heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:18
Austrheim heradsstyre 1937–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:18
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 mayor (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Austrheim Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[34]

  • 1910–1914: Andreas Haraldsen[35]
  • 1915–1919: Nils Fjellanger[36]
  • 1919–1931: Hans Utkilen[37]
  • 1931–1934: Mikal Hjertaas[38]
  • 1934–1937: Jørgen Sætre[39]
  • 1937–1945: Andreas Haraldsen Daae[40]
  • 1946–1951: Samuel Lervåg[41]
  • 1951–1955: Ludvig Martin Daae (KrF)[42]
  • 1955–1975: Samuel Lervåg (V)[43]
  • 1975–1977: Knut Johannes Risnes (KrF)[44]
  • 1977–1986: Asbjørn Fjeld (H)
  • 1986–1992: Knut Johannes Risnes (KrF)[44]
  • 1992–1999: Ole Lysø (Ap)
  • 1999–2003: Rolf Sandstad (KrF)
  • 2003–2011: Ole Lysø (Ap)
  • 2011–2023: Per Lerøy (Ap)
  • 2023–present: Morten Sognnes (H)[45]

Police

In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station for Austrheim and Fedje be closed.[46]

Economy

The Mongstad industrial complex lies on the border of Austrheim and Lindås. It is the largest oil port and refinery in Norway, is responsible for about 70% of all wet bulk. Many residents of Austrheim work at the facility.

Population

Historical population
Year1910192019301946195119601970198019902000201020202023
Pop.1,7631,9352,0612,3042,3902,2161,8802,5492,6842,5272,7382,8702,856
±% p.a.—    +0.94%+0.63%+0.70%+0.74%−0.84%−1.63%+3.09%+0.52%−0.60%+0.81%+0.47%−0.16%
Source: Statistics Norway[5][47] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[48]

Geography

Austrheim is an island municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county. It is located south of the Fensfjorden, east of the Fedjefjorden, north of the island of Radøy, and west of the Lindås peninsula. The municipality includes the far northwestern tip of the peninsula as well as many islands. The largest island (by far) is the island of Fosnøyna, where the municipal centre is located.

Gulen Municipality is located to the north (across the fjord), Fedje Municipality is located on islands to the west, Alver Municipality lies to the south. The highest point in the municipality is the 109.13-metre (358.0 ft) tall mountain Litlåsfjellet, located just west of Mongstad.[1]

Notable people

References

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  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
  5. ^ a b Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
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  8. ^ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (1 August 2025). "Vestland". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 423.
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  11. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Austrheim, Hordaland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 14 April 1989. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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  35. ^ "Ordførervalg". Bergens Annonce Tidende (in Norwegian). 23 November 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  36. ^ "Elektriciteten paa Landsbygden". Bjørgvin (in Norwegian). 2 October 1917. p. 1. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  37. ^ "Ordførervalg". Dagen (in Norwegian). 18 December 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  38. ^ "Ordførarval i Hordaland". Hardanger (in Norwegian). 19 December 1931. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  39. ^ "Austrheim heradstyre". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). 19 December 1934. p. 19. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  40. ^ "Ordførarval". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 8 December 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  41. ^ "Samuel Lervåg attvald til ordførar i Austrheim". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 16 January 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  42. ^ "Vi noterar at". Firda Folkeblad (in Norwegian). 6 December 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  43. ^ "Ordførarval i Hordaland". Bergens Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 19 December 1955. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  44. ^ a b "Risnes, Knut Johannes" (in Norwegian). Storting. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Morten Sognnes ny ordførar i Austrheim". Austrheim kommune (in Norwegian). Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  46. ^ Fjelltveit, Ingvild; Raunholm, Per Vidar (20 December 2016). "Foreslår å legge ned 17 lensmannskontor i Vest politidistrikt". NRK Hordaland (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  47. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folke- og bustadteljing 2001" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  48. ^ Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".

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