Biri Municipality
Biri Municipality
Biri herred | |
|---|---|
View of the village of Biri | |
Oppland within Norway | |
Biri within Oppland | |
| Coordinates: 60°57′20″N 10°36′41″E / 60.95558°N 10.6115°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Oppland |
| District | Vestoppland |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Disestablished | 1 Jan 1964 |
| • Succeeded by | Gjøvik Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Biri |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (1952-1963) | Nils Røstadstuen (Ap) |
| Area (upon dissolution) | |
• Total | 186.3 km2 (71.9 sq mi) |
| • Rank | #388 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 807 m (2,648 ft) |
| Population (1963) | |
• Total | 3,267 |
| • Rank | #277 in Norway |
| • Density | 17.5/km2 (45/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | −0.8% |
| Demonym | Biring[2] |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Neutral[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-0525[5] |
Biri is a former municipality in the old Oppland county, Norway. The 186-square-kilometre (72 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Gjøvik Municipality in the traditional district of Vestoppland. The administrative centre was the village of Biri. Other villages in the municipality included Biri Øverbygd and Biristrand.[6]
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the 186.3-square-kilometre (71.9 sq mi) municipality was the 388th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Biri Municipality was the 277th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 3,267. The municipality's population density was 17.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (45/sq mi) and its population had decreased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.[7][8]
General information
The parish of Biri was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1910, Biri Municipality was divided in two. The western part (population: 2,028) became Snertingdal Municipality and the eastern part (population: 2,815) continued as Biri Municipality.[9]
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the following areas were merged to form a new, larger Gjøvik Municipality with 23,608 residents:[9]
- the town of Gjøvik (population: 8,251)
- Biri Municipality (population: 3,274)
- Snertingdal Municipality (population: 2,471)
- most of Vardal Municipality (population: (9,612)
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Biri farm (Old Norse: Biríð) since the first Biri Church was built there. The name is presumably very old and its meaning is uncertain. One possibility is that the Old Norse name is derived from the word berhíð which means "bear den".[10][6]
Churches
The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Biri Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Biri prestegjeld and the Toten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.[8]
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biri | Biri Church | Biri | 1777 |
Geography
Fåberg Municipality was located to the north, Ringsaker Municipality (in Hedmark county) was located to the east, Nes Municipality (also in Hedmark county) was located to the southeast, Vardal Municipality was located to the south, Snertingdal Municipality was located to the west, and Torpa Municipality was located to the northwest. The highest point in the municipality was the 807-metre (2,648 ft) tall mountain Åsgardshaugen, located on the border with Snertingdal Municipality.[1]
Government
While it existed, Biri Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[11] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Biri Municipality was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Note: On 1 January 1964, Biri Municipality became part of Gjøvik Municipality. | ||
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 4 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| 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 (Norwegian: ordfører) of Biri Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:[18]
- 1838–1843: Christian Semb
- 1844–1845: Nils Larsen Melby
- 1846–1847: Nils Johan Hagerup
- 1848–1849: Anders Lysgaard, Jr.
- 1850–1851: Nils Larsen Melby
- 1852–1855: Anders Lysgaard, Jr.
- 1856–1857: Johannes Alseth
- 1858–1859: Halvor Olsen
- 1860–1867: Iver Lier
- 1868–1871: Nils Berg
- 1872–1873: Johannes Alseth
- 1874–1875: Even Nøss
- 1876–1881: Mathias Larsen Bratberg
- 1882–1883: Anton Skulhus
- 1890–1893: Julius Bjørnstad
- 1894–1895: Anton Skulhus
- 1896–1904: Iver Fliflet
- 1905–1907: Ole E. Huskelhus
- 1908–1910: Kristian Oudenstad (LL)
- 1911–1913: Julius Bjørnstad
- 1914–1931: Hagbart Wiklund (AD)
- 1931–1934: Einar Sigstad (Bp)
- 1934–1941: Henrik Eilert Brekke (Ap)
- 1941–1941: Harald Bratberg (NS)
- 1941–1945: Einar Sigstad (NS)
- 1945–1951: Henrik Eilert Brekke (Ap)
- 1952–1963: Nils Røstadstuen (Ap)
See also
References
- ^ a b "Kart over Norge" (in Norwegian). Kartverket.
- ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 453–471. 1932.
- ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
- ^ a b Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (21 January 2020). "Biri (tidligere kommune)". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 1951). Norges Sivile, Geistlige, Rettslige og Militære Inndeling 1. Januar 1951 (PDF). Norges Offisielle Statistikk (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: H. Aschehoug & Co.
- ^ a b Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
- ^ Rygh, Oluf (1900). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (in Norwegian) (4 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 2.
- ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
- ^ Lauvdal, Torgeir (1953). Biri-Snertingdal bygdebok (in Norwegian). Vol. 2. Gjøvik, Norge: Gjøvik by. pp. 186–190.