Etnedal Municipality

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Etnedal Municipality
Etnedal kommune
Municipality
Etnedalen herred  (historic name)
Hafsenn I.jpg
View of the lake Hafsenn
Flag of Etnedal.gif
Flag
Etnedal komm.svg
Coat of arms
Norway Counties Innlandet Position.svg
Innlandet within Norway
NO 3450 Etnedal.svg
Etnedal within Innlandet
Coordinates: 60°58′2″N9°39′13″E / 60.96722°N 9.65361°E / 60.96722; 9.65361
Country Norway
County Innlandet
District Valdres
Established1 Jan 1894
 • Preceded by Nord-Aurdal Municipality and
Sør-Aurdal Municipality
Administrative centre Bruflat
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Linda Mæhlum Robøle (Sp)
Area
 • Total
459.14 km2 (177.27 sq mi)
 • Land442.77 km2 (170.95 sq mi)
 • Water16.37 km2 (6.32 sq mi)  3.6%
 • Rank#215 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,413.84 m (4,638.58 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
1,254
 • Rank#318 in Norway
 • Density2.7/km2 (7/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease2.svg −3%
Demonym Etnedøl [2]
Official language
[3]
 •  Norwegian form Neutral
Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code NO-3450 [4]
Website Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

Etnedal is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bruflat. [5]

Contents

The 459.14-square-kilometre (177.27 sq mi) municipality is the 215th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Etnedal Municipality is the 318th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,254. The municipality's population density is 2.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.0/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3% over the previous 10-year period. [6] [7]

General information

Bruflat church Bruflat kirke, Etnedal.jpg
Bruflat church
Lunde bridge - the inspiration for the municipal arms Lunde Bru, Norway.JPG
Lunde bridge - the inspiration for the municipal arms

Etnedal Municipality was established on 1 January 1894 after the eastern Nordre Etnedal valley area (population: 362) from Nord-Aurdal Municipality and the Søndre Etnedal valley area (population: 1,331) from Sør-Aurdal Municipality were merged. On 1 January 1979, there was a border adjustment in an unpopulated area where part of Etnedal Municipality was transferred to Nord-Aurdal Municipality and another unpopulated part of Nord-Aurdal Municipality was transferred to Etnedal Municipality. [8] [5]

Historically, this municipality was part of the old Oppland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Innlandet county (after Hedmark and Oppland counties were merged). [9]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Etnedalen valley (Old Norse : Etnardalr) since it was a central geographic feature of the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of local Etna river Etn. The meaning of the river name is uncertain but it is possibly derived from etja which means to "push forward" or from eta which means to "eat". The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". [10] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Etnedalen. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Etnedal, removing the definite form ending -en. [11]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 14 July 1989. The official blazon is "Azure, an arched bridge Or" (Norwegian : På blå grunn ei gull kvelvingsbru). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is an arched bridge. The bridge 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 arms were designed to symbolize the old Lunde bridge (Lundebru) which is one of the best preserved stone bridges in Norway. The bridge is now a national monument. It is also Northern Europe's largest dry stone-arch bridge. The bridge was built in 1829 on the Old King's Road connecting the cities of Oslo and Bergen. A portion of the king's road was refurbished and turned into a footpath in 1992 and is now a natural and cultural walking path. The arms were designed by Ivar Aars. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within Etnedal Municipality. It is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Etnedal Municipality
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
Etnedal Bruflat Church Bruflat 1750
Nord-Etnedal Nord-Etnedal Church Brøtahaugen 1866

Geography

Etnedal Municipality is part of the traditional district of Valdres in central, southern Norway, situated between the Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal valleys. Valdres also includes the municipalities of Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, and Vang.

Etnedal Municipality is bordered to the east by Nordre Land Municipality, to the south by Sør-Aurdal Municipality, and on the west and north by Nord-Aurdal Municipality. The river Etna flows through the municipality, then into Nordre Land Municipality and then down into Randsfjorden. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,413.84-metre (4,638.6 ft) tall mountain Spåtind, in the northern part of the municipality. [1]

Government

Etnedal 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. [16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestoppland og Valdres District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Etnedal Municipality is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Etnedal kommunestyre 2023–2027 [17]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
Total number of members:15
Etnedal kommunestyre 2019–2023 [18]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
 Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party  (Venstre)2
Total number of members:15
Etnedal kommunestyre 2015–2019 [19] [20]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)5
  Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:15
Etnedal kommunestyre 2011–2015 [21]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
  Conservative Party (Høyre)3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
  Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:15
Etnedal kommunestyre 2007–2011 [20]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)3
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:15
Etnedal kommunestyre 2003–2007 [20]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1999–2003 [20] [22]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)8
  Liberal Party (Venstre)1
  Etnedal independent local list
 (Etnedal uavhengig bygdeliste)		2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1995–1999 [23]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
  Etnedal non-party local list
 (Etnedal upolitiske bygdeliste)		3
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1991–1995 [24]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1987–1991 [25]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)6
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1983–1987 [26]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
  Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1979–1983 [27]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)1
  Liberal Party (Venstre)1
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1975–1979 [28]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
  Liberal Party (Venstre)3
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1971–1975 [29]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)4
  Liberal Party (Venstre)2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1967–1971 [30]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Conservative Party (Høyre)1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)1
  Liberal Party (Venstre)4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister)2
Total number of members:17
Etnedal kommunestyre 1963–1967 [31]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
  Liberal Party (Venstre)4
Total number of members:17
Etnedal herredsstyre 1959–1963 [32]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
  Conservative Party (Høyre)2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)2
  Liberal Party (Venstre)5
Total number of members:17
Etnedal herredsstyre 1955–1959 [33]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)2
  Liberal Party (Venstre)4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)3
Total number of members:17
Etnedal herredsstyre 1951–1955 [34]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)2
  Liberal Party (Venstre)4
Total number of members:16
Etnedal herredsstyre 1947–1951 [35]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)3
 Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister)4
Total number of members:16
Etnedal herredsstyre 1945–1947 [36]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)3
 Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister)4
Total number of members:16
Etnedal herredsstyre 1937–1940* [37]   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)6
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)4
 Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)6
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 mayor (Norwegian : ordfører) of Etnedal 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: [38] [39] [40]

  • 1894–1900: Arild Huitfeldt Siewers
  • 1900–1901: Nils Hagaseth
  • 1901–1904: Erik Thon
  • 1904–1907: Aslak E. Bruflat
  • 1907–1913: Engebret Espelien
  • 1913–1919: Nils Nielsen
  • 1919–1922: Carl Christian Wishman
  • 1922–1925: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
  • 1925–1928: Martin Lundstein (V)
  • 1928–1931: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
  • 1931–1934: Engebret Haug
  • 1934–1937: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
  • 1937–1940: Torleiv Hodne (Ap)
  • 1940–1945: (Vacant due to the war)
  • 1946–1959: Iver K. Haug (V)
  • 1960–1967: Nicolai Hestekind (H)
  • 1968–1974: Ole Fløgum (Ap)
  • 1975–1975: Kristian Midthus (Sp)
  • 1976–1979: Alfred Steinset (KrF)
  • 1980–1983: Knut Engelien (Sp)
  • 1984–1999: Odd Byfuglien (Sp)
  • 1999–2014: Jan Arild Berg (Sp)
  • 2014–2019: Toril Grønbrekk (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Linda Mæhlum Robøle (Sp)

Economy

Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Etnedal by country of origin in 2017 [41]
AncestryNumber
Flag of Syria (2025-).svg Syria 27
Flag of Eritrea.svg Eritrea 22
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 18

Occupations in the municipality include animal husbandry and logging, but there is also some industry and tourism.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  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. 1 2 Svendsen, Trond Olav; Een de Amoriza, Silje; Mæhlum, Lars, eds. (26 November 2024). "Etnedal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  6. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  8. ↑ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN   9788253746845.
  9. ↑ Mæhlum, Lars; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 November 2024). "Innlandet". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  10. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 242.
  11. ↑ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
  12. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Etnedal, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 September 1989. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kommunevåpenet-bru i blått" (in Norwegian). Etnedal kommune. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  16. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  17. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet . Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  18. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet . Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
  22. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN   8253748531. ISSN   0332-8023.
  23. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN   8253743351. ISSN   0332-8023.
  24. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN   8253737939. ISSN   0332-8023.
  25. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN   8253726325. ISSN   0332-8023.
  26. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN   8253720378. ISSN   0332-8023.
  27. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN   8253710836. ISSN   0332-8023.
  28. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN   8253705646.
  29. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN   8253701144.
  30. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  31. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  34. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  35. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  36. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  37. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  38. ↑ Hvattum, Harald (1989). Gard og bygd i Etnedal (in Norwegian). Leira, Norge: Valdres bygdeboks forl. pp. 113–114. ISBN   8299200911.
  39. ↑ Hvattum, Harald (1993). Etnedal kommune 1894-1994 (in Norwegian). Etnedal: Kommunen. p. 149. ISBN   8299200954.
  40. ↑ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  41. ↑ "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.

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