Vevelstad

This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the place in Ski, Norway, see Langhus.

Vevelstad Municipality Vevelstad kommune
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Nordland within Norway
Vevelstad within Nordland
Coordinates: 65°40′06″N12°31′07″E / 65.66833°N 12.51861°E / 65.66833; 12.51861
Country	Norway
County	Nordland
District	Helgeland
Established	1 July 1916
• Preceded by	Tjøtta Municipality
Administrative centre	Forvika
Government
• Mayor (2023)	Sivert Vevelstad (Ap)
Area
• Total	539.06 km2 (208.13 sq mi)
• Land	516.24 km2 (199.32 sq mi)
• Water	22.80 km2 (8.80 sq mi)  4.2%
• Rank	#199 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	454
• Rank	#352 in Norway
• Density	0.9/km2 (2/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−9.2%
Demonym	Vevelstadværing [1]
Official language [2]
•  Norwegian form	Bokmål
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1816 [3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

Vevelstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Forvika.

The 539-square-kilometre (208 sq mi) municipality is the 199th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vevelstad is the 352nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 454. The municipality's population density is 0.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 9.2% over the previous 10-year period. ^{[4] [5]}

General information

View of the Velfjorden, Vevelstad is on the left side of the fjord.

View of the village of Stokka.

The municipality of Vevelstad was established on 1 July 1916 when it was separated from the municipality of Tjøtta. Initially, the municipality had 1,097 residents. On 1 July 1920, the Giskå farm area (population: 10) was transferred from Tjøtta to Vevelstad. The borders have not changed since that time. ^[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Vevelstad farm (Old Norse : Vifilsstaðir), since the first Vevelstad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the Old Norse male name Vifill and the last element is the plural form of staðr which means "homestead" or "farm", therefore it means "Vifill's homestead". ^[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 13 November 1991. The official blazon is "Azure, three inverted couped chevrons argent, two and one" (Norwegian : I blått tre omvendte svevende sølv sparrer, 2-1). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is three V-shaped figures (two over one). The V-shapes have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms are canting, showing the first letter of the name of the municipality, V. The municipality applied for arms in the 1970s, but all the proposals were rejected by either the municipal council or the National Archives. Finally, the present arms were adopted and granted in 1991. The arms were designed by Odd P. Olsen. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vevelstad. It is part of the Sør-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Vevelstad

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Vevelstad	Vevelstad Church	Forvika	1796

Geography

The municipality lies in the middle of Norway, surrounded by mountains and fjords. A lot of the municipality is a part of Lomsdal–Visten National Park. The lake Søre Vistvatnet lies in the southeastern part of the municipality inside the national park. Most of the residents live along the coastline or on the island Hamnøya. The mouth of the Velfjorden lies in the southern part of the municipality.

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. ^[11] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vevelstad is made up of 13 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2024–2027 ^[12]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)	5
	Municipal List (Kommunelista)	4
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2020–2023 ^[13]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)	8
	Municipal List (Kommunelista)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2016–2019 ^[14]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)	6
	Municipal List (Kommunelista)	4
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2012–2015 ^[15]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Cooperative List (Samarbeidslisten)	8
	Municipal List (Kommunelista)	2
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2008–2011 ^[14]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Municipal list (Kommunelista)	4
	Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2004–2007 ^[14]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Municipal list (Kommunelista)	4
	Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 2000–2003 ^[14]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Coastal Party (Kystpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Joint list of the Labour Party  (Arbeiderpartiet) and the Socialist Left Party  (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Cooperative list (Samarbeidsliste)	3
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1996–1999 ^[16]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Joint list of the Labour Party  (Arbeiderpartiet) and the Socialist Left Party  (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	7
Total number of members:		15

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1992–1995 ^[17]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Vevelstad local list (Vevelstad Bygdeliste)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1988–1991 ^[18]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party  (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1984–1987 ^[19]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party  (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1980–1983 ^[20]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), and Liberal Party  (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1976–1979 ^[21]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party  (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1972–1975 ^[22]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	2
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1968–1971 ^[23]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	3
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad kommunestyre 1964–1967 ^[24]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1960–1963 ^[25]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	5
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1956–1959 ^[26]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	4
Total number of members:		13

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1952–1955 ^[27]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		12

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1948–1951 ^[28]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		12

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[29]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		12

Vevelstad herredsstyre 1938–1941* ^[30]   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	12
Total number of members:		12
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 (Norwegian : ordfører) of Vevelstad (incomplete list): ^[31]

• 1945-1967: Ragnvald Vevelstad (Ap)
• 1967-1970: Eilif Slotvik
• 1970-1975: Ragnvald Vevelstad (Ap)
• 1976-1979: Alf Arnes (V)
• 1980-1987: Per Vevelstad (Ap)
• 1988-1999: Harald Axelsen (Ap)
• 1999-2003: Arnt O. Åsvang (LL)
• 2003-2015: Ken-Richard Hansen (LL)
• 2015-2019: Kari Anne Bøkestad Andreassen (LL)
• 2019–2023: Torhild Haugann (Sp)
• 2023-present: Sivert Vevelstad (Ap) ^[32]

Notable people

• Kari Anne Bøkestad Andreassen (born 1973 in Vevelstad), a Norwegian politician who was the first female Mayor of the municipality

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
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.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 51.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
9. "Vevelstad, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 January 1993. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
11. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget . Retrieved 14 October 2022.
12. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
13. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 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 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
31. Vevelstad kommune 75 år (in Norwegian). Vevelstad kommune. 1991. pp. 4–5.
32. "27-åring fører familietradisjonen videre – blir ny ordfører i Vevelstad". NRK Nordland (in Norwegian). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.

External links

• Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• http://oklausse.home.online.no/vevelstad/