Tjeldsund

Summary

Tjeldsund (Northern Sami: Dielddanuorri)[4] is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The southwestern part of the municipality is part of the traditional district of Ofoten and the rest of the municipality is part of Central Hålogaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Evenskjer. Other important villages include Fjelldal, Myklebostad, Grovfjord, Renså, Sandstrand, Tovik, and Ramsund. Norges Brannskole (Norway's education and training center for firemen) is situated in Fjelldal. Marinejegerkommandoen is based south of Ramsund.

Tjeldsund Municipality
Tjeldsund kommune
Dielddanuori suohkan
View of Fjelldal in the summer
View of Fjelldal in the summer
Troms within Norway
Troms within Norway
Tjeldsund within Troms
Tjeldsund within Troms
Coordinates: 68°29′04″N 16°17′33″E / 68.48444°N 16.29250°E / 68.48444; 16.29250
CountryNorway
CountyTroms
DistrictNorthern Norway
Established1 Jan 1909
 • Preceded byLødingen Municipality
Administrative centreEvenskjer
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Robin Ridderseth (LL)
Area
 • Total814.40 km2 (314.44 sq mi)
 • Land774.66 km2 (299.10 sq mi)
 • Water39.75 km2 (15.35 sq mi)  4.9%
 • Rank#139 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total4,206
 • Rank#198 in Norway
 • Density5.4/km2 (14/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −0.3%
DemonymTjeldsunding[1]
Official language
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5512[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 814-square-kilometre (314 sq mi) municipality is the 139th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Tjeldsund is the 198th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,206. The municipality's population density is 5.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (14/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.3% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information edit

 
Sætertinden mountain at the Tjeldsund-Harstad municipality border.

The municipality of Tjeldsund was established on 1 January 1909 when it was separated from the large Lødingen Municipality. Tjeldsund encompassed the eastern part of Lødingen prior to the division. Initially, Tjeldsund had a population of 1,404.[7]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the western part of the island of Tjeldøya (population: 297) was transferred to Tjeldsund Municipality from Lødingen Municipality, uniting the whole island within the same municipality. On the same date, the unpopulated Ramnes area of Evenes Municipality was also transferred to Tjeldsund Municipality.[7]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality merged with the neighboring Skånland Municipality and at the same time the new municipality became a part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county (prior to the merger, Skånland was located in the old Troms county and Tjeldsund was in Nordland county).[8][9] On 1 January 2024, Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality became part of the newly re-created Troms county.[10]

Name edit

The municipality is named after the Tjeldsundet strait which runs between the islands of Tjeldøya and Hinnøya. The first element is the (uncompounded) Old Norse name of the island of Tjeldøya (Tjöld or Tjalda). The name of the island is probably derived from the word tjald which means "tent" or the similar word tjaldr which means "oystercatcher". The last element is sund which means "strait" or "sound".[11][12] On 1 January 2020, when Skånland became a part of Tjeldsund, the municipality kept the name Tjeldsund, but also added a co-equal, official name in the Sami language: Dielddanuorri.[13] The two names can be used interchangeably for the municipality. The spelling of the Sami language name changes depending on how it is used. It is called Dielddanuorri when it is spelled alone, but it is Dielddanuori suohkan when using the Sami language equivalent to "Tjeldsund municipality".[4]

Coat of arms edit

The coat of arms was granted on 29 June 1990. The official blazon is "Argent, a cross of St. Anthony azure" (Norwegian: I sølv et blått Antonius-kors). This means the arms have a field (background) that has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The charge is a Cross of Saint Anthony which has a tincture of azure. The blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea. The cross is a canting of the letter T, the first letter of the name Tjeldsund. The blue cross shape also stands for the confluence of the Tjeldsundet and Ramsundet straits which run between the mainland and the islands of Tjeldøya and Hinnøya. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[14][15][16]

Churches edit

The Church of Norway has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Tjeldsund. It is part of the Trondenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Tjeldsund
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Astafjord Astafjord Church Grov 1978
Skånland Skånland Church Evenskjer 1901
Tjeldsund Tjeldsund Church Hol i Tjeldsund 1863
Fjelldal Chapel Fjelldal 1960
Ramsund Chapel Ramsund 1964
Tovik Tovik Church Tovik 1905

Geography edit

 
Aerial view over Tjeldsund and part of Ofotfjord in January. Tjeldsund is partly located on the mainland, but also includes Tjeldøya (island).

Tjeldsund is currently located in Troms county on the border with Nordland county to the south and west (prior to 2020, Tjeldsund was smaller, and located in Nordland county). Tjeldsund is partially located on the island of Tjeldøya which is surrounded by the Ofotfjorden on the south; the Tjeldsundet strait to the west, north, and east; and the Ramsundet strait to the east.

The island is connected to the mainland by the Ramsund Bridge. The rest of the municipality is on the mainland to the east of Tjeldøya plus a small area on the island of Hinnøya to the north of Tjeldøya, and the Skånland area on the mainland to the northeast. The municipalities of Evenes (in Nordland) and Gratangen (in Troms) lie to the east of Tjeldsund; Harstad, Kvæfjord, and Ibestad (in Troms) lie to the north; Lødingen lies to the west, and Narvik (in Nordland) lies to the south.

The largest lake in the municipality is Skoddebergvatnet on the mainland.

Climate edit

Climate data for Hol i Tjeldsund 1961-1990
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)
−3.5
(25.7)
−1.8
(28.8)
1.5
(34.7)
6.3
(43.3)
9.9
(49.8)
12.3
(54.1)
11.8
(53.2)
7.9
(46.2)
3.9
(39.0)
−0.2
(31.6)
−2.7
(27.1)
3.5
(38.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 101
(4.0)
91
(3.6)
74
(2.9)
61
(2.4)
49
(1.9)
54
(2.1)
76
(3.0)
81
(3.2)
100
(3.9)
141
(5.6)
102
(4.0)
115
(4.5)
1,045
(41.1)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[17]
 
View of the Tjeldsundet (scroll to the left/right to see the whole picture)

Government edit

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.[18] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Midtre Hålogaland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council edit

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Tjeldsund is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2023–2027 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Tjeldsund cross-party list (Tjeldsund tverrpolitiske liste)6
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2019–2023 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List
(Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)
1
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2015–2019 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List
(Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)
3
Total number of members:17
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2011–2015 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List
(Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)
3
 Municipal List Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik
(Bygdelista Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik)
1
Total number of members:17
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2007–2011 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List
(Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)
3
 Municipal List Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik
(Bygdelista Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik)
1
Total number of members:17
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 2003–2007 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List
(Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)
3
 Municipal List Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik
(Bygdelista Fiskefjord-Kongsvik-Hårvik)
1
 Tjeldsund cross-party list (Tjeldsund tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:17
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1999–2003 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Joint list of the Liberal Party and Independents (Venstre og uavhengige) 1
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List (Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)4
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)3
 Tjeldsund cross-party list (Tjeldsund tverrpolitiske liste)3
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1995–1999 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Joint list of the Centre Party and Independents (Senterpartiet og uavhengige) 3
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List (Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)6
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)4
 Ramsund cross-party list (Ramsund tverrpolitiske liste)2
 Tjeldsund independent cultural list
(Tjeldsund uavhengige kulturliste)
1
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1991–1995 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List (Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)4
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)3
 Ramsund cross-party list (Ramsund tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1987–1991 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Hinnøy Area Cross-Party List (Hinnøysiden Tverrpolitiske liste)4
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)2
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1983–1987 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Non-party district list for Fiskefjord, Kongsvik, Hårvik
(Upolitisk distriktsliste for Fiskefjord, Kongsvik, Hårvik)
4
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1979–1983 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 12
 Fjelldal/Ramstad local list (Fjelldal/Ramstad bygdeliste)4
 Election list for Ramsund (Valgliste for Ramsund)3
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1975–1979 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 10
 Tjeldsund non-party list (Tjeldsund Upolitiske Liste)4
 Common list for Myklebostad and Ramsund
(Fellesliste Myklebostad og Ramsund)
3
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1971–1975 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 11
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1967–1971 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 12
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund kommunestyre 1963–1967 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 12
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:21
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1959–1963 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 10
Total number of members:15
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1955–1959 [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 9
Total number of members:15
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1951–1955 [34]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:12
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1947–1951 [35]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:12
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1945–1947 [36]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 9
Total number of members:12
Tjeldsund herredsstyre 1937–1941* [37]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
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 edit

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Tjeldsund:[38]

  • 1909-1919: Johannes E.S. Olsen
  • 1920-1922: Eilert Fjelddahl
  • 1923-1928: Andreas Tønder Wiken
  • 1929-1931: Olaus T. Krosshamn
  • 1932-1971: Arne Wisthus (LL)
  • 1972-1983: Odd R. Stokke (LL)
  • 1984-1993: Geir Halvorsen (Ap)
  • 1993-1999: Gunnhill Andreassen (LL)
  • 1999-2000: Gunnar Flygel (LL)
  • 2000-2015: Bjørnar O. Pettersen (H)
  • 2015-2019: Liv Kristin Johnsen (H)
  • 2019–2023: Helene Berg Nilsen (Ap)
  • 2023-present: Robin Ridderseth (LL)[39]

Notable people edit

  • Bjarne Berg-Sæther (1919 in Tjeldsund – 2009), a Norwegian politician who was Mayor of Sandtorg from 1947–1963 and Mayor of Harstad from 1963-1967

References edit

  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. ^ a b "Stadnamn og rettskriving" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ 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).
  7. ^ a b Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ "Den nye kommunen". Tjeldsund2020.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  9. ^ Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (24 December 2019). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024" (in Norwegian). Regjeringen.no. 5 July 2022.
  11. ^ Store norske leksikon. "Tjeldsund" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  12. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 301.
  13. ^ "Forskrift om sammenslåing av Skånland kommune og Tjeldsund kommune til Tjeldsund kommune, Nordland og Troms" (in Norwegian). LovData.no. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Tjeldsund, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 17 August 1990. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  17. ^ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  18. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Troms Romsa". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  21. ^ "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  22. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  36. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  38. ^ "Mange lovord til Wisthus i Tjeldsund". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 30 December 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Ordfører klar i Tjeldsund". NRK Troms og Finnmark (in Norwegian). 3 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

External links edit

  •   Troms travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)