Municipalities in Norway are the basic unit of local government. Norway is divided into 15 administrative regions, called counties . These counties are subdivided into 357 municipalities (as of 2024). The capital city Oslo is both a county and a municipality.
47-605: Austevoll is a municipality and an archipelago in Vestland county, Norway . It is located in the traditional district of Midthordland in Western Norway . The administrative centre is the village of Storebø on the island of Huftarøy . Other villages include Årland , Austevollshella , Bakkasund , Bekkjarvik , Birkeland , Haukanes , Husavik , Kolbeinsvik , Otterå , Våge , and Vinnes . The municipality consists of hundreds of islands located southwest of
94-485: A part of Volda Municipality . This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in the north-central part of the diocese. It includes the parishes in the municipalities of Askvoll, Fjaler, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Sunnfjord, and the southern part of Kinn. The deanery is headquartered at Førde Church in the town of Førde in Sunnfjord Municipality . The deanery has been in use since
141-550: A small group of municipalities in the Hardanger region of Western Norway still use the name herad such as Voss herad , Ulvik herad , and Kvam herad . Ullensvang Municipality used the name herad until 2020. Norway also has some municipalities that are bilingual or trilingual due to the presence of many native Sami people living there. In Northern Sámi , there are two words for a municipality: suohkan and gielda . Both are loan words from Scandinavian languages,
188-630: A vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal . The municipal council ( Kommunestyre ) of Austevoll is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. From 1995 to 1999 the Socialist Left Party held one seat. In the 1999–2003 election period an all-party female electoral list held one seat in
235-449: Is divided into several sections, one for each deanery ( prosti ; headed by a provost ) in the diocese. Administratively within each deanery, the churches within each municipality elects their own church council ( fellesråd ). Each municipality may have one or more parishes ( sokn ) within the municipality. Each parish elects their own councils ( soknerådet ). Each parish has one or more local church . The number and size of
282-483: Is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. Law enforcement and church services are provided at a national level in Norway. Municipalities are undergoing continuous change by dividing, consolidating, and adjusting boundaries. In 1930, there were 747 municipalities in Norway. As of 2024, there are 357 municipalities. See
329-512: Is loaned from the French word commune , which ultimately derives from Latin word communia , communis ("common"). The Kven equivalent is kommuuni . Historically, the word herred ( Bokmål ) or herad ( Nynorsk ) was used in Norway as the name for municipalities. That word derived from the old hundred that was used all over northern Europe. Since the 1960s, that name has fallen out of use across Norway, although
376-470: Is that municipalities should only merge voluntarily, and studies are underway to identify potential gains. There are two different writing standards in Norway: Bokmål and Nynorsk . Norwegian municipalities are named kommuner ( Bokmål ) or kommunar ( Nynorsk ) (plural) or kommune (the singular form is the same in both Bokmål and Nynorsk). The Norwegian word kommune
423-432: Is the 177th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,297. The municipality's population density is 46.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (120/sq mi) and its population has increased by 9.5% over the previous 10-year period. The municipality of Austevoll was established on 1 January 1886 when it was separated from the municipality of Sund . The initial population for the new municipality of Austevoll
470-570: Is the most important industry in Austevoll, as it has been for centuries. Traditionally, fishing has taken place in coastal areas, not far off shore. After decades of overfishing , the herring disappeared in the 1950s. This forced a restructuring of the fishing fleet. Since the 1960s, the shipping companies built bigger ships, and went further out into the seas, and they began fishing for other fish species, not just herring. The overfishing of herring also forced better research on fishing, resulting in
517-537: The Nordhordland prosti , which includes the northern municipalities in the old Hordaland county. Hyllestad and Høyanger were transferred to Sunnfjord prosti , and Balestrand and Vik were merged with the old Indre Sogn prosti and it was renamed Sogn prosti . In 2014, the Midhordland prosti was dissolved and its churches were divided between Fana prosti and Hardanger og Voss prosti . Also in 2014,
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#1732772540145564-670: The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research . Austevoll is the home of the Austevoll Aquaculture Research Station. Since the early 1980s, the offshore supply industry has emerged in the wake of the offshore Norwegian oil industry. The offshore shipping company DOF , which is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange , has its headquarters at Storebø . There are five primary schools and one middle school in Austevoll, all run by
611-520: The Reformation in Norway . A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed the deanery name from "Søndfjord prosti" to "Sunnfjord prosti". In 2013, the Ytre Sogn prosti was dissolved and the parishes in the municipalities of Hyllestad and Høyanger were transferred to this deanery. This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in east-central part of the county. It includes
658-410: The charge is a set of four herring swimming diagonally up to the left. The charg 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 shoal of herring was chosen for the arms since herring fishing is a very important part of the local economy. The arms were designed by John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as
705-510: The list of former municipalities of Norway for further details about municipal mergers. The consolidation effort has been underway since the work of the Schei Committee in the 1960s. This work has been complicated by a number of factors. Since block grants are made by the national government to the municipalities based on an assessment of need, there is little incentive for the municipalities to lose local autonomy. The national policy
752-416: The municipal council ( kommunestyre ). The mayor is the executive leader. The municipal council is the deliberative and legislative body of the municipality and it is the highest governing body in the municipality. The members of the municipal council are elected for a four-year term . A subdivision of the full council is the executive council ( formannskap ), composed of five members. Historically,
799-708: The Korsfjorden, west of the Bjørnafjorden , and north of the Selbjørnsfjorden . The highest point in Austevoll is the mountain Loddo , reaching 244 metres (801 ft) above sea level. The Marstein Lighthouse lies in the northwestern part of the municipality. The island municipality shares water borders with the municipality of Øygarden to the north, Bergen and Bjørnafjorden municipalities to
846-424: The borough of Åsane in the city of Bergen . This deanery was created in 1990 when the large Bergen domprosti was divided. Originally, this deanery was named Arna og Åsane prosti . In 2014, the churches from Osterøy Municipality were transferred to this deanery from Nordhordland prosti . After that, the name of the deanery was shortend to simply Åsane prosti . This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers
893-412: The city of Bergen . The municipality is considered to be among the ports in the world with the largest ocean-going fishing trawler fleet. Since the 1980s, the offshore oil industry and fish farming industry have both grown to be important industries in Austevoll. The 117-square-kilometre (45 sq mi) municipality is the 323rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Austevoll
940-518: The coat of arms. The Church of Norway has one parish ( sokn ) within the municipality of Austevoll. It is part of the Fana prosti ( deanery ) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin . Austevoll consists of 667 islands off the west coast of Western Norway . The municipality has a total land area of 114.23 square kilometres (44.10 sq mi) and a coastline of 337 kilometres (209 mi). It lies south of
987-701: The council has been known as a herredstrye , using the old name for a municipality. H Fana prosti The list of churches in Bjørgvin is a list of the Church of Norway churches in the Diocese of Bjørgvin in Norway . It includes all of the parishes in Vestland county. The Diocese is based at the Bergen Cathedral in the city of Bergen in Bergen Municipality . The list
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#17327725401451034-644: The council. In the 2003-2007 election period The Liberal Party was represented in the municipal council and held one seat. From 2011 to 2015, a coalition of the Progress Party and Center Party held power in the council. The coalition also consisted of the Christian Democratic Party before 2011. In 2011, the coalition won 12 of the 21 seats in the municipal council and had an electoral and political cooperation. The Conservative Party , Labour Party , and Christian Democratic Party make up
1081-473: The county. It includes the parishes in the municipalities of Alver, Austrheim, Fedje, Gulen, Masfjorden, Modalen, and Solund. The deanery is headquartered at Alversund Church in the village of Isdalstø in Alver Municipality . The deanery has been in existence for a long time. In 2013, the old Ytre Sogn prosti was dissolved and the parishes in the municipalities of Gulen and Solund (from
1128-535: The deaneries and parishes has changed over time. The Laksevåg prosti (created in 1990) in Bergen was dissolved in 2013 and its churches were divided between the Bergen domprosti and the Fana prosti . Also in 2013, the old Ytre Sogn prosti was dissolved. The old deanery included Gulen , Solund , Hyllestad , Høyanger , Balestrand , and Vik municipalities. The municipalities of Gulen and Solund were transferred to
1175-565: The diocese. It includes the parishes in the municipalities of Bremanger, Gloppen, Stad, Stryn, and the northern portion of Kinn. The deanery is headquartered at Eid Church in the village of Nordfjordeid in Stad Municipality . The deanery has been in use since the Reformation in Norway . On 1 January 2020, the parish of Hornindal was transferred to the Søre Sunnmøre prosti in the Diocese of Møre after Hornindal became
1222-522: The diocese. The deanery is headquartered at Voss Church in the village of Vossevangen in Voss Municipality . This deanery was established in 1819 when the parishes in Voss were moved into the old Hardanger prosti , creating the Hardanger og Voss prosti . On 1 March 2014, the parishes in the municipalities of Fusa and Samnanger were moved to this deanery when the old Midhordland prosti
1269-488: The first of which is related to the Norwegian words sokn and sogn (a parish). The second term is related to the Norwegian word gjeld ( prestegjeld ). Lule Sámi likewise has two words for municipalities: suohkan and giellda . The Southern Sámi word is tjïelte . Each municipality has its own governmental leaders: the mayor ( ordfører ( Bokmål ) or ordførar ( Nynorsk ) ) and
1316-403: The municipalities of Os and Austevoll were transferred to Fana prosti. In 2017, the churches from Fusa Municipality were transferred to this deanery from the neighboring Hardanger og Voss prosti in preparation for the merger of Os and Fusa to form Bjørnafjorden Municipality on 1 January 2020. This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in the southeastern part of
1363-542: The municipality. There is also one secondary school , teaching mainly fishing and nautical subjects. This is operated by the Hordaland County Municipality . Austevoll has car ferry connections from Hufthammar on the north tip of Huftarøy to Krokeide in Bergen, and from Husavik on the south tip of Huftarøy to Sandvikvåg in Fitjar . The municipality is also connected by express boats to Bergen in
1410-411: The name "Austevollsbrua". Austevoll 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
1457-448: The north, and Stord , Haugesund , and Stavanger in the south. All express boat routes are operated by Norled, and ferry routes are operated by Fosen Namsos . The islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn, Selbjørn and Stolmen, and Hundvåkøy and Storekalsøy are connected with bridges. A fourth bridge, connecting Huftarøy and Hundvåkøy, was opened on 17 November 2007. This bridge, which in fact consists of two bridges and two stone fillings, bears
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1504-457: The northeast, Fana prosti in the south part of the city, Laksevåg prosti in the west part of the city, and Bergen domprosti in the city centre. In 2013, the old Laksevåg prosti was dissolved and the parishes of Laksevåg, Nygård, Loddefjord, and Olsvik were moved back into this deanery (the remainder of the old Laksevåg prosti became part of Fana prosti ). This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in northern part of
1551-430: The northeast, Tysnes municipality to the east, and Fitjar and Bømlo municipalities to the south. The North Sea lies to the west of Austevoll. Of the 667 islands, only eight are populated year-round. About 29% of the inhabitants live in densely populated areas. About 28% of the inhabitants are under the age of 17, which is 4.4% over the national average. About 4.7% of the inhabitants are 80 years or older. Fishing
1598-444: The old Austevoll farm ( Old Norse : Austrvǫllr ) since the first Austevoll Church was built there. The farm is now part of the village of Austevollshella . The first element is austr which means "east". The last element is vǫllr which means " meadow " or "field". The municipality has changed the spelling of its name three times. Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Østervold or Østevold . In 1889,
1645-490: The old Sogn og Fjordane county) were moved into this deanery. In 2014, the parishes in Osterøy Municipality were transferred from this deanery from the neighboring Arna og Åsane prosti . This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers the northern/eastern part of the city of Bergen and the neighboring municipality of Osterøy in the central part the county. The deanery is headquartered at Åsane Church in
1692-533: The old Ytre Sogn prosti was dissolved and the parishes in Balestrand and Vik municipalities were transferred to this deanery. At the same time, this deanery's name was changed from Indre Sogn prosti to simply Sogn prosti . The rest of the old Ytre Sogn prosti was divided between Sunnfjord prosti (Hyllestad and Høyanger) and Nordhordland prosti (Gulen and Solund). This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in west-central part of
1739-481: The opposition. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party . The mayors ( Nynorsk : ordførar ) of Austevoll: List of municipalities of Norway Municipalities 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
1786-546: The parishes in nearby Osterøy Municipality were transferred from Nordhordland prosti to the Arna og Åsane prosti . At that time, its name could have been changed to "Arna, Åsane and Osterøy deanery" but that was considered to be too long a name. In 2015, the Norwegian Department of Culture changed the name to Åsane prosti . In 2017, the diocese created a new deanery called Bergensdalen prosti to help relieve
1833-621: The parishes in the municipalities of Aurland, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Vik, and Årdal. The deanery is headquartered at Stedje Church in the village of Sogndalsfjøra in Sogndal Municipality . The old Sogn prosti was divided in 1819 into Ytre Sogn prosti (outer Sogn) and Indre Sogn prosti (inner Sogn). Indre Sogn prosti was based at Stedje Church and the Ytre Sogn prosti was based at Lavik Church in Høyanger . In 2013,
1880-498: The south-central part of the city of Bergen . The deanery is headquartered at Storetveit Church in the Fjøsanger area of Bergen . This deanery was created on 1 October 2017 when parts of the Bergen domprosti and Fana prosti were split off to create this new deanery. This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers the southern part of the city of Bergen and the neighboring municipalities of Bjørnafjorden and Austevoll in
1927-683: The southwestern part of the diocese. It includes the parishes in the municipalities of Bømlo, Etne, Fitjar, Kvinnherad, Stord, Sveio, and Tysnes. The deanery is headquartered at Stord Church in the town of Leirvik in Stord Municipality . The original Søndhordland prosti was established in medieval times. Sometime after the Reformation in Norway , the parish was divided into Nordre Søndhordland prosti (the modern municipalities of Kvinnherad, Stord, Fitjar, and Tysnes) and Søndre Søndhordland prosti (the modern municipalities of Etne, Sveio, and Bømlo). A royal resolution on 19 May 1922 changed
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1974-411: The spelling was changed to Austevold . On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Austevoll . The coat of arms was granted on 30 November 1984. The official blazon is " Azure , four herrings argent in bend 1-2-1" ( Norwegian : På blå bunn fire kvite silder på skrå oppover, 1-2-1 ). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and
2021-495: The west-central part of the county. The deanery is headquartered at Fana Church in the borough of Fana in the city of Bergen . The deanery was established in 1990 when it was split off from the old Midhordland prosti . In 2013, the old Laksevåg prosti was split up and the Fyllingsdalen and Sælen parishes were transferred to Fana prosti. In 2014, the old Midhordland prosti was dissolved and split up. The parishes in
2068-413: The work in the large deaneries in the city of Bergen. This arch-deanery ( Norwegian : domprosti ) covers the central part of the city of Bergen . The deanery is headquartered at the Bergen Cathedral in the city of Bergen in Bergen Municipality . The Bergen domprosti has been in operation for a long time. In 1990, the large Bergen domprosti was split into four deaneries: Arna og Åsane prosti in
2115-411: Was 2,396. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee . On 1 January 1964, the southern part of the islands of Selbjørn and Huftarøy (population: 696) was transferred from Fitjar Municipality to Austevoll. This put the whole Austevoll archipelago in the municipality of Austevoll. The municipality (originally the parish ) is named after
2162-419: Was dissolved. On 1 October 2017, the parishes in the municipality of Fusa were transferred from this deanery to the neighboring Fana prosti . This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers the two island municipalities of Askøy and Øygarden in the west-central part of the diocese. The deanery is headquartered at Fjell Church in the village of Straume in Øygarden Municipality . Vesthordland prosti
2209-402: Was established on 15 October 1999 when the large Midhordland prosti was divided by removing the western island region and making it a new deanery. The new Vesthordland prosti received the parishes of Askøy, Fjell, Sund, and Øygarden. The parishes in Austevoll, Os, Fusa, Kvam, and Samnanger remained in Midhordland prosti . This deanery ( Norwegian : prosti ) covers several municipalities in
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