Vestnes Municipality
Vestnes kommune
Municipality
Væstnes herred  (historic name)
View of Vestnes with mountains in the background
View of Vestnes with mountains in the background
Flag of Vestnes Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Vestnes Municipality
Coat of arms
Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Vestnes within Møre og Romsdal
Vestnes within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°35′04″N 07°01′06″E / 62.58444°N 7.01833°E / 62.58444; 7.01833
CountryNorway
CountyMøre og Romsdal
DistrictRomsdal
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreVestnes
Government
 • Mayor (2011)Geir Inge Lien (Sp)
Area
 • Total404.59 km2 (156.21 sq mi)
 • Land399.21 km2 (154.14 sq mi)
 • Water5.38 km2 (2.08 sq mi)  1.3%
 • Rank#239 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total7,000
 • Rank#142 in Norway
 • Density17.4/km2 (45/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +6.1%
DemonymVestnesing[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1535[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Vestnes is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Vestnes is part of the traditional district of Romsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vestnes. Other villages in the municipality include Vikebukt, Vik, Vågstranda, Øverås, Fiksdal, Tomrefjord, and Tresfjord.

The area is known for nature and outdoor pursuits, and has a long history in ship building and maritime crafts. The village of Vestnes (Helland) dates back to early medieval times, and has 24-hour ferry and water taxi service with the town of Molde to the northeast. The ferry takes about 35-minutes each way.

The 405-square-kilometre (156 sq mi) municipality is the 239th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vestnes is the 142nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,936. The municipality's population density is 17.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (45/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.1% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

History

View of the Tresfjord Church
View of the Tresfjorden

The municipality of Vestnes was established in the fall of 1838 when the western district of the large Veøy Municipality was separated to form its own municipality (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1899, the southern district of the municipality (population: 1,408) was separated from Vestnes to form the new municipality of Sylte. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring municipalities of Vestnes (population: 3,895) and Tresfjord, formerly known as Sylte, (population: 1,319) were merged to form a new, larger municipality called Vestnes.[6] On 1 January 2021, the 53-square-kilometre (20 sq mi) Vågstranda area in the northwestern part of Rauma Municipality was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Vestnes.[7]

A Viking barrow burial was uncovered at Villa Farm near Vestnes in 1894. Now in the British Museum's collection in London, the rich grave finds include a pair of oval brooches and other dress accessories, a comb, remnants of a bucket and a box, a bridle-bit, agricultural tools, a bronze bowl, a whalebone plaque, a weaving batten and a whetstone.[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Vestnes farm (Old Norse: Vestnes) since the first Vestnes Church was built there. The first element is vestr which means "west". The last element is nes which means "headland". Prior to 1889, the name was written Vestnæs.[9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 April 1980. The official blazon is "Gules, two piles issuant from dexter Or" (Norwegian: I raudt to gull spissar mot venstre). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is two piles (triangles) extending from the left to the right. The charge 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 are designed to symbolize the geography of the municipality: a headland between two fjords—the Tresfjorden and the Tomrefjorden. The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]

Museums

The Møre og Romsdal Agricultural Museum (Landbruksmuseet for Møre og Romsdal) was established in the municipality at the Gjermundnes Farm in 1979.[13][14]

Churches

Vestnes Church

The Church of Norway has five parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vestnes. It is part of the Indre Romsdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Vestnes
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
VestnesVestnes ChurchVestnes1872
FiksdalFiksdal ChurchFiksdal1866
TresfjordTresfjord ChurchTresfjord1828
VikeVike ChurchVikebukt1970
VågstrandaVågstranda ChurchVågstranda1870

Geography

view of Fiksdal village

Vestnes is located in an area of great natural splendour on the southern shores of the vast Romsdal Fjord. The Tresfjorden and Tomrefjorden branch off Romsdal Fjord to the south. Vestnes borders Rauma Municipality to the east, as well as Fjord Municipality and Ålesund Municipality to the south. Across the Moldefjorden to the north is Molde 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.[15] The municipality falls under the Møre og Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestnes is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Vestnes kommunestyre 2020–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:23
Vestnes kommunestyre 2016–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:23
Vestnes kommunestyre 2012–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:23
Vestnes kommunestyre 2008–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Vestnes kommunestyre 2004–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:27
Vestnes kommunestyre 2000–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1996–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Independent election list for Tomrefjord and Øverås/Nerås
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Tomrefjord og Overås/Nerås)		6
 Independent election list for the Helland school area
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Helland skulekrins)		3
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1992–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independent election list for Tomrefjord and Øverås/Nerås
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig valliste for Tomrefjord og Overås/Nerås)		6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1988–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		5
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1984–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		4
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1980–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Independent party list for Tomrefjord
 (Partipolitisk uavhengig liste for Tomrefjord)		4
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1976–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
 Area list for Tomrefjord and Overås (Krinsliste for Tomrefjord og Overås)6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1972–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1968–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:33
Vestnes kommunestyre 1964–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:33
Vestnes heradsstyre 1960–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 11
Total number of members:25
Vestnes heradsstyre 1956–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:25
Vestnes heradsstyre 1952–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:24
Vestnes heradsstyre 1948–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:24
Vestnes heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:24
Vestnes heradsstyre 1938–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 9
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 12
Total number of members:24
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 of Vestnes (incomplete list):[34]

  • 1870–1873: Walter Scott Dahl (V)
  • 1876–1883: Walter Scott Dahl (V)
  • 1896-1898: M. P. Sylte
  • 1899–1901: Mads Ellingsæter
  • 1902–1910: Rasmuss Stokkeland
  • 1911–1916: P.L. Legernes
  • 1917–1919: Nils K. Bårdsnes
  • 1920–1922: Anton J. Nerem
  • 1923–1925: Nils K. Bårdsnes
  • 1926–1928: Olav Eidhammer
  • 1929–1931: Peder P. Gjelsten
  • 1932–1934: Olav Eidhammer
  • 1935–1937: Einar Helland
  • 1938-1941: Kristian K Frostad (V)
  • 1941–1945: Olav Rekdal (NS)
  • 1945-1951: Kristian K Frostad (V)
  • 1951-1956: Einar Aas[35]
  • 1956-1957: Olav Tomren
  • 1957-1963: Kåre Rekdal (KrF)[36]
  • 1964-1971: Peder B. Hjelvik (Sp)
  • 1972–1980: Torgeir Stene
  • 1980-1980: Ole S. Øveraas
  • 1981-1985: Georg Balstad
  • 1986-1987: Alf Johan Hustad
  • 1987-1999: Petter Inge Bergheim (Sp)
  • 1999-2003: Roald Fiksdal (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Knut Magne Flølo (FrP)
  • 2007-2015: Øyvind Uren (Ap)
  • 2015–present: Geir Inge Lien (Sp)

Economy

Vestnes is a relatively good agricultural community with emphasis on livestock and milk production. Vestnes, however, is primarily a manufacturing district. The main industry is the ship-building industry with a number of different companies located in Vestnes. A total of 63% of industry employment (2004) in Vestnes is part of the ship-building industry. Other that shipbuilding, there are several companies in the food, textile and clothing, wood products, furniture, and metal products industries in Vestnes.[12]

Media

The newspaper Vestnesavisa is published in Vestnes.[37]

Transportation

The European route E39 highway goes through Vestnes on its way from Sjøholt to Molde. The European route E136 highway goes through Vestnes on its way from Ålesund to Dombås. The two highways intersect and share part of the route through Vestnes. The new Tresfjord Bridge carries the E136 highway over the Tresfjorden rather than the previous roadway that follows the shoreline all the way around the fjord.

Notable residents

Lodve Solholm, 2011

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. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. ↑ "Vedtak om grensejustering mellom kommunane Rauma og Vestnes, Møre og Romsdal". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). 21 June 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  8. ↑ British Museum collection
  9. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 217.
  10. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Vestnes, Møre og Romsdal (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  12. 1 2 Store norske leksikon. "Vestnes" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 25 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Landbruksmuseet for Møre og Romsdal, Gjermundnes". Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Gjermundnes" (PDF). Møre og Romsdal fylkeskommune. Vestnes kommune. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  15. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  17. 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.
  18. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  23. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  26. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  29. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  31. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "Ordførarkjedet". Vestnes kommune (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  35. ↑ "Einar Aas ordfører i Vestnes". Tidens Krav (in Norwegian). 13 December 1951. p. 2.
  36. ↑ "Kåre Rekdal ble gjenvalt til ordfører i Vestnes". Tidens Krav (in Norwegian). 9 December 1959. p. 8.
  37. ↑ Smith-Meyer, Trond, ed. (12 May 2012). "VestnesAvisa". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  38. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 23 March 2021

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