Austreim herred (historic name)
Østereim herred (historic name)
Country
Established
1 Jan 1910
• Preceded by
Administrative centre
• Mayor (2023)
Morten Sognnes (H)
• Total
57.57 km2 (22.23 sq mi)
• Land
56.80 km2 (21.93 sq mi)
• Water
0.74 km2 (0.29 sq mi) 1.3%
• Rank
#347 in Norway
• Total
2,856
• Rank
#235 in Norway
• Density
50.3/km2 (130/sq mi)
+0.8%
Austrheiming[1]
• Summer (DST)
Website
Austrheim is a municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årås. Other villages in the municipality include Austrheim and Kaland. The Mongstad industrial area lies along the border of Austrheim and neighboring Lindås municipality. The westernmost point of mainland Norway lies in the municipality at Vardetangen.
The 58-square-kilometre (22 sq mi) municipality is the 347th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Austrheim is the 235th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,856. The municipality's population density is 50.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (130/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station for Austrheim and Fedje be closed.[6]
Historically, Austrheim was a part of the large Lindås Municipality. On 1 January 1910, the northwestern district of Lindås (population: 2,518) was separated from Lindås to form the new municipality of Austrheim. On 1 January 1947, all of the islands located west of the Fedjefjorden (population: 920) were separated to form the new Fedje Municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Straume area on the island of Radøy (population: 56) was transferred from Austrheim to the new Radøy Municipality.[7]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austrheim farm (Old Norse: Austrheimr) since the first Austrheim Church was built there. The first element is austr which means "east". The last element is heimr which means "homestead" or "village". Until 1889, the name was written Østereim. After that the spelling was Austreim, and most recently it is spelled Austrheim.[8]
The coat of arms was granted on 17 February 1989. The official blazonis"Azure, three bars embowed argent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn tre sølv bjelkar bøygde oppover). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the ordinary is a set of three arched bars. The bars have a tinctureofargent which means they are commonly colored white, but if the arms are made out of metal, then silver is used. The three bows represent the many bridges in the island municipality. The color blue was chosen to represent the sea and the white/silver was to represent the land. The arms were designed by Svein Skauge. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Austrheim. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Churches in Austrheim
Parish (sokn)
Church name
Location of the church
Year built
Austrheim
1865
Austrheim 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 councilofdirectly elected representatives. The mayorisindirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[12] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Austrheim (incomplete list):
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Austrheim is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Austrheim kommunestyre 2023–2027 [15]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet)
1
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Common List in Austrheim (Samlingslista i Austrheim)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2019–2023 [16]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Local List in Austrheim (Bygdelista i Austrheim)
1
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
8
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
1
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
5
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
2
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
5
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
2
Conservative Party (Høgre)
2
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Local list (Bygdelista)
3
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
5
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
1
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Local list (Bygdelista)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
5
Conservative Party (Høgre)
3
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Local list (Bygdelista)
3
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
4
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
1
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
6
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
5
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Conservative Party (Høgre)
7
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
1
Local list (Bygdeliste)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
3
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
4
New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)
4
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Conservative Party (Høgre)
3
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
5
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Conservative Party (Høgre)
3
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
5
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
7
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Conservative Party (Høgre)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
4
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
11
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1959–1963 [28]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Liberal Party (Venstre)
3
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
14
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1955–1959 [29]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
15
Total number of members:
17
Austrheim heradsstyre 1951–1955 [30]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Liberal Party (Venstre)
3
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
13
Total number of members:
16
Austrheim heradsstyre 1947–1951 [31]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
2
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
4
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
7
Total number of members:
16
Austrheim heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
1
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)
5
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
12
Total number of members:
18
Austrheim heradsstyre 1937–1941* [33]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidarar, fiskarar, småbrukarar liste)
5
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
9
Total number of members:
18
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.
The Mongstad industrial complex lies on the border of Austrheim and Lindås. It is the largest oil port and refinery in Norway, is responsible for about 70% of all wet bulk. Many residents of Austrheim work at the facility.
Historical population
Year
1910
1920
1930
1946
1951
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2023
Pop.
1,763
1,935
2,061
2,304
2,390
2,216
1,880
2,549
2,684
2,527
2,738
2,870
2,856
±% p.a.
—
+0.94%
+0.63%
+0.70%
+0.74%
−0.84%
−1.63%
+3.09%
+0.52%
−0.60%
+0.81%
+0.47%
−0.16%
Source: Statistics Norway[4][34] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[35]
Austrheim is an island municipality in the Nordhordland region of Vestland county. It is located south of the Fensfjorden, east of the Fedjefjorden, north of the island of Radøy, and west of the Lindås peninsula. The municipality includes the far northwestern tip of the peninsula as well as many islands. The largest island (by far) is the island of Fosnøyna, where the municipal centre is located.
Gulen Municipality is located to the north (across the fjord), Fedje Municipality is located on islands to the west, Alver Municipality lies to the south.
Hardanger and Voss
Note: The former counties of Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland were merged to form Vestland on 1 January 2020.
Authority control databases: Geographic