Sillejord herred (historic name)
Silgjord herred (historic name)
Country
Established
1 Jan 1838
• Created as
Administrative centre
• Mayor (2023)
• Total
715.09 km2 (276.10 sq mi)
• Land
669.28 km2 (258.41 sq mi)
• Water
45.81 km2 (17.69 sq mi) 6.4%
• Rank
#161 in Norway
• Total
2,939
• Rank
#229 in Norway
• Density
4.4/km2 (11/sq mi)
−0.2%
Seljording[1]
• Summer (DST)
Website
Seljord is a municipalityinTelemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districtsofUpper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. Other villages in the municipality include Flatdal and Åmotsdal.
The 715-square-kilometre (276 sq mi) municipality is the 161st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Seljord is the 229th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,939. The municipality's population density is 4.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (11/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
Seljord is famous for its sea serpent, Selma, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet).
The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60,000 to 80,000 visitors each year. The large fair started as a show of farm animals. More recently, it also includes a huge market with vendors selling a variety of goods including base layer clothing, Bergans outdoors equipment, crafts, and food. Amusement rides are also featured.
Seljord folk high school is located in Seljord. The school offers a variety of courses including outdoor adventure, theater, music, and art.
The parishofSillejord (later spelled Seljord) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 11 October 1873, an unpopulated area of Kviteseid Municipality was transferred to Seljord. On 1 January 1883, an area of southeastern Seljord (population: 235) was transferred to the neighboring Bø Municipality. On 23 January 1905, an unpopulated part of Hjartdal Municipality was transferred to Seljord.[6]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Seljord farm (Old Norse: Seljugerði) since the first Seljord Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow". The last element is gerði which means "field". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled SilgjordorSillejord.[7]
The coat of arms was granted on 15 September 1989. The official blazonis"Gules, a sea serpent Or" (Norwegian: På raud grunn ein gull sjøorm). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a sea serpent. The charge has a tinctureofOr which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The design symbolizes the local legend of a sea serpent named Selma who allegedly lives in the lake Seljordsvatn. The arms were designed by Trygve Magnus Barstad. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[8][9][10][11]
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Seljord. It is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.
Churches in Seljord
Parish (sokn)
Church name
Location of the church
Year built
Seljord
1654
Mandal
1954
1180
1792
Seljord 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 Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Seljord (incomplete list):
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Seljord 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.
Seljord kommunestyre 2023–2027 [14]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
4
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Red Party (Raudt)
1
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Total number of members:
17
Seljord kommunestyre 2019–2023 [15]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
3
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
2
Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)
2
Conservative Party (Høgre)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
7
Total number of members:
17
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
1
Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne)
1
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
1
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
6
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
21
Seljord kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
4
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
2
Conservative Party (Høgre)
8
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
2
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
21
Seljord kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
7
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
3
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
4
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
25
Seljord kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)
3
Conservative Party (Høgre)
6
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
4
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
3
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
25
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
6
Conservative Party (Høgre)
7
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
6
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
25
Seljord kommunestyre 1995–1999 [20]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
7
Conservative Party (Høgre)
4
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
2
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
9
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
25
Seljord kommunestyre 1991–1995 [21]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
10
Conservative Party (Høgre)
3
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
7
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
3
Liberal Party (Venstre)
1
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1987–1991 [22]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
11
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
3
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
1
Liberal Party (Venstre)
4
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1983–1987 [23]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
11
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
4
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1979–1983 [24]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
10
Conservative Party (Høgre)
5
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
5
Centre Party (Senterpartiet)
3
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
2
Liberal Party (Venstre)
2
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1975–1979 [25]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
10
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)
6
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)
1
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
8
Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk Bygdeliste)
2
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1971–1975 [26]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
13
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
14
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1967–1971 [27]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
13
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
14
Total number of members:
27
Seljord kommunestyre 1963–1967 [28]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
13
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
14
Total number of members:
27
Seljord heradsstyre 1959–1963 [29]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
13
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
14
Total number of members:
27
Seljord heradsstyre 1955–1959 [30]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
14
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
13
Total number of members:
27
Seljord heradsstyre 1951–1955 [31]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
11
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
13
Total number of members:
24
Seljord heradsstyre 1947–1951 [32]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
9
Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)
3
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
12
Total number of members:
24
Seljord heradsstyre 1945–1947 [33]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Local List(s) (Lokale lister)
24
Total number of members:
24
Seljord heradsstyre 1937–1941* [34]
Party name (in Nynorsk)
Number of
representatives
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)
10
Liberal Party (Venstre)
5
Joint list of the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre)
5
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)
4
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.
Authority control databases: Geographic