Hægebostad is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Lister. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tingvatn. Other villages in Hægebostad include Eiken, Haddeland, and Snartemo. The municipality encompasses the northern end of the Lyngdalen valley which follows the river Lygna.

Hægebostad Municipality
Hægebostad kommune
Hegebostad herred  (historic name)
Agder within Norway
Agder within Norway
Hægebostad within Agder
Hægebostad within Agder
Coordinates: 58°27′24″N 07°13′11″E / 58.45667°N 7.21972°E / 58.45667; 7.21972
CountryNorway
CountyAgder
DistrictLister
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreTingvatn
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Jan Petter Gysland (H)
Area
 • Total
461.34 km2 (178.12 sq mi)
 • Land424.27 km2 (163.81 sq mi)
 • Water37.07 km2 (14.31 sq mi)  8%
 • Rank#215 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
1,750
 • Rank#296 in Norway
 • Density4.1/km2 (11/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +4.9%
DemonymHægdøl[1]
Official language
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4226[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

The Sørlandet Line railroad runs through the municipality from east to west, stopping at Snartemo Station in Snartemo. To get into and out of the valley in which Hægebostad is located, the trains must go through two of the longest railway tunnels in Norway: Hægebostad Tunnel and Kvineshei Tunnel.

The 461-square-kilometre (178 sq mi) municipality is the 215th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Hægebostad is the 296th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,750. The municipality's population density is 4.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (11/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.9% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

Nine units of Sheltered housing are under construction (in 2022) after the previous ones were demolished.[6]

History

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View of the Sveindal area
 
Hægebostad Church

The parish of Hægebostad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1915, the municipality was divided into two municipalities: Eiken (population: 932) in the north and Hægebostad (population: 867) in the south. On 1 January 1963, the two municipalities were merged back together as the municipality of Hægebostad once again. Prior to the merger, Hægebostad had 813 residents and Eiken had 784 residents.[7]

Name

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The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hægebostad farm (Old Norse: Helgabólstaðir) since the first Hægebostad Church was built there. This farm is now on the north side of the village of Snartemo. The first element is helg- which means "holy". The last element is the plural form of bólstaðr which means "homestead" or "farm". Before 1889, the name was written Hegebostad.[8]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 4 April 1986. The official blazon is "Gules, two swords Or, points to the base" (Norwegian: På raud grunn to gull sverd med oddane ned). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is two swords that are pointing downwards. The swords have a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The swords represent the two swards of Snartemo and Eiken dating from the 4th–6th century that were found in the municipality. The swords were highly decorated with silver and gold, but the ones on the arms are a more stylized heraldic design. The arms were designed by John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]

Geography

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Hægebostad is an inland municipality, with Åseral municipality to the northeast, Kvinesdal to the west and Lyngdal to the south and east. The municipality covers the upper Lyngdalen valley from the mountains in the north, along the river Lygna to Lyngdal municipality in the south. The lake Lygne lies in the central part of the municipality.

Climate

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Climate data for Skeie, near Eiken 1961-90
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9)
−2.4
(27.7)
0.1
(32.2)
3.5
(38.3)
8.8
(47.8)
13.0
(55.4)
14.3
(57.7)
13.4
(56.1)
9.8
(49.6)
6.4
(43.5)
2.0
(35.6)
−1.1
(30.0)
5.5
(41.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 156
(6.1)
109
(4.3)
110
(4.3)
68
(2.7)
95
(3.7)
89
(3.5)
99
(3.9)
131
(5.2)
178
(7.0)
211
(8.3)
200
(7.9)
159
(6.3)
1,605
(63.2)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[12]

Government

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Hægebostad 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 a vote of the municipal council.[13] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hægebostad 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.

Hægebostad kommunestyre 2023–2027 [14]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)1
Total number of members:17
Hægebostad kommunestyre 2019–2023 [15]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:17
Hægebostad kommunestyre 2015–2019 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:15
Hægebostad kommunestyre 2011–2015 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Cooperation list (Samarbeidslista)3
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)3
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 2007–2011 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Cooperation list (Samarbeidslista)6
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)5
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 2003–2007 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
 Cooperation list (Samarbeidslista)5
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1999–2003 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Cooperation list (Samarbeidslista)4
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1995–1999 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)3
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1991–1995 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)3
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1987–1991 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1983–1987 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1979–1983 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Cross-party list for Hægebostad (Tverrpolitisk liste for Hægebostad)5
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1975–1979 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Collaboration list for Eiken (Samarbeidsliste for Eiken)5
 Cross-party list for Hægebostad (Tverrpolitisk Liste for Hægebostad)4
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1971–1975 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1967–1971 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad kommunestyre 1963–1967 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:21
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1959–1963 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:13
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1955–1959 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:13
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1951–1955 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:12
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1947–1951 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 8
Total number of members:12
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1945–1947 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:12
Hægebostad heradsstyre 1937–1941* [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 6
  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

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The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Hægebostad (incomplete list):

  • 1889-1897: Aasulv Olsen Bryggesaa (V)
  • 1999-2011: Ånen Werdal (H)
  • 2007-2011: John Fidjeland (KrF)
  • 2011-2015: Ånen Werdal (H)
  • 2015-2023: Margrethe Handeland (Sp)
  • 2023-present: Jan Petter Gysland (H)[33]

Culture

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Churches

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The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Hægebostad. It is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Hægebostad
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Eiken Eiken Church Eiken 1817
Hægebostad Hægebostad Church Snartemo 1844

Notable people

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References

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  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. ^ "Agders fattigste kommune får ekstraregning av regjerinen sviktet og lurt" [Agder's poorest municipality gets an extra bill from the Cabinet: − Betrayed and hoodwinked]. Vg.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  7. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1912). Norske gaardnavne: Lister og Mandals amt (in Norwegian) (9 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 257.
  9. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Haegebostad, Vest-Agder (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 4 April 1986. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  13. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Vest-Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Høyre får ordføreren i Hægebostad". NRK (in Norwegian). 22 September 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
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