Åseral Municipality
Åseral kommune
Municipality
Aaseral herred  (historic name)
Aaserald herred  (historic name)
Flag of Åseral Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Åseral Municipality
Coat of arms
Agder within Norway
Agder within Norway
Åseral within Agder
Åseral within Agder
Coordinates: 58°42′07″N 07°23′37″E / 58.70194°N 7.39361°E / 58.70194; 7.39361
CountryNorway
CountyAgder
DistrictSørlandet
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreKyrkjebygda
Government
 • Mayor (2020)Inger Lise Lund Stulien (Ap)
Area
 • Total887.50 km2 (342.67 sq mi)
 • Land796.96 km2 (307.71 sq mi)
 • Water90.54 km2 (34.96 sq mi)  10.2%
 • Rank#131 in Norway
Population
 (2022)
 • Total912
 • Rank#338 in Norway
 • Density1.1/km2 (3/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Steady no change%
DemonymÅsdøl[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4224[3]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Åseral is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kyrkjebygda. Other villages in Åseral include Eikerapen, Kylland, Ljosland, and Åknes.

Åseral is an inland municipality, bordering Bygland municipality to the north and east, Evje og Hornnes to the east, Lyngdal to the south, Hægebostad to the southwest, and Kvinesdal in the west. Åseral is the headwaters of the river Mandalselva and the Mandalen valley.

The local folk museum in Åseral has preserved many historic farm buildings

The 888-square-kilometre (343 sq mi) municipality is the 131st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Åseral is the 338th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 912. The municipality's population density is 1.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.8/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

Skjerka power station, a source of power in Åseral
Ljosland fjellstove hotel in Åseral is part of the local tourism industry
Åseral Church is the main church for the municipality.

For centuries, the large parish of Bjelland encompassed the northern half of the Mandalen valley. The northern annex of the parish was Aaserald which was in the neighboring county of Nedenes while the main part of the parish was in Lister og Mandal county. When the formannskapsdistrikt law went into effect on 1 January 1838, each parish was created as a municipality, however, since Bjelland covered areas in two counties, it had to be split into two municipalities. The northern annex became the municipality of Aaserald (later spelled Åseral) in Nedenes county and the rest became the municipality of Bjelland og Grindum in Lister og Mandal county. On 1 September 1880, the municipality of Åseral was transferred from Nedenes county to Lister og Mandal county. Its municipal boundaries have never changed.[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old name for the area (Old Norse: Ásaráll). The meaning of the name is somewhat uncertain. One theory is that the first element comes from the word áss which refers to "Æsir", the old pagan Norse gods and the last element is áll (Old Norse) or alhs (Gothic) which means "gods' temple". Another theory is that the first element the genitive case of the word áss which means "hill" or "mountain ridge" and the last element is áll which means "long strip" or "eel-shaped", which likely refers to the long, narrow lake Øre which is surrounded by mountains and hills. Historically, the name was spelled Aaserald or Aaseral.[7] On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Aaseral with the digraph "Aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Åseral, using the letter Å instead.[8][9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 20 January 1989. The official blazon is "Vert, a horseshoe argent" (Norwegian: På grøn grunn ein sølv hestesko). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a horseshoe. The horseshoe 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 green color in the field symbolizes the importance of forestry and the horseshoe was chosen to represent the historical importance of horses in the farming culture of Åseral as well as the symbol of good luck. The arms were designed by Ulf Dreyer. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12][13][14]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Åseral. It is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. Until 2019, it was part of the old Mandal prosti.

Churches in Åseral
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
ÅseralÅseral ChurchKyrkjebygda1822
Ljosland ChapelLjosland1959
Åknes ChapelÅknes1873

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 is under the jurisdiction of the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Åseral 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.

Åseral kommunestyre 2020–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 2016–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 2012–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
 Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 2008–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)4
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 2004–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
 Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)6
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 2000–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)8
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1996–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
 Åseral local list (Åseral bygdeliste)9
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1992–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Åseral local list (Åseral bygdeliste)2
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1988–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
 Non-party local list (Upolitisk Bygdeliste)3
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1984–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1980–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1976–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1972–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1968–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:17
Åseral kommunestyre 1964–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:17
Åseral heradsstyre 1960–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:17
Åseral heradsstyre 1956–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:17
Åseral heradsstyre 1952–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Åseral heradsstyre 1948–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 5
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Åseral heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:16
Åseral heradsstyre 1938–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:16
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 (Norwegian: ordfører) of Åseral (incomplete list):

  • 1857-1863: G.F.L. Shubeler
  • 1867-1869: Ola O. Forgard
  • 1869-1876: Ole O. Ljosland
  • 1877-1877: Jakob Berg
  • 1877-1884: Morten Kittelstad
  • 1884-1892: Ola O. Thorsland
  • 1892-1898: Morten Kittelstad
  • 1899-1911: Petter Ljosland
  • 1911-1929: Knut Egså
  • 1929-1935: Salve Taraldsen Østerhus
  • 1935-1941: Olav J. Åsland
  • 1946-1952: Olav J. Åsland
  • 1952-1957: Olav Byklüm
  • 1958-1963: Olav Øyulvstad
  • 1964-1971: Tom Kaddeberg
  • 1972-1975: Ånund Berg
  • 1976-1977: Sigmund Jortveit
  • 1977-1979: Jens M. Forgard
  • 1980-1991: Kristen Kylland (Sp)
  • 1992-2007: Jørgen Åsland (Sp)
  • 2007-2019: Oddmund Ljosland (Sp)
  • 2020-present: Inger Lise Lund Stulien (Ap)

Geography

Åseral is in the central, inland part of Southern Norway. It is in the Setesdalsheiene mountains and adjacent to the Setesdal valley to the northeast. Åseral has many lakes, some of which are dammed for purposes of hydroelectric power. Some of the lakes include Nåvatnet, Juvatn, Øre and Gyvatn. The river Mandalselva and the Mandalen valley both begin in Åseral.

Climate

Climate data for Åseral 1991-2020 (268 m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.4
(29.5)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 0.4
(32.7)		 4.6
(40.3)		 9.5
(49.1)		 13.1
(55.6)		 15.4
(59.7)		 14
(57)		 10.7
(51.3)		 5.9
(42.6)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 5.9
(42.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 215
(8.5)		 140
(5.5)		 121
(4.8)		 86
(3.4)		 100
(3.9)		 99
(3.9)		 115
(4.5)		 154
(6.1)		 172
(6.8)		 215
(8.5)		 222
(8.7)		 213
(8.4)		 1,852
(73)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 15.7 10.7 12.6 9.4 11.4 10.6 11.0 12.4 14.2 15.7 16.4 15.2 155.3
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[34]

Attractions

Åseral is a popular winter tourist destination with three ski resorts in the villages of Bortelid, Ljosland, and Eikerapen. Eikerapen is also the site of the annual Eikerapen Roots Festival, an international music festival attracting thousands of people from all over Europe.

Notable people

  • Lars Knutson Liestøl (1839–1912), a Norwegian politician who was Mayor of Bygland in Aust-Agder for 12 years
  • Knut Liestøl (1881 in Åseral – 1952), a Norwegian folklorist, Nynorsk proponent, and politician

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. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1912). Norske gaardnavne: Lister og Mandals amt (in Norwegian) (9 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 134.
  8. ↑ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
  9. ↑ Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
  10. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Aseral, Vest-Agder (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 17 March 1989. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kommunevåpen". Åseral kommune. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Åseral kommune, våpen". Digitalarkivet (in Norwegian). Arkivverket. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  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 - Agder". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  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 - Vest-Agder". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  29. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  30. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  31. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  34. ↑ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.

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