Meland Municipality
Meland kommune
Former municipality
Mæland herred  (historic name)
View of the mountain Eldsfjellet in northern Meland
View of the mountain Eldsfjellet in northern Meland
Flag of Meland Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Meland Municipality
Coat of arms
Hordaland within Norway
Hordaland within Norway
Meland within Hordaland
Meland within Hordaland
Coordinates: 60°33′51″N 05°07′07″E / 60.56417°N 5.11861°E / 60.56417; 5.11861
CountryNorway
CountyHordaland
DistrictNordhordland
Established15 Oct 1923
 • Preceded byAlversund Municipality
Disestablished1 Jan 2020
 • Succeeded byAlver Municipality
Administrative centreFrekhaug
Government
 • Mayor (2015-2019)Øyvind Helland Oddekalv (Ap)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Land87.53 km2 (33.80 sq mi)
 • Water5.05 km2 (1.95 sq mi)  5.5%
 • Rank#386 in Norway
Population
 (2017)
 • Total8,021
 • Rank#135 in Norway
 • Density91.6/km2 (237/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +33.3%
DemonymMelandsbu[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1256[3]
Data from Statistics Norway

Meland is a former municipality in the Nordhordland district in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1923 until its dissolution on 1 January 2020 when it was merged into the new Alver Municipality in Vestland county. The municipality was located about 30 minutes north of the city of Bergen in Western Norway. The island municipality was mostly located on the island of Holsnøy, where the administrative centre of Frekhaug is located. Other villages in Meland include Hjartås, Holme, Io, Krossneset, Meland, and Rossland.

Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 93-square-kilometre (36 sq mi) municipality is the 386th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Meland is the 135th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 8,021. The municipality's population density is 91.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (237/sq mi) and its population has increased by 33.3% over the last decade.[4]

General information

Satellite view of the island of Holsnøy
View of a wedding boat at Holsnøy
View of Krossnessund Bridge (back) and Nordhordland Bridge (front)
View of the local church

On 15 October 1923, the western part of the municipality of Alversund was separated to create the new municipality of Meland. Initially, Meland had a population of 1,716. Meland was one of many municipalities in Norway that were created for geographical reasons: Meland was separated from the rest of Alversund by the Radfjorden, and transportation between the different parts of the municipality was unreliable and time-consuming. The creation of the municipality was approved in 1922, and the first election for the municipal council was held 23 August 1923, with the municipality becoming official on 15 October 1923. Meland encompassed the southern two-thirds of the island of Holsnøy (the northern third belonged to Herdla municipality), a small area on the northeast coast of the island of Askøy, as well as some very small surrounding islands.[5][6]

In 1962, the Schei Committee concluded its survey of the organization of Norway's municipalities. The committee recommended enlarging Meland municipality by transferring the northern part of Holsnøy and the minor island of Øpsøy (population: 811) from Herdla municipality to Meland and at the same time the island of Flatøy (population: 166) was transferred from Hamre municipality to Meland. Simultaneously, Meland would lose the parts of the municipality located on the island of Askøy and that area would go to Askøy Municipality. Hordaland county approved the move, and the border changes came into effect on 1 January 1964.[6] A proposal to change the name of Meland municipality to "Holsenøy" was rejected.[7] Hamre and Herdla municipalities ceased to exist, and their territory was divided between the municipalities of Lindås, Osterøy, and Meland, and Askøy, Øygarden, and Meland, respectively.[8][9]

On 1 January 2020, the neighboring municipalities of Meland, Radøy, and Lindås were merged into a large, new municipality called Alver.[10]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Meland farm (Old Norse: Meðalland) in the south-central part of the island of Holsnøy. The first element is meðal which means "middle" or "amongst". The last element is land which means "land" or "farm". Therefore the name as a whole roughly means "the farm that is located in the middle (of the island)". Historically, the name was spelled Mæland.[11][12][13]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 15 May 1987 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Gules, an auger palewise issuant from chief argent" (Norwegian: På raud grunn ein kvit navar-spiss som vender nedover). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a local type of auger which is used in carpentry. The auger has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen because in the 1850s, auger manufacturing started in the municipality, and the local drills were considered to be high quality. The design was meant to symbolize and emphasize the local traditions to be proud of and skills to be keep alive. The arms were designed by Inge Rotevatn. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[14][15][16]

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Meland. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

Churches in Meland
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
MelandMeland ChurchMeland1866

Geography

Meland consisted of a number of islands. The largest was Holsnøy, which has an area of 89 square kilometres (34 sq mi), out of a total area of 93 square kilometres (36 sq mi) for the entire municipality. Holsnøy was located between the island of Radøy and the Lindås peninsula to its north, the Åsane peninsula in Bergen to its east, the island of Askøy to its south, and the archipelago of Øygarden to its west. It was surrounded by fjords, namely (clockwise from north) Mangerfjorden, Radfjorden, Salhusfjorden, Herdlefjorden, and Hjeltefjorden. The second largest island in the municipality was Flatøy, located west of Holsnøy. The municipality also encompassed a number of minor islands.[12]

The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Frekhaug, which was also its largest settlement. Frekhaug was located in the south-eastern part of Holsnøy, and its urban area had a population of 1649 as of 2012. An additional two urban areas were located in the municipality: Krossneset on Flatøy (population 468) and Holme (population 663).[17]

Transport

As an island municipality, the road network of Meland depended upon bridges to connect it to the mainland. The Nordhordland Bridge, which spans the Salhusfjorden between Flatøy and Klauvaneset in Bergen, connected Meland to the mainland. The bridge is the main road northwards from Bergen, and is part of European route E39. The Krossnessundet Bridge, which is part of Fv 564, connects Flatøy to Holsnøy, the largest island of the municipality. The Krossnessundet Bridge opened in 1977,[18] while the Nordhordland Bridge dates from 1994.[19] The Hagelsund Bridge connects the island of Flatøy to Knarvik on the Lindås peninsula to the east.

History

Meland had several traces of early settlement, including remnants of stone houses, terraced walls, and farms. Holmeknappen (from the 18th century) was restored in 1992, and it includes equipment for barrel production and salting herring. Meland has been a church site since the mid-13th century. The stave church on this site was in use until 1616 when a new wooden church was built on the same site. That church was demolished in 1816 and the new (present) Meland Church was erected in 1816.[20]

Population

Historical population
Year19231930194619511960197019801990200020102019
Pop.1,7161,7681,8761,9301,7212,6943,5084,5345,3536,6318,187
±% p.a.—    +0.43%+0.37%+0.57%−1.27%+4.58%+2.68%+2.60%+1.67%+2.16%+2.37%
Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1964, causing a significant change in the population.
Source: Statistics Norway[21][22] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[23]

Government

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[24] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Bergen District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Meland was made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:

Meland kommunestyre 2016–2019 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 The People's Will Local List (Bygdelista Folkeviljen)1
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 2012–2015 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint list of the Red Party (Raudt) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 2008–2011 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint list of the Red Party, Socialist Left Party,
and Social Democrats in Meland
(Fellesliste: Raudt, Sosialistisk Venstre, og Sosialdemokratar i Meland)		 2
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 2004–2007 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint list of the Red Party, Socialist Left Party,
and Social Democrats in Meland
(Fellesliste: Raudt, Sosialistisk Venstre, og Sosialdemokratar i Meland)		 3
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 2000–2003 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Red Electoral Alliance (Raud Valallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1996–1999 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1992–1995 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1988–1991 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1984–1987 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1980–1983 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:27
Meland kommunestyre 1976–1979 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Meland kommunestyre 1972–1975 [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Meland kommunestyre 1968–1971 [34]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Meland kommunestyre 1964–1967 [35]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 13
Total number of members:21
Meland heradsstyre 1960–1963 [36]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:17
Meland heradsstyre 1956–1959 [37]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17
Total number of members:17
Meland heradsstyre 1952–1955 [38]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16
Total number of members:16
Meland heradsstyre 1948–1951 [39]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 15
Total number of members:16
Meland heradsstyre 1945–1947 [40]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:16
Mæland heradsstyre 1938–1941* [41]  
Party name (in Nynorsk)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
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 (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Meland:[42]

  • 1923–1931: Andreas Hagen (LL)
  • 1932–1938: Lars G. Hopland (LL)
  • 1938–1945: Nils Hvidsten (LL)
  • 1946–1968: Olav Åmdal (LL)
  • 1968–1979: Johannes H. Fosse (KrF)
  • 1980–1991: Harry Wiig Andersen (Sp)
  • 1992–1999: Arne I. Sakstad (Ap)
  • 1999–2007: Solbjørg Å. Sandvik (H)
  • 2007–2015: Nils Marton Aadland (H)
  • 2015–2019: Øyvind Helland Oddekalv (Ap)

Notable people

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meland (former municipality).

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 (2017). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  5. ↑ Flatøy, Olav (1973). Meland kommune gjennom 50 år : 1923-1973 (in Norwegian). Meland: Meland kommune. pp. 23–26. ISBN 82-990268-0-6.
  6. 1 2 Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. ↑ Flatøy, Olav (1973). Meland kommune gjennom 50 år : 1923-1973 (in Norwegian). Meland: Meland kommune. pp. 60–61. ISBN 82-990268-0-6.
  8. ↑ Flatøy, Olav (1973). Meland kommune gjennom 50 år : 1923-1973 (in Norwegian). Meland: Meland kommune. pp. 15–17. ISBN 82-990268-0-6.
  9. ↑ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  10. ↑ "Ein kommune" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  11. ↑ Stemshaug, Ola; Sandnes, Jørn; Aune, Kolbjørn (1990). Norsk stadnamnleksikon (in Norwegian) (3 ed.). Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget. p. 218. ISBN 82-521-3477-7.
  12. 1 2 Hartvedt, Gunnar Hagen (1994). "Meland". Bergen Byleksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. p. 35. ISBN 82-573-0485-9.
  13. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 365 and 67.
  14. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "Meland, Hordaland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 15 May 1987. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  17. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 2012). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  18. ↑ Kortner, Olaf; Munthe, Preben; Tveterås, Egil (1994). Aschehoug og Gyldendals store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Vol. K–Lat. Aschehoug, Gyldendal. p. 529. ISBN 82-573-0583-9.
  19. ↑ "Structurae [en]: Nordhordland Bridge (1994)". Structurae. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  20. ↑ Store norske leksikon. "Meland" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  21. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  22. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketelling 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  23. ↑ Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".
  24. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  25. 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.
  26. ↑ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hordaland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  30. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  31. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  34. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  35. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  36. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  37. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  38. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  39. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  40. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  41. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  42. ↑ "Tidlegare ordførarar i Meland". NRK Fylkesleksikon (in Norwegian). 15 May 2014. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

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