Etne
Etne
Municipality in Vestland, Norway
Etne is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland, although it is also sometimes considered to be part of the district of Haugaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Etnesjøen. Other villages in the municipality include Skånevik and Fjæra. The two largest villages in the municipality are Etnesjøen with 1,159 residents and Skånevik with 594 residents (all figures from 1 January 2015).[4][5]
Etne Municipality
Etne kommune | |
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View of the lake Løkjelsvatnet in Etne | |
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Vestland within Norway | |
Etne within Vestland | |
| Coordinates: 59°39′50″N 05°56′00″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Vestland |
| District | Sunnhordland |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Administrative centre | Etnesjøen |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2019) | Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 735.27 km2 (283.89 sq mi) |
| • Land | 691.17 km2 (266.86 sq mi) |
| • Water | 44.11 km2 (17.03 sq mi) 6% |
| • Rank | #154 in Norway |
| Population (2023) | |
| • Total | 4,073 |
| • Rank | #201 in Norway |
| • Density | 5.8/km2 (15/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) |  +0.8% |
| Demonyms | Etnebu Etnesbu[1] |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-4611[3] |
| Website | Official website |
The 735-square-kilometre (284 sq mi) municipality is the 154th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Etne is the 201st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,073. The municipality's population density is 5.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.[6][7]
Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad, Ullensvang, Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord, the latter three are located in the neighboring county of Rogaland.
A Norwegian motion picture called United was shot in Etne with local people as actors.
Etne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Originally, Etne encompassed the area around the Etnefjorden and the surrounding valleys. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the neighboring municipality of Skånevik was dissolved and merged into its neighboring municipalities. All of Skånevik located south of the Åkrafjorden and east of the village of Åkra on the north side of the fjord (population: 1,493) was merged into Etne.[8]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Etnefjorden (Old Norse: Eðni). The name is likely derived from the old name for the river "Etneelvi", Atn or Etn. The meaning of the old river name may come from etja which means "to drive forward" or "to goad" or it might come from eta which means "to eat".[9]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 16 December 1983. The official blazon is "Per pale dovetailed azure and argent" (Norwegian: Kløyvt av blått og kvitt med duestjertsnitt). This means the arms have are divided with a vertical line that is dovetailed. The field (background) to the left of the line has a tincture of blue. To the right of the line, the field 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 design was chosen to represent the strong unity between the two former municipalities of Skånevik and Etne that were joined to form one municipality in 1965. The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland and John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11]
Churches
The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Etne. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etne | Gjerde Church | Etnesjøen | 1676 |
| Grindheim Church | Etnesjøen | 1728 | |
| Stødle Church | Etnesjøen | 1160 | |
| Skånevik | Skånevik Church | Skånevik | 1900 |
| Fjæra Chapel | Fjæra | 1913 |
Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad and Ullensvang in Vestland county and the municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord in Rogaland county.
Etne has a varied landscape, extending from the Etnefjorden, Skånevikfjorden, and Åkrafjorden at sea level, through the villages up to the high mountains. In the far north, there is a barren and heavily eroded mountain glacier, Folgefonna, where the municipality's highest point rises 1,638 metres (5,374 ft) above sea level. Folgefonna National Park is partially located in Etne. In addition to that national park, Etne has three nature reserves: Brattholmen, Skåno, and Langebudalen. Lakes in the area include Løkjelsvatnet. The famous waterfall Langfossen is located in northern Etne.[12]
Recent archeological findings indicate that the area was already inhabited around 500 BC.[13]
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| Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1965, causing a significant change in the population. Source: Statistics Norway[6][14] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Etne 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.[16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Etne 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.
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) | 1 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 17 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 17 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Local list (Krinslista) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Local list (Krinslista) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 2 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 1 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| 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) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 2 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Non-party list (Upolitisk liste) | 2 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Non-party list (Upolitisk liste) | 1 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
| New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 6 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 11 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 3 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 14 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 11 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 2 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 | |
| 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. | ||
Mayors
 |
The European route E134 highway runs the length of the municipality connecting it to the city of Haugesund in the southwest and to Oslo in the east. The highway runs through Etnesjøen and then northeastwards along the Åkrafjorden before crossing into the neighboring municipality of Odda. There are many tunnels along the route, some quite long, including the Åkrafjord Tunnel, Fjæra Tunnel, Markhus Tunnel, and Rullestad Tunnel.
The Eintveitbrua is a bridge in rural Etne that is not connected to the road network. It is considered to be a bridge to nowhere.
- Erling Skakke (1115 at Etne – 1179), a Norwegian Jarl (Earl) during the 12th century
- Magnus V of Norway (1156 at Etne – 1184), the King during the Civil war era in Norway
- Jacob Børretzen (1900 in Etne – 1989), a hymnwriter and linguist
- Ingvar Moe (1936 in Etne - 1993), a poet, novelist, and children's writer
- Hans Olav Tungesvik (1936 in Skånevik – 2017), a physician and politician
- Osmund Kaldheim (born 1964), a businessman, civil servant, and politician who grew up in Etne
- Ivar Bjørnson (born 1977 in Etne), a composer and guitarist for the progressive black metal band Enslaved
- Anne Lise Frøkedal (born 1981 in Etne), a folk-pop singer-songwriter known by her stage name Frøkedal
- "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
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- Store norske leksikon. "Etne" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
- Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 64.
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- "Etne, Hordaland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- "Point on the glacier". Hordaland fylke. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- "Dette funnet er sensasjonelt" (in Norwegian). NRK.
- Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
- Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- "Senterpartiordføraren får fire nye år i Etne". NRK (in Norwegian). 12 September 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
The dictionary definition of Etne at Wiktionary
Hordaland travel guide from Wikivoyage- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
- Pictures from Etne
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