Øygarden#Coat of arms

File:Hellesundet 01.jpg

The municipality of Øygarden was established on 1 January 1964. It was created by a merger that was set in motion by the Schei Committee. The newly created Øygarden was made up of all of the old municipality of Hjelme (population: 956) and almost all of the municipality of Herdla (population: 2131) that was located west of the Hjeltefjorden (except for the islands of Turøy and Misje which went to the neighboring municipality of Fjell).{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |isbn=9788253746845}}

On 1 January 2020, the three neighboring municipalities of Fjell, Sund, and Øygarden were merged into one large island municipality called Øygarden.{{Cite web |title=Vår nye kommune |url=http://www.varnyekommune.no/ |access-date=2017-10-28 |language=no}}

The administrative centre of Øygarden has changed three times over the years. From 1964 until 2009, it was located at the village of Tjeldstø. From 2009 through 2019, it was located in the village of Rong. In 2020, the administrative centre was moved to the large village of Straume after the municipal merger with Fjell and Sund.

The municipality of Øygarden was created in 1964 and the name was created at the same time. The name is the finite form of {{lang|nn|øygard}} which means "island group" or more specifically "row (fence) of islands". The first element is identical to the word {{wikt-lang|no|øy}} which means "island". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|garden}} which means "the farm".{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Øygarden |url=https://snl.no/%C3%98ygarden |access-date=2014-11-28 |language=no}}

File:Øygarden komm -2019.svg

File:Øygarden komm.svg

The original coat of arms was granted in 1966, shortly after the establishment of the municipality. The blazon was "Azure, a fess engrailed argent below a cairn sable and argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a reference sea cairn sitting on an islet rising above a sea wave. The wave and a small stripe on the buoy both have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The municipality consisted of larger and smaller islands and islets. The design was chosen to symbolize the importance of fishing and sea navigation for the area. Hence the importance of sea cairns, buoys and lighthouses for safety in the municipality. The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Øygarden |access-date=2023-05-22 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Øygarden kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/%C3%98ygarden%20fra%20SNL.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3D%25C3%25B8ygarden |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}

A new coat of arms was adopted in 2019 for use starting on 1 January 2020 after a municipal merger where Sund, Fjell, and Øygarden merged to form a new Øygarden municipality. The new municipality decided to use the coat of arms for the old Sund Municipality which had originally been granted to that municipality on 23 March 1988. The official blazon is "Argent, a lighthouse couped azure" ({{langx|no|På sølv grunn ei blå fyrlykt}}). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 charge is a lighthouse. The lighthouse reflects the municipality's close ties to the sea, and the white colour represents the light emitted from the lighthouse. The arms were designed by Even Jarl Skoglund. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.{{Cite web |title=Sund, Hordaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-12-45.html |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Sund_(Hordaland) |access-date=2020-02-02 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Kommunevåpen for Sund kommune |url=https://www.sund.kommune.no/om-sund/kommunevapen/ |access-date=2014-12-17 |publisher=Sund kommune |language=no}}

The Church of Norway has four parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Øygarden. It is part of the Vesthordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

The municipality is made up of many islands. The main islands are (from north to south): Seløyna ({{convert|7.2|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Alvøyna ({{convert|12.2|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Ona ({{convert|6.8|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Blomøyna ({{convert|9.1|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Rongøyna ({{convert|2.7|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Toftøyna ({{convert|7.5|km2|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}), Misje, Turøyna Sotra, Litlesotra, Geitung, Bildøyna, Bjorøy, Algrøyna, Lokøyna, Syltøyna, Toftøya, Lerøyna, Bjelkarøyna, Tyssøyna, Risøy, Vardøy, Golten, and Viksøy. Besides these larger islands, the municipality consists of hundreds small islands, islets, and reefs. Some of the other islands include Hernar in the far north and Førehjelmo.

The landscape is low and relatively flat. Several smaller lakes are located on the islands. The west side of the islands is an important nesting site for birds. The North Sea lies to the west of the islands and the Hjeltefjorden.

Tjeldstø Marka on Alvøyna has been a protected nature reserve since 1995. It is one of the largest wetland reserves in Hordaland. The Ormhilleren friluftsområde is another nature reserve surrounding the Rongesundet strait.[http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/En-liten-perle-i-Oygarden-3156505.html#.U8JjVfnuAi4 En liten perle i Øygarden] [A small pearl in Øygarden]

{{Historical populations

|align = none

|direction = horizontal

|footnote = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 2020, causing a significant change in the population.

|source = Statistics Norway{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}

|1964|3087

|1970|2835

|1980|2534

|1990|3158

|2000|3623

|2010|4267

|2020|38316

|2023|39368

}}

Øygarden 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.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}} The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Øygarden is made up of 45 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

{{div col}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/vestland/øygarden#seats |access-date=2024-01-21 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed =

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 7

|Grønne = 1

|Høyre = 14

|INP = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Pensjonistpartiet = 1

|Rødt = 1

|Senterpartiet = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Sotra List

|otherparty_no = Sotralista

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/vestland/øygarden#seats |access-date=2020-02-02 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 4

|Grønne = 2

|Høyre = 10

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Rødt = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|FNB = 4

|otherparty = Sotra List

|otherparty_no = Sotralista

|otherparty_number = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2015

|end = 2019

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 9

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/hordaland/øygarden#seats |access-date=2020-02-02 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 9

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 10

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 10

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 12

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1995

|end = 1999

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|otherparty = Cross-party Election List for Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk valliste for Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 11

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1991

|end = 1995

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Election list for South Øygarden

|otherparty_no = Valliste for Søre Øygarden

|otherparty_number = 5

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1987

|end = 1991

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Høyre = 6

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Election list for Blomvåg parish

|otherparty_no = Vallista for Blomvåg sokn

|otherparty_number = 7

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1983

|end = 1987

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7

|otherparty = Election list for Blomvåg parish

|otherparty_no = Vallista for Blomvåg sokn

|otherparty_number = 6

|otherparty1 = Common list

|otherparty_no1 = Samlingslista

|otherparty_number1 = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1979

|end = 1983

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7

|otherparty = Election list for Blomvåg parish

|otherparty_no = Vallista for Blomvåg sokn

|otherparty_number = 3

|otherparty1 = Common list

|otherparty_no1 = Samlingslista

|otherparty_number1 = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1975

|end = 1979

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|otherparty = Blomvåg parish list

|otherparty_no = Blomvåg Sokn liste

|otherparty_number = 10

|otherparty1 = Common list

|otherparty_no1 = Samlingslista

|otherparty_number1 = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1971

|end = 1975

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Venstre = 3

|Local_Lists = 11

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1967

|end = 1971

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Local_Lists = 23

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Øygarden

|start = 1963

|end = 1967

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 23

|Local_Lists = 23

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Øygarden (incomplete list):

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1990–1995: Otto Harkestad (Ap)
• 1995–1999: Rolv Svein Rougnø (H)
• 2000–2011: Olav Martin Vik (LL)
• 2011–2014: Otto Harkestad (Ap)
• 2015–2015: Åse Gunn Husebø (Ap)
• 2015–2019: Børge Haugetun (LL)
• 2019–present: Tom Georg Indrevik (H)

{{div col end}}

The municipality has a significant aquaculture industry, primarily with salmon, cod, and shellfish. Agriculture is limited in the municipality and is largely a part-time occupation, so most farmers have another profession too. Agriculture in Øygarden is dominated by raising livestock (sheep, cattle, and chickens).

Since 1988, petroleum activities have become a major industry in Øygarden. The transportation of oil from the Oseberg oil field through a pipeline to Sture on Alvøyna was the start of the oil boom. In 1996, a natural gas processing plant at Kollsnes on the island of Ona was completed.

In 2024 the company Norsk Kjernekraft signed an agreement with a landowner in the municipality to purchase {{convert|250|acre|ha}}, to accommodate up to five SMR nuclear power units.{{cite web |url=https://eiendomswatch.no/nyheter/article16992914.ece |title=Norsk Kjernekraft kjøper tomt i Øygarden for å bygge fem kjernekraftverk |date=5 April 2024 | publisher=EiendomsWatch |language = no |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406235138/https://eiendomswatch.no/nyheter/article16992914.ece |archive-date=6 April 2024 |access-date=7 April 2024 }}

• Martin Rasmussen Hjelmen (1904 in Øygarden – 1944), a Norwegian sailor and communist activist[http://www.bt.no/meninger/kronikk/Uklart-om-likvidasjoner-2295510.html#.Uwt0g4VN-xo Uklart om likvidasjoner]
• John Alvheim (1930 in Øygarden – 2005), a nurse anaesthetist, aid worker, and politician
• Lars Arne Nilsen (born 1964 in Sotra), a Norwegian football manager
• Alexander Dale Oen (1985 in Øygarden – 2012), a swimmer on the Norwegian national team and silver medallist at the 2008 Summer Olympics

File:Spjeld Storelva Norway Travel Landscape Photography (119111997).jpeg|Spjeld Storelva

File:Sotra.jpg|Fjord landscape, Sotra

File:Nordra Straumsundet Norway Landscape Photography (140004361).jpeg|Nordra Straumsundet

File:Bukken.jpg|Bukken

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Øygarden}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/oygarden Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}

{{Vestland}}

{{authority control}}

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oygarden}}

Category:Municipalities of Vestland

Category:1964 establishments in Norway

Category:Archipelagoes of Norway

Category:Landforms of Vestland