Beiarn Municipality

The municipality of Beiarn was established in 1853 when it was separated from the large Gildeskål Municipality. Initially, Beiarn had 1,164 residents. The municipal boundaries have not changed since that time.{{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}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Beiar Fjord ({{langx|non|Beðir}} or {{lang|non|Beðinn}}). The meaning of the name is uncertain. It may be derived from the plural form of the word {{wikt-lang|non|beðr}} which means "bedding" (in the sense of a "river bed". Another option is that it is the past participle of the word {{wikt-lang|non|biðja}} which means "to pray" or "to ask".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |author-link=Oluf Rygh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K21BAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt |date=1905 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=16 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=193 |language=no}} Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Beieren. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Beiara.{{Cite journal |year=1908 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015110481021_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=24}} This spelling, however, was not well-liked. On 19 August 1908 (a few months later), another royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Beiarn.{{Cite journal |year=1908 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015110481021_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=356}}

File:Beiarn kirke 01.jpg]]

The coat of arms has been used in Beiarn since 1988. The blazon is "Vert, a pine tree uprooted Or" ({{langx|no|I gull en furu på grønn bunn}}). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a pine tree. The pine tree has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The pine tree was chosen to symbolize the mighty pine forests for which Beiarn has historically been well-known. This is mentioned both by Petter Dass' "Nordlands Trompet" and in Lars Hess Bing's "Description of the Kingdom of Norway, the Isles of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as well as Greenland". There are remains of giant pine trees that are likely over one thousand years old. The green color of the field was chosen to represent the lush green forests and the gold/yellow color was chosen because the forest is "worth its weight in gold" for the municipality. The arms were designed by Erik Gabrielsen, who was a cultural consultant in Beiarn municipality. In 1995, the municipality applied to have the arms formally approved for use by the National Archives of Norway, but they were not approved because it did not meet the heraldic standards for coats of arms in Norway. The National Archives told the municipality that they can use the unapproved arms in some circumstances, but they cannot be put on a flag, road sign, or public buildings.{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Beiarn |access-date=2023-01-30 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Om Kommunevåpenet |url=https://www.beiarn.kommune.no/om-kommunevaapenet.447820.no.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Beiarn kommune |language=no}}{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Beiarn |url=http://snl.no/Beiarn |access-date=2012-03-26 |language=no}}{{Cite web |title=Beiarn kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/Beiarn%20fra%20SNL.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dbeiarn |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}

The Church of Norway has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Beiarn Municipality. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

A privately owned stave church was built in 2006 at Savjord, about {{convert|8|km}} east of Moldjord. The Savjord Stave Church was modeled after the Gol Stave Church.

File:Tellingen Beiarn 01.jpg

The municipality of Beiarn is located just north of the Arctic Circle, along the Beiar River including the Beiar Valley and some surrounding areas in the Saltfjellet mountains. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|1634.52|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Skjelåtinden. The river is one of the best salmon rivers in Northern Norway. There are several large lakes in Beiarn including Arstaddalsdammen, Litle Sokumvatnet, and Ramsgjelvatnet.

The Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is partially located in Beiarn. The Svartisen and Simlebreen glaciers are both located in Beiarn. The world's most northern naturally occurring elm forest (Ulmus glabra) grows in the Arstadlia nature reserve, where the rich vegetation also includes orchids.{{Cite web |title=Arstadlia-Tverviknakken naturreservat |url=http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1529#7532 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091726/http://nordland.miljostatus.no/msf_themepage.aspx?m=1529 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |access-date=2008-11-19 |language=no}}

Beiarn 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 Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Beiarn is made up of 15 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 = Beiarn

|start = 2024

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/nordland/beiarn#seats |access-date=2023-12-27 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed =

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Senterpartiet = 6

|otherparty = Beiarn Local List

|otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/nordland/beiarn#seats |access-date=2019-10-27 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Senterpartiet = 9

|otherparty = Beiarn Local List

|otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Senterpartiet = 5

|otherparty = Beiarn Local List

|otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/nordland/beiarn#seats |access-date=2019-10-27 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Senterpartiet = 4

|otherparty = Beiarn Local List

|otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Senterpartiet = 2

|otherparty = Beiarn local list

|otherparty_no = Beiarn bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 8

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 15

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Senterpartiet = 2

|otherparty = Beiarn local list

|otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|otherparty1 = Rural development list

|otherparty_no1 = Bygdeutviklingslista

|otherparty_number1 = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|otherparty = Beiarn local list

|otherparty_no = Beiarn bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 1

|KrF/Sp = 8

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 2

|KrF/Sp = 7

|otherparty = Local people's list

|otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Høyre = 2

|KrF/Sp = 4

|otherparty = Local people's list

|otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Høyre = 1

|KrF/Sp = 5

|otherparty = Local people's list

|otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets lista

|otherparty1 = Working people's list

|otherparty_no1 = Arbeidsfolkets liste

|otherparty_number1 = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Høyre = 2

|KrF/Sp = 5

|otherparty = Local people's list

|otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|KrF/Sp = 8

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|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=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1959

|end = 1963

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 5

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1955

|end = 1959

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Local_Lists = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1951

|end = 1955

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1947

|end = 1951

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1945

|end = 1947

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 13

|AFS = 1

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Beiarn

|herad = yes

|start = 1937

|end = 1941*

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-04-02 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Senterpartiet = 1

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Local_Lists = 4

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayor ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Beiarn is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:{{Cite book |last=Gabrielsen |first=Laila |url=https://www.beiarn.kommune.no/oversikt-over-tidligere-ordfoerere-i-beiarn.448031.no.html |title=Oversikt over tidligere ordførere i Beiarn |date=2022-08-07 |publisher=Beiarn kommune |language=no |accessdate=2023-12-29}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1853-1858: Lars Hansen Næss
• 1859-1861: Wilhelm Anton Feght
• 1863-1866: Lars Hansen Næss
• 1867-1868: Eiler Rosenvinge Kaurin
• 1869-1870: Lars Hansen Næss
• 1871-1877: Gustav Sophus Janke
• 1878-1886: Ole Andreas Anderssen
• 1887-1896: Christian Angell Pedersen Storjord
• 1897-1900: Jørgen Blydt Mowinckel
• 1901-1902: Lorents Rasch
• 1903-1906: Christian Angell Pedersen Storjord
• 1907-1908: Halfdan Johannessen Osbak
• 1909-1916: Johan Christoffersen
• 1917-1925: Arne Pedersen Øines
• 1926-1928: Johan Christoffersen
• 1929-1934: Edvard Nilsen
• 1935-1941: Julius J. Einan
• 1941-1945: Sverre Gloppen (NS)
• 1945-1955: Julius J. Einan
• 1956-1957: Haakon Innset
• 1958-1967: Karl Leithe
• 1968-1971: Erling Jakobsen
• 1972-1983: Osvald Tollåli
• 1983-1990: Arne Larsen
• 1991-1998: Paul Eggesvik
• 1999-2010: Frigg-Ottar Os
• 2011-2023: Monika Sande (Sp)
• 2023–present: Andrè Kristoffersen (Sp)

{{div col end}}

The area offers many outdoor activities to visitors, including fishing, caving, and mountain walking. The Beiarn farm museum includes an overview of Beiarn's cultural history, from the Viking Age through to the middle of the 20th century.

• Kristian Moljord (1882 in Beiarn – 1976), a fisherman, railroad worker, miner, and politician

• Bearn

{{reflist}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/beiarn Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• [http://www.beiarn.kommune.no/ Beiarn municipality] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051122185904/http://www.toyen.uio.no/botanisk/nbf/nettflora/Ulmus_glabra.htm Elm in Norway] {{in lang|no}}
• [http://www.lauvtrebruk.no/exec/8/Alm.html Elm] {{in lang|no}}
• [http://www.phstrand.com/beiarindex.htm About Tvervik in Beiarn] {{in lang|no}}

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{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Nordland|wikt=Beiarn}}

{{Nordland}}

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Category:Municipalities of Nordland

Category:Populated places of Arctic Norway

Category:1853 establishments in Norway

Category:Populated places established in 1853