Bjerkreim

File:Indra Vinjavatnet 01.jpg

File:Vikeså skule.jpg

File:Ivesdal kapell.jpg]]

The parish of Birkrem was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1965, there were many municipal changes in Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On that date, the Nedre Maudal area of Bjerkreim (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Gjesdal.{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |year=1999 |isbn=9788253746845 |language=no}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Bjerkreim farm ({{langx|non|Bjarkarheimr}}), since the first Bjerkreim Church was built there The first element is the genitive case of {{wikt-lang|non|bjørk}} which means "birch". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|heimr}} which means "homestead" or "farm". Before 1889, the name was written "Birkrem".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Stavanger amt |date=1915 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=10 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=47–49 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}

The coat of arms was granted on 11 July 1986. The official blazon is "Vert, a birch branch with six leaves and four catkins argent" ({{langx|no|På grøn grunn ein opprett sølv bjørkekvist med sju blad og fire raklar}}). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a vertical branch from a birch tree which has six leaves and four catkins. The charge 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 since the name of the municipality is derived from the Norwegian word for birch, {{lang|no|bjørk}}, thus the arms are canting. The arms were designed by John Digernes. 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=Bjerkreim |access-date=2023-06-30 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Bjerkreim, Rogaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-11-14.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1986-07-11 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-07-11-1545 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}} {{See also-text|Coats of arms of Birkenes|Lavangen}}

The Church of Norway has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Bjerkreim. It is part of the Dalane prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.

Bjerkreim 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 Sør-Rogaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal. A notable local politician is Olaf Gjedrem, mayor from 1979 to 1993 and later a member of the national parliament.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Bjerkreim is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The executive committee of the council has 5 members, who also make up the authority's planning and economic committee. The mayor of Bjerkreim leads both the council and the executive committee. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

{{div col}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/rogaland/bjerkreim#seats |access-date=2024-01-25 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed =

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 3

|otherparty = Bjerkreim Local List

|otherparty_no = Bjerkreim Bygdeliste

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/rogaland/bjerkreim#seats |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 6

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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/ |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=Norwegian}}

|nynorsk = yes

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/rogaland/#seats |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|nynorsk = yes

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Venstre = 1

|Høyre = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 9

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 7

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 5

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 6

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 6

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 9

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 7

|Venstre = 4

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Venstre = 2

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 9

|Venstre = 3

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Venstre = 3

|Local_Lists = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 16

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 9

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Venstre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 10

|Venstre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 14

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Bjerkreim

|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=2020-05-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 16

|Høyre = 2

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 10

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Bjerkreim:{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Bjerkreim kommune |url=https://www.geni.com/projects/Ordf%C3%B8rere-i-Bjerkreim-kommune/5777 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=geni.com |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1838–1839: Thønnis Tollefson Bjerkreim
• 1840–1841: Rasmus Rasmusson Osland
• 1842–1843: Omund Adsem
• 1844–1845: Erik Erikson Espeland
• 1846–1849: Erik A. Lauperak
• 1850–1853: Sigbjørn Hytland
• 1854–1855: Omund Adsem
• 1856–1865: Christian Larsson Kløgetvedt
• 1866–1869: Ole V. Sagland
• 1870–1879: Christian Larsson Kløgetvedt
• 1880–1881: Jonas K. Vigesaa
• 1882–1893: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela
• 1894–1897: Tollef Asbjørnsen Gjedrem
• 1898–1899: Tønnes Tollefsen Bjerkrheim
• 1899–1901: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela
• 1902–1904: Sem Johan Jonassen Vaule
• 1905–1919: Gitle A. Birkrem
• 1920–1922: Peder Carlson Skjæveland
• 1923–1925: Arne Gjedrem
• 1926–1934: Karl Laksesvela
• 1935–1940: Arne Gjedrem
• 1945–1947: Arne Gjedrem
• 1948–1955: Martin Veen
• 1956–1963: Karl L. Skjæveland
• 1964–1966: Martin Veen
• 1966–1975: Tolleiv Gjedrem
• 1976–1979: Lloyd Vaule
• 1980–1993: Olaf Gjedrem (KrF)
• 1994–1999: Gunnhild Vassbø
• 1999–2003: Asbjørn Gjedrem
• 2003–2007: Asbjørn Ramsli (Sp)
• 2007–2015: Marthon Skårland (H)
• 2015–2019: Torbjørn Ognedal (Sp)
• 2019–2023: Kjetil Slettebø (Sp)
• 2023-present: Tone Vaule (Ap){{Cite news |date=2023-09-15 |title=Ap får ordfører i Bjerkreim |url=https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/ap-far-ordforer-i-bjerkreim-1.16559438 |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=NRK |language=no}}

{{div col end}}

Bjerkreim municipality lies at the northern end of the hilly, rugged Dalane district, just south of the very flat Jæren district. There are several large lakes in Bjerkreim including Austrumdalsvatnet, Byrkjelandsvatnet, Hofreistæ, and Ørsdalsvatnet.

{{Weather box

|metric first= yes

|single line = yes

|location = Bjerkreim

|Jan mean C=-0.5

|Feb mean C=-0.6

|Mar mean C=1.5

|Apr mean C=4.5

|May mean C=9.5

|Jun mean C=13.0

|Jul mean C=14.2

|Aug mean C=14.3

|Sep mean C=11.0

|Oct mean C=8.0

|Nov mean C=3.5

|Dec mean C=0.8

|year mean C=6.6

|Jan precipitation mm=180

|Feb precipitation mm=132

|Mar precipitation mm=152

|Apr precipitation mm=87

|May precipitation mm=106

|Jun precipitation mm=115

|Jul precipitation mm=136

|Aug precipitation mm=177

|Sep precipitation mm=240

|Oct precipitation mm=270

|Nov precipitation mm=253

|Dec precipitation mm=217

|year precipitation mm=2065

|precipitation colour=green

|unit precipitation days= 1 mm

|Jan precipitation days=14.8

|Feb precipitation days=11.0

|Mar precipitation days=13.8

|Apr precipitation days=10.9

|May precipitation days=12.7

|Jun precipitation days=11.8

|Jul precipitation days=11.6

|Aug precipitation days=14.3

|Sep precipitation days=17.2

|Oct precipitation days=17.7

|Nov precipitation days=18.4

|Dec precipitation days=15.9

|year precipitation days=170.1

|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}

}}

The main means of transportation to Bjerkreim is via the European route E39 highway which passes through the municipality from south to north. The municipality lies in the southwestern part of the country. The distance to the nearest airport, Stavanger airport in Sola, is approximately 40 minutes by car.

• Knud Spødervold (1791–1848 in Bjerkreim), a lay preacher and leader of the Strong Believers religious movement
• Olaf Gjedrem (born 1948 in Bjerkreim), a politician and mayor of Bjerkreim (1979–1993)
• Ragnar Bjerkreim (born 1958 in Bjerkreim), a composer of film scores{{IMDb name|0084813|Ragnar Bjerkreim}}. Retrieved 19 January 2021.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Bjerkreim}}

{{wiktionary|Bjerkreim}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline|Rogaland}}
• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/bjerkreim Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050828211110/http://www.bjerkreimselva.no/eng/index.htm The River Bjerkreim (Bjerkreimselva)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060115030535/http://www.reisemal-sydvest.no/english/index.htm Visit the South region of Rogaland (Reisemaal Soer Vest)]
• [http://www.buas.no Fishing equipment]

{{Rogaland}}

{{authority control}}

{{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

Category:Municipalities of Rogaland

Category:1838 establishments in Norway