Fitjar

File:Fitjar by Night.jpg

File:Fitjar Islands2.JPG

File:Fitjar Church and Håkonarparken.JPG]]

The parish of Fitje was established as a municipality on 1 January 1863 when it was separated from the large Stord Municipality. Initially, the population of Fitje was 2,313. On 1 January 1868, a small area in the municipality of Finnaas (population: 10) was transferred to Fitje. In 1900, the name was changed to Fitjar. The original municipality included all of the land surrounding the Selbjørnsfjorden.{{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}}

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the area of Fitjar located north of the Selbjørnsfjorden on the islands of Huftarøy and Selbjørn (population: 696) was transferred to the neighboring Austevoll Municipality. On 1 January 1995, the islands of Aga, Agasystra, Gisøya, Vikøya, Selsøy, Risøya, and many smaller surrounding islands (population: 225) were transferred from Fitjar to the neighboring Bømlo Municipality. These islands had recently been connected to Bømlo by road bridges which precipitated the municipal transfer.

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Fitjar farm ({{langx|non|Fitjar}}) since the first Fitjar Church was built there. The name is the plural form of {{wikt-lang|non|fit}} which means "meadow along the water" or "lush meadow". Before 1900, the name was written "Fitje".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ud5LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt |date=1910 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=11 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=156 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}

The coat of arms was adopted during the late 1940s, but they have never been formally granted since they did not meet the formal government design requirements. In 2018, the municipal council of Fitjar formally approved the arms after a change to a national law. The blazon is "Azure, a Viking helmet Or within a orle argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a Viking helmet with a thin border around the edge of the shield. The charge 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 arms often have a mural crown depicted above the escutcheon. The helmet and the color are derived from the belief that King Haakon the Good wore a golden helmet at the Battle of Fitjar in 961, which was fought in this municipality. King Haakon died from his wounds. His death and reception in Valhalla are described in the skaldic poem {{lang|non|Hákonarmál}}, composed by the Eyvindr skáldaspillir. The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland. The municipal flag is orange with a depiction of coat of arms in the centre along with the name of the municipality below the arms.{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Fitjar |access-date=2023-05-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Fitjar kommune |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/Fitjar%20fra%20SNL.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dfitjar |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}{{Cite web |title=Fitjar kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/V%C3%A5pen%20Fitjar_839.pdf.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dfitjar |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}

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

King Haakon I of Norway (Haakon the Good) maintained his residence at Fitjar. The Battle of Fitjar (Slaget ved Fitjar på Stord) took place in Fitjar on the island of Stord in the year 961 between the forces of King Haakon I and the sons of his half-brother, Eric Bloodaxe. Traditionally, important shipping routes have passed through the area, and the municipality contains several trading posts dating as far back as 1648. Fitjar was separated from Stord in 1863. There have been discussions about a possible reunion of the two municipalities, but no decision has been made.

{{Historical populations

|align = none

|direction = vertical

|cols = 3

|percentages = pagr

|footnote = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1964 and 1995, 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}}{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Folketellingen 1960 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/folketellinger/kommunehefter/1960/kh_1960_1222.pdf |language=Norwegian}} and Norwegian Historical Data Centre{{Cite web |last=Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet |author-link=University of Tromsø |title=Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC) |url=https://rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/reg_komm_e.html}}

|1863|2313

|1865|2308

|1875|2334

|1891|2380

|1900|2487

|1910|2632

|1920|2654

|1930|2833

|1946|3036

|1951|3092

|1960|3172

|1970|2520

|1980|2888

|1990|3072

|2000|2992

|2010|2931

|2020|3189

|2023|3181

}}

The island municipality of Fitjar lies south of the Selbjørnsfjorden, west of the Langenuen strait, east of the island of Bømlo. The municipality includes over 350 islands, although most are uninhabited. The majority of the residents live on the island of Stord, the northern portion of which is in Fitjar. The southern portion of the island is part of the municipality of Stord. The island municipality of Austevoll lies to the north, across the fjord and the island municipality of Tysnes lies across the Langenuen strait to the east, and the island municipality of Bømlo lies to the west.

Fitjar 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 Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Fitjar 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.

{{div col}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/vestland/fitjar#seats |access-date=2024-01-23 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed =

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 5

|INP = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 7

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 7

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Local list for the islands in Fitjar

|otherparty_no = Kretsliste for øyane i Fitjar

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Local list for the islands

|otherparty_no = Kretsliste for Øyane

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Local list for the islands in Fitjar

|otherparty_no = Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|DLF = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 8

|Senterpartiet = 2

|otherparty = Local list for the islands in Fitjar

|otherparty_no = Krinsliste for Øyane i Fitjar

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 2

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 4

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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 = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Local_Lists = 18

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 1

|Local_Lists = 20

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 21

|Local_Lists = 21

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 20

|Local_Lists = 20

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 18

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 17

|AFS = 3

|Local_Lists = 17

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Fitjar

|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 20

|Local_Lists = 20

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Fitjar:

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1864–1865: Johannes Sørfonden
• 1866–1871: Østen Hageberg
• 1872–1875: Mikkel Sjursen Eide
• 1876–1895: Østen Hageberg (H){{Cite book |last=Utheim |first=John |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digistorting_1892_part5_vol-a |title=Oversigt over Valgmands- og Storthingsvalgene 1891 |publisher=Steenske bogtrykkeri |year=1892 |location=Kristiania |page=35}}
• 1896–1904: Anders Aarbø (H){{Cite book |last=Utheim |first=John |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012051813005 |title=Oversigt over valgtingene og valgmandstingene 1900 |publisher=Steenske bogtrykkeri |year=1901 |location=Kristiania |pages=57–58}}
• 1905–1913: Mikal Hageberg (H)
• 1913–1913: Tharald Vestbøstad (H)
• 1914–1919: Lars Rydland
• 1920–1925: Peder Rygg
• 1926–1928: Lars Rydland
• 1929–1951: Berje Aarbø (Bp){{Cite book |last=Andersen |first=Thor M. |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2011021406052 |title=Norges ordførere 1929–1931 |publisher=A.M. Hanches Forlag |year=1931 |location=Kristiania |page=159}}
• 1952–1955: Harald Henriksen (V){{Cite book |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007022701011 |title=Norske kommunalpolitikere: Norges styresmenn |publisher=Bokdepotet forlag |year=1956 |volume=2 |location=Oslo |pages=323–325}}
• 1956–1967: Peder Nilsen Aga (V)
• 1968–1971: Knut L. Rydland (H)
• 1972–1975: Ole Havn (KrF)
• 1976–1977: Knut L. Rydland (H)
• 1978–1979: Finn Havnerås (Ap){{Cite news |last=Rimmereid |first=Ingolv |date=14 November 2000 |title=Jubilant |work=Bergens Tidende |page=24}}
• 1980–1981: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
• 1982–1983: Alf Gjøsæter (H){{Cite news |date=16 December 1981 |title=Ordførar frå Høgre i Fitjar |work=Bergens Tidende |page=58}}
• 1984–1985: Torvald Ingebrigtsen (Ap){{Cite news |date=17 November 1983 |title=T. Ingebrigtsen Fitjar-ordførar |work=Bergens Tidende |page=10}}
• 1986–1987: Ingebrigt Sørfonn (KrF)
• 1988–1991: Kjell Nesbø (Ap)
• 1992–1995: Johannes Koløen (H)
• 1995–1998: Per-Gunnar Bukkholm (KrF)
• 1998–1999: Odd Bondevik (Sp){{Cite news |last=Olderkjær |first=Ove |date=2 April 1998 |title=Bondevik styrer Fitjar |work=Bergens Tidende |page=7}}
• 1999–2007: Agnar Aarskog (Ap)
• 2007–2011: Harald Rydland (KrF)
• 2011–2019: Wenche Tislevoll (H)
• 2019–2023: Harald Rydland (KrF)
• 2023–present: Wenche Tislevoll (H){{Cite news |date=2023-09-21 |title=Wenche Tislevoll blir ordfører i Fitjar |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestland/wenche-tislevoll-blir-ordforer-i-fitjar-1.16565779 |access-date=2024-01-23 |work=NRK |language=no}}

{{div col end}}

File:Fitjar kyrkje.JPG

Fitjar Church was built in 1867 over the site of the old medieval stone church which had been demolished. Stone blocks taken from the old stone church were used as foundations for the present-day church as well as for the walling enclosing the churchyard. Opposite Fitjar Church is Haakon's Park (Håkonarparken), the location of a sculpture of Haakon the Good sculpted by Anne Grimdalen. The statue was erected in 1961 at the one thousand year commemoration of the Battle of Fitjar.{{Cite web |title=Carwalk Fitjar |url=http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Product/?pid=68167 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917204229/http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Product/?pid=68167 |archive-date=2012-09-17 |publisher=VisitNorway.com}}

• Andreas Fleischer (1878–1957), a theologian, missionary to China, Lutheran Bishop, and priest in Fitjar Church from 1912-1917
• Otto Hageberg (1936–2014), a literary historian and academic

{{Reflist}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/fitjar Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Hordaland}}
• {{commons category-inline|Fitjar}}
• {{wiktionary-inline|Fitjar}}

{{Vestland}}

{{authority control}}

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

Category:Municipalities of Vestland

Category:1863 establishments in Norway