Gjerstad

The parish of Gjerstad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The borders 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 |isbn=9788253746845}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Gjerstad farm ({{langx|non|Geirreksstaðir}}) since the first Gjerstad Church was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain. One possibility is that it is the genitive case of the male name {{lang|non|Geirrekr}}. Another possibility is that it comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|geirr}} which means "spear". The last element of the name is the plural form of {{wikt-lang|non|staðr}} which means "place", "abode", or "town". Historically, the name of the parish was spelled Gerikstadum (c. 1400), Gierestat (c. 1567), Gierrestad, and Gjerrestad.{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1905 |edition=8 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=11 |language=no |author-link=Oluf Rygh}}{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Gjerstad |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |url=https://snl.no/Gjerstad |access-date=2017-12-28 |date=2017-11-02 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no}}

The coat of arms was granted on 18 April 1986. The official blazon is "Gules, three knives argent in fess palewise points to the base" ({{langx|no|På raud grunn tre opprette sølv knivar}}). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is three knives pointing downwards. The knives 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 knife was chosen as a symbol for the smithies and knife makers in the municipality. Knife making has long been a local tradition for which Gjerstad is well known. The arms were designed by Odd Kjell Mostad. 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=Gjerstad |access-date=2023-01-19 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Gjerstad, Aust-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-09-11.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1986-04-18 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-04-18-964?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}} {{See also-text|the coat of arms of Vestre Toten}}

The Church of Norway has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Gjerstad. It is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

File:116340 Husmannsplassen Lia fra RA.jpg

Until about 1650, the prestegjeld of Gjerstad (the precursor to today's municipality) was named Vissedal (from vidr-ser-dalr meaning "wood-sea-dale"), a very proper description of the area. Gjerstad has been inhabited from the Stone Age and Viking Age through modern times. Agriculture has long been important, and until only decades ago the more marginal outfields in Upper Gjerstad were still utilized. Forestry also provided an important historic economic contribution, and logs were driven on rivers and streams in the municipality. To aid log transport by floating, numerous dams were constructed. Eikeland Ironworks were a significant contribution to the economy as well.

Gjerstad municipality has numerous glacially formed features, including a U-shaped valley, tarns, and lakes, most notably the large lake Gjerstadvatnet. It located in Agder county and it is bordered to the north by Nissedal and Drangedal municipalities (both in Telemark county); to the east by Kragerø municipality (also in Telemark); to the south by Risør municipality; and to the southwest by Vegårshei municipality. There are several larger roads that traverse Gjerstad: European route E18, Norwegian County Road 417, and Norwegian County Road 418.

Gjerstad 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 Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Gjerstad 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 = Gjerstad

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed =

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Rødt = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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 = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/aust-agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|Høyre = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 7

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|DLF/V = 2

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Venstre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Venstre = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Venstre = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Gjerstad

|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 7

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Gjerstad (incomplete list):{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Gjerstad siden 1856 |url=https://www.gjerstad.kommune.no/politikk-og-organisasjon/politikk/ordforer-og-andre-valgte-representanter/ordforere-i-gjerstad-siden-1856/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Gjerstad kommune |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1856–1859: Nils T. Ulltveit
• 1860–1861: Gunder Hansen Ulltveit
• 1864–1867: Nils T. Ulltveit
• 1868–1869: Gunder Hansen Ulltveit
• 1870–1873: Knut N. Ausland
• 1874–1879: Nils Larsen Røed
• 1880–1881: Lars Th. Røed
• 1882–1883: Jens O. Trydal
• 1884–1884: Nils Larsen Røed
• 1892–1895: Nils Larsen Røed
• 1896–1898: Kittil Th. Moe
• 1899–1901: Peder K. Eikeland
• 1902–1907: Svend Tellefsen Kveim
• 1908–1916: Lars Th. Eskeland
• 1917–1922: Anders O. Moe
• 1923–1928: G.M. Skomedal
• 1929–1931: Kristen Fløgstad
• 1931–1934: Isak K. Strat
• 1934–1937: Torkjell Imenes
• 1937–1940: Isak K. Strat
• 1941–1945: Samuel Johannessen (NS)
• 1945–1946: Isak K. Strat
• 1947–1947: Olav Hegna (Ap)
• 1948–1955: Teodor Moen
• 1956–1957: Olav Hegna (Ap)
• 1958–1965: Torje Vehus
• 1966–1973: Knut H. Ulltveit (Ap)
• 1975–1979: Arthur Løite (Ap)
• 1980–1983: Finn Birkedal (KrF)
• 1984–1991: Knut H. Ulltveit (Ap)
• 1992–1999: Jan Olav Olsen (H)
• 1999–2003: Kjell Arild Haugen (Sp)
• 2003–2007: Odvar Voie Eikeland (Sp)
• 2007–2011: Rune Hagestrand (H)
• 2011–2015: Kjell Trygve Grunnsvoll (Sp)
• 2015–2022: Inger Løite (Sp)
• 2022-present: Steinar Pedersen (H){{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=Fornyet tillit som ordfører Gjerstad |url=https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/fornyet-tillit-som-ordforer-gjerstad-1.16555215 |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=NRK |language=no}}{{div col end}}

• The remains of Eikeland Ironworks can still be seen in the upper valley. Gjerstad was known for its handmade knives and the coat-of-arms recognizes this heritage.
• Horga was a former pagan place of sacrifice which was destroyed by Olav Trygvason, during the introduction of Christianity to Gjerstad. It lies {{convert|300|m}} from Holmen Gård.
• [https://gjh.no/om-historielaget/historiske-turer-/holmen-gard-loypene Holmen Gård] in Gjerstad ({{langx|no|Holmen Gård i Gjerstad}}) is the site of a former farm. It was a Norwegian national center for folk art and handicraft until it was sold into private ownership in 2013. The site has been awarded the St. Olaf's Rose (Olavsrosa), a hallmark for Norwegian Heritage which designates especially distinguished places.

Eikeland Verk.JPG|Eikeland verk building

Eikelands verk, Egelandsverk, Gata, Aust-Agder - Riksantikvaren-T179 01 0163.jpg|Road with houses at the Eikeland verk in 1939

Holmen Gård026.jpg|View of the buildings at Holmen Gård{{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}

Holmengard-040.jpg|Main house at Holmen Gård{{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}

File:Holmengard-119.JPG Memorial near Gjerstad Church {{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}]]

• Hans Mathias Abel (1738–1803), the priest at Gjerstad Church from 1785 to 1804
• Søren Georg Abel (1772–1820), a politician and also priest at Gjerstad from 1804 to 1821
• Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), a distinguished mathematician who spent his boyhood in the rectory at Gjerstad and died young of TB
• Svenum Jensen Vævestad (1849 in Gjerstad – 1898), a farmer and politician
• Morten Ansgar Kveim (1892 in Gjerstad – 1966), a pathologist who described the Kveim test
• Magnhild Hagelia (1904 in Gjerstad – 1996), a politician
• Jan Olav Olsen (born 1950), a politician who was mayor of Gjerstad from 1991 to 1999
• Inger Løite (born 1958 in Gjerstad), a politician
• Knut Magne Valle (born 1974 in Gjerstad), a heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, composer, recording studio owner, record producer, and music arranger
• Torbjørn Urfjell (born 1977), a politician

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Gjerstad}}

{{wiktionary|Gjerstad}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/gjerstad Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Aust-Agder}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160430185045/http://holmengard.blogspot.no/ Welcome to Holmen Gård in Gjerstad]
• [http://www.gjerstad.org/ Gjerstad.org] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060831030539/http://www.kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T921062&kommune=T961580 Culture in Gjerstad on the map] {{in lang|no}}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Gjerstad

|North = Drangedal

|Northeast = Drangedal

|East = Kragerø

|Southeast =

|South = Risør

|Southwest = Vegårshei

|West =

|Northwest = Nissedal

}}

{{Agder}}

{{authority control}}

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

Category:Municipalities of Agder

Category:1838 establishments in Norway