Ibestad Municipality

File:Ibestad Gratangen IMG 4901 rolla is andörja is gratangen.JPG

File:Ibestad kirke.JPG]]

The municipality of Ibestad was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Initially, Ibestad Municipality covered a large area from the Vågsfjorden strait to the border with Sweden (the old Astafjord Church parish). In 1854, the rural eastern half of the municipality (population: 757) was separated from Ibestad Municipality to form the new Bardu Municipality. This left Ibestad with 4,741 residents.

Then, on 1 January 1871, the northeastern part of the municipality (population: 1,384) was separated from Ibestad to form the new Salangen Municipality. This left Ibestad with 4,301 inhabitants. On 1 January 1907, the easternmost area of Ibestad (population: 1,536) became the separate Lavangen Municipality. Ibestad had 5,709 residents remaining after the split. In 1926, Ibestad Municipality was divided into four separate municipalities: Andørja Municipality (population: 1,420) in the northeast, Gratangen Municipality (population: 1,967) in the southeast, Astafjord Municipality (population: 1,018) in the southwest, and (a much smaller) Ibestad Municipality (population: 1,768) in the northwest.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Ibestad Municipality (population: 1,821) was merged with Andørja Municipality (population: 1,330) and the part of Skånland Municipality located on the island of Rolla (population: 143), creating a new Ibestad Municipality with a total of 3,294 residents.{{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}}

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Troms county.{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Troms og Finnmark |encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget |url=https://snl.no/Troms_og_Finnmark |access-date=2019-12-26 |date=2019-12-24 |editor-last=Mæhlum |editor-first=Lars |language=no}} On 1 January 2024, the Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part of Troms county.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024 |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/kommunestruktur/fylkesinndelingen-fra-2024/id2922222/ |publisher=Regjeringen.no |language=no}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ibestad farm ({{langx|non|Ívarsstaðir}}) since the first Ibestad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name {{lang|non|Ívarr}}. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|staðir}} which means "homestead" or "farm".{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |author-link=Oluf Rygh |url=http://www.dokpro.uio.no/perl/navnegransking/rygh_ng/rygh_bla.prl?enhid=271078&avid=60066 |title=Norske gaardnavne: Troms amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1911 |edition=17 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=40 |language=no}} Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Ibbestad. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Ibestad.{{Cite journal |year=1917 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381014_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |pages=1057–1065}}

The coat of arms was granted on 19 December 1986. The official blazon is "Azure, a cross formy within and conjoined to an annulet argent" ({{langx|no|I blått et sølv hjulkors med utbøyde armer}}). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a cross formy inside an annulet (circle). 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 is reminiscent of the Ibestad Church, built around the year 1200. It is one of the northernmost stone churches in the world. In the 1960s a 13th-century gravestone was found at the church which had the same type of "wheel cross" design. This design was eventually chosen for the Ibestad coat of arms. These types of crosses were often used as ornaments in wooden stave churches. The arms were designed by Steinar Hanssen.{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Ibestad |access-date=2023-01-27 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Ibestad, Troms (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-19-17.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1986-12-19 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-12-19-2306?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}

The Church of Norway has two parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Ibestad Municipality. It is part of the Trondenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

The municipality encompasses the islands of Andørja and Rolla and the tiny surrounding islets. The two main islands are connected by the undersea Ibestad Tunnel. The Mjøsund Bridge connects Andørja to Salangen Municipality on the mainland. There is a regular ferry connection from Sørrollnes on Rolla to the town of Harstad.

The Astafjorden forms the southeastern border of the municipality and the Vågsfjorden forms the western and northern borders. The small Mjøsundet strait forms the eastern border. The highest point in Ibestad Municipality is the {{convert|1275.65|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Langlitinden.

{{Weather box

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|location = Hamnvik

|width = 100%

|Jan mean C=-3.4

|Feb mean C=-3.1

|Mar mean C=-1.5

|Apr mean C=1.6

|May mean C=6.2

|Jun mean C=10.0

|Jul mean C=12.4

|Aug mean C=11.9

|Sep mean C=8.0

|Oct mean C=3.9

|Nov mean C=-0.1

|Dec mean C=-2.4

|year mean C=3.6

|Jan precipitation mm=89

|Feb precipitation mm=82

|Mar precipitation mm=66

|Apr precipitation mm=56

|May precipitation mm=42

|Jun precipitation mm=49

|Jul precipitation mm=63

|Aug precipitation mm=74

|Sep precipitation mm=99

|Oct precipitation mm=128

|Nov precipitation mm=97

|Dec precipitation mm=105

|year precipitation mm=950

|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}}

}}

Ibestad 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 Midtre Hålogaland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

The municipal council {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Ibestad is made up of 19 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 = Ibestad

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Troms Romsa |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/troms%20romsa/ibestad#seats |access-date=2024-01-06 |publisher=Valgdirektoratet}}

|collapsed =

|Total = 19

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 9

|Senterpartiet = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/troms%20og%20finnmark/ibestad#seats |access-date=2019-10-26 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 19

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 9

|Senterpartiet = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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 = 19

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Høyre = 6

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/troms%20romsa/ibestad#seats |access-date=2019-10-26 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 19

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Høyre = 4

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Andørja fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 19

|Ap/Sp/V = 8

|Høyre = 2

|otherparty = Andørja common list

|otherparty_no = Andørja fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 7

|otherparty1 = Ibestad local list

|otherparty_no1 = Ibestad bygdeliste

|otherparty_number1 = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Høyre = 2

|Ap/Sp/V = 11

|otherparty = Andørja common list

|otherparty_no = Andørja fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 8

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Andørja common list

|otherparty_no = Andørja fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Rolla Youth List

|otherparty_no = Rolla Ungdomsliste

|otherparty_number = 2

|otherparty1 = Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no1 = Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number1 = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|otherparty = Outer Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Ytre Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 2

|otherparty1 = Common list for Inner Andørja

|otherparty_no1 = Fellesliste for Indre Andørja

|otherparty_number1 = 1

|otherparty2 = Rolla common list

|otherparty_no2 = Rolla fellesliste

|otherparty_number2 = 3

|otherparty3 = Kråkre and Furnes election list

|otherparty_no3 = Kråkre og Furnes valgliste

|otherparty_number3 = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 21

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Outer Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Ytre Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 3

|otherparty1 = Common list for Inner Andørja

|otherparty_no1 = Fellesliste for Indre Andørja

|otherparty_number1 = 3

|otherparty2 = Rolla common list

|otherparty_no2 = Rolla fellesliste

|otherparty_number2 = 1

|otherparty3 = Kråkre and Furnes election list

|otherparty_no3 = Kråkre og Furnes valgliste

|otherparty_number3 = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 1

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Outer Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Ytre Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|otherparty1 = Common list for Inner Andørja

|otherparty_no1 = Fellesliste for Indre Andørja

|otherparty_number1 = 5

|otherparty2 = Rolla common list

|otherparty_no2 = Rolla fellesliste

|otherparty_number2 = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 3

|otherparty = Outer Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Ytre Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|otherparty1 = Common list for Inner Andørja

|otherparty_no1 = Fellesliste for Indre Andørja

|otherparty_number1 = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 3

|otherparty = Outer Andørja Common List

|otherparty_no = Ytre Andørja Fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 4

|otherparty1 = Common list for Inner Andørja

|otherparty_no1 = Fellesliste for Indre Andørja

|otherparty_number1 = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 29

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Local_Lists = 20

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 29

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Høyre = 3

|Local_Lists = 18

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 29

|Høyre = 4

|Local_Lists = 25

|note = On 1 January 1964, Ibestad Municipality was merged with Andørja Municipality and part of Skånland Municipality.

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 19

|AFS = 3

|Local_Lists = 16

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 19

|Venstre = 1

|Local_Lists = 18

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Venstre = 1

|Local_Lists = 9

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4

|Local_Lists = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|AFS = 7

|Local_Lists = 9

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Ibestad

|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Local_Lists = 8

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayor ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Ibestad 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 thesis |last=Johansen |first=Mette |title=Handelsfamilien Dons og deres sosiale nettverk. En kartlegging av familiens ekteskap og fadderskap, samt et blikk på bruk av lokalhistorie som undervisningsmetode |degree=Masteroppgave i historie |publisher=Universitetet i Tromsø, Norges arktiske universitet |url=http://munin.uit.no/handle/10037/6408 |language=no |page=80 |year=2014 |location=Tromsø |archive-date=2017-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224131448/http://munin.uit.no/handle/10037/6408}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1838–1845: Peter Munch Brager
• 1846–1847: Poul Irgens Holst
• 1848–1849: Nikolai Normann Dons
• 1850–1855: Jørris Schjelderup Hanssen
• 1856–1857: Jens Bing Dons, Jr.
• 1858–1862: Fredrik Hegge
• 1863–1868: Jens Bing Dons, Jr.
• 1869–1872: Peder B. Dons
• 1873–1876: Johan Barak Dønnesen
• 1877–1880: Peder B. Dons
• 1881–1882: Konrad Saugestad
• 1883–1884: Andreas Simon Olsen
• 1885–1888: Konrad Saugestad
• 1889–1890: Peder B. Dons
• 1891–1898: Konrad Saugestad
• 1899–1907: Johan Laurits Johansen
• 1908–1910: Helge Hallesen (V)
• 1911–1913: Martin Rasmussen (V)
• 1914–1919: John Lind-Johansen (Ap)
• 1923–1940: Håkon Breivoll (Ap)
• 1941–1945: Fridtjof Kjæreng (NS)
• 1945-1945: Håkon Breivoll (Ap)
• 1946–1953: Hans Simonsen (Ap)
• 1954–1957: Einar Horsberg (V)
• 1957–1959: Hans Simonsen (Ap)
• 1960–1961: Einar Horsberg (V)
• 1962–1963: Ove Bergvoll (Ap)
• 1964–1967: Olav Eriksen (Ap)
• 1968–1975: Peder H. Pedersen (Sp)
• 1976–1979: Odd Jacobsen (Ap)
• 1980–1983: Peder H. Pedersen (Sp)
• 1984–2007: Arne Olav Ekman (H)
• 2007–2011: Marit Johansen (Ap)
• 2011–2023: Dag Brustind (H)
• 2023-present: Jim Kristiansen (H){{Cite news |last=Larsen |first=Jon Henrik |date=2023-09-28 |title=Jim blir ny ordfører i Ibestad: Gleder meg til å ta fatt på jobben |url=https://salangen-nyheter.com/gleder-meg-til-a-ta-fatt-pa-jobben/19.9219 |access-date=2024-01-06 |work=Salangen-Nyheter |language=no}}

{{div col end}}

• Håkon Martin Breivoll (1886 in Ibestad – 1955), a Norwegian politician who was Mayor of Ibestad municipality from 1922 to 1940

{{Reflist}}

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

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

{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Troms|wikt=Ibestad}}

{{Troms}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Municipalities of Troms

Category:Populated places of Arctic Norway

Category:1838 establishments in Norway

Category:Populated places established in 1838