Kvinnherad#Name

File:Halsnoey-19-k6.jpg area]]

File:Halsnøy Kloster.jpg]]

File:Ænes kirke, Kvinnherad kommune, Hordaland.jpg]]

The parish of Qvindherred was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1907, a small area northwest of the villages of Ølve and Husa (population: 67) was transferred from neighboring Tysnes municipality to Kvinnherad. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the following areas were merged into one large municipality of Kvinnherad:{{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}}

• All of Skånevik municipality located north of the Skånevikfjorden-Åkrafjorden and west of the Åkra area (population: 1,189)
• All of Fjelberg municipality (population: 2,308)
• All of the old Kvinnherad municipality (population: 5,831)
• All of Varaldsøy municipality, except for the Mundheim area, (population: 511)

On 1 January 2013, the southwestern part of the Folgefonna peninsula (south of Kysnesstranda) was transferred from Kvinnherad to the neighboring Jondal municipality. This removed forty residents and {{convert|37.1|km2}} of land area from the municipality.{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Kjartan Wang |date=2011-12-08 |title=Jondal overtar Kvinnherad-bygder |url=http://www.hardanger-folkeblad.no/hfnyheiter/Jondal/article5838770.ece |access-date=2014-06-21 |publisher=Hardanger folkeblad |language=no}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old name for the area ({{langx|non|Kvinnaherað}}). The first element may be derived from the word {{lang|non|tvinnr}} which means "double", likely referring to the two rivers running through Rosendal, the administrative centre of the municipality. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|herað}} which means "district" or "countryside".{{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 |pages=16–17 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}} The municipal name has been spelled several ways throughout history. Before 1889, the name was written Quindherred, then in 1889 the spelling was "modernized" to Kvinnherred. At that time, all municipalities in Norway were titled {{wikt-lang|no|herred}} (which was used similarly to the word "municipality"), so it was formally named Kvinnherred herred, which looked a little repetitive.{{Cite book |last=Helland |first=Amund |url=https://runeberg.org/norgeslof/12-2/0040.html |title=XII. Søndre Bergenhus Amt. Anden del |publisher=H. Aschehoug & Company |year=1921 |series=Norges land og folk |location=Kristiania, Norway |page=30 |language=no |chapter=Kvinnherred herred |accessdate=2023-11-27}} On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Kvinnherad.{{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 18 June 1982. The official blazon is "Argent, a pall wavy azure" ({{langx|no|På kvit grunn ein blå gaffelkross laga med bølgjesnitt}}). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 ordinary is a pall with wavy edges. The design of the arms show the confluence of two blue rivers into one on a white or silver background. The rivers symbolize the many streams and rivers in the municipality, especially the Hattebergselvi and the Melselvi, that come together just before they run into the sea at Rosendal. The arms were designed by Truls Nygaard, after a proposal by Magnus Hardeland. 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=Kvinnherad |access-date=2023-05-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Kvinnherad, Hordaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-12-24.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1982-08-16 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1982-06-18-1092 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}

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

The economy of Kvinnherad is based on the rich water resources within its boundaries. This includes power production, aluminium production (Sør-Norge Aluminium), fish farming, shipbuilding (Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri, Hellesøy Verft, Bergen Group Halsnøy), and lifeboat production (Umoe Schat-Harding, Norsafe, Eide Marine Tech, Noreq). These industries are spread throughout the municipality.

Kvinnherad has two local newspapers, Kvinnheringen and Grenda, as well as a local TV channel, TV Sydvest.

Kvinnherad 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 Kvinnherad is made up of 35 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 = Kvinnherad

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

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

|collapsed =

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 35

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Grønne = 1

|Høyre = 9

|INP = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|Venstre = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 35

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Grønne = 2

|Høyre = 9

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Venstre = 1

|SV/R = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 35

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 12

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 6

|Venstre = 1

|Grønne = 1

|SV/R = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 35

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|Høyre = 11

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|smallparty = Population Party

|smallparty_no = Innbyggjarpartiet

|smallparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 35

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 5

|otherparty = Cross-Party Common List

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste

|otherparty_number = 1

|otherparty1 = Independent Centre

|otherparty_no1 = Uavhengig sentrum

|otherparty_number1 = 1

|smallparty = Population Party

|smallparty_no = Innbyggjarpartiet

|smallparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 8

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Rød_Valgallianse = 1

|Senterpartiet = 9

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Cross-Party Common List

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste

|otherparty_number = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Cross-Party Common List

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste

|otherparty_number = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 11

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party common list

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste

|otherparty_number = 11

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 13

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party common list

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste

|otherparty_number = 13

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 8

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 12

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 11

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7

|Senterpartiet = 10

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|DLF = 1

|Høyre = 12

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 8

|Senterpartiet = 11

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Election list for Halsnøy and the Fjellberg islands

|otherparty_no = Valliste for Halsnøy og Fjellbergøyane

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 10

|Senterpartiet = 12

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|DLF/V = 3

|otherparty = Hatlestrand's list

|otherparty_no = Hatlestrand si liste

|otherparty_number = 1

|otherparty1 = Ølve's list

|otherparty_no1 = Ølve si liste

|otherparty_number1 = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 13

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 11

|Venstre = 6

|Local_Lists = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 45

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 11

|Venstre = 6

|Local_Lists = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 37

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 12

|Venstre = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 37

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 12

|Venstre = 10

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 37

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Local_Lists = 33

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 40

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Local_Lists = 34

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 40

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Local_Lists = 32

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 40

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Local_Lists = 32

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Kvinnherad

|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 = 40

|Høyre = 2

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Local_Lists = 30

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Kvinnherad:{{Cite news |date=2019-09-05 |title=Alle ordførarane gjennom tidene |work=Grenda |page=10 |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1838–1845: Elias Børge Unger
• 1846–1849: Christian Lerche Dahl
• 1850–1851: Gabriel Andreas Heiberg
• 1852–1855: Samson Torsen Stueland
• 1856–1857: Christian Lerche Dahl
• 1858–1861: Hans H. Helland
• 1862–1862: O. Matthiesen
• 1862–1865: Ole L. Berget
• 1866–1867: Lars Olsen Skeie
• 1868–1869: Hans H. Helland
• 1870–1873: Clemmet Gerhardsen Roalstveit
• 1874–1875: Michael L. Langballe
• 1876–1881: Ole Andreas Olsen (V)
• 1882–1885: Godskalk Knudsen Aarsand (V)
• 1886–1893: Andreas Lavik (MV)
• 1894–1898: Ivar Arnesen (V)
• 1899–1916: Axel Lea (V)
• 1917–1941: Ingemar Traavik (Bp)
• 1942–1945: Einar Tvedt (NS)
• 1945–1949: Ingemar Traavik (Bp)
• 1949–1955: Lars Eikeland (V)
• 1956–1959: Magnus Aksnes (V)
• 1960–1963: Knut Skaaluren (Sp)
• 1964–1971: Berge Sæberg (Sp)
• 1972–1975: Jens Arnesen (H)
• 1976–1979: Berge Sæberg (Sp)
• 1980–1985: Jens Arnesen (H)
• 1986–1993: Thorleif J. Hellesøy (Sp)
• 1994–1995: Eirik Meyer Eide (KrF)
• 1995–2003: Aksel Kloster (Ap)
• 2003–2007: Bjarne Berge (LL)
• 2007–2015: Synnøve Solbakken (Ap)
• 2015–2019: Peder Sjo Slettebø (H)
• 2019–2021: Hans Inge Myrvold (Sp)
• 2021–2023: Hilde Enstad (Ap)
• 2023-present: Vegard Bjørnevik (H){{Cite news |date=2023-09-13 |title=Vegard Bjørnevik frå Høgre blir ordførar i Kvinnherad |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestland/vegard-bjornevik-fra-hogre-blir-ordforar-i-kvinnherad-1.16556884 |access-date=2024-01-23 |work=NRK |language=no}}

{{div col end}}

The municipality is located along the large Hardangerfjorden, mostly on the southeast side of the fjord on the Folgefonna peninsula, but also a small part on the other side. It includes several notable islands in the fjord including Varaldsøy, Fjelbergøya, Borgundøya, and Halsnøya.

The large Folgefonna National Park, which surrounds the Folgefonna glacier, is partially located in Kvinnherad. The northern part of the municipality is often referred to as Mauranger. It is the area surrounding the Maurangsfjorden. The notable Bondhusbreen glacier is located just south of that fjord, near the village of Sunndal. The Jondal Tunnel and Folgefonna Tunnel both connect Mauranger with neighboring Odda and Jondal by cutting through the large mountains surrounding Mauranger.

The municipality has many large lakes including Blådalsvatnet, Juklavatnet, and Onarheimsvatnet. Many of these lakes are utilized for hydroelectric power generation.

{{Historical populations

|align = none

|direction = vertical

|cols = 3

|percentages = pagr

|footnote = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1965, causing a significant change in the population.

|source = Statistics Norway{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Folketellingen 1960 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/folketellinger/kommunehefter/1960/kh_1960_1224.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}}

|1845|4044

|1855|4532

|1865|4547

|1875|4627

|1891|4760

|1900|5045

|1910|5108

|1920|5272

|1930|5293

|1946|5701

|1951|5638

|1960|5514

|1970|11811

|1980|12821

|1990|13121

|2000|13196

|2010|13187

|2020|13071

|2023|13058

}}

Kvinnherad is a popular tourist location because of its natural landscape as well as several places of interest. The most notable of which include Kvinnherad Church, the Bondhusbreen glacier, the shipping mural in Høylandsbygd, and Radiohola. Rosendal, the administrative centre of the municipality, is the site of the greatest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad: the Barony Rosendal. The Barony is the only one of its kind in Norway. It is a museum, which offers valuable information about the Union with Denmark, an important period of Norwegian history. It was one of the locations of the 1958 film "The Vikings" starring Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borgnine. Many of the citizens of Kvinnherad/Hardanger, Norway were used as extras.{{Cite web |title=The Vikings |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052365/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv |publisher=IMDB}}

File:Rosendal kirke.jpg|Kvinnherad Church in Rosendal

File:Rosendal castle west.png|The Barony Rosendal

File:Husnes.jpg|Husnes and the Hardangerfjord

File:Bondhusbreen.jpg|Bondhusbreen glacier

File:Hardangerfjord Kvinnherad.JPG|View from Gjermundshamn across the Hardangerfjord, with Varaldsøy island and Folgefonna glacier

File:Jens Tvedt.jpg

File:Hans Inge Myrvold - 33850405185.jpg

• Axel Gyntersberg (ca.1525 – 1588 in Kvinnherad), a Norwegian nobleman and feudal overlord
• Johannes Lauritsson (ca.1540 – ca.1620), a wealthy Norwegian landowner who lived Valen 1563–1578
• Axel Rosenkrantz (1670 in Kvinnherad – 1723), a landowner and baron who owned the Barony Rosendal
• Andreas Lavik (1854–1918), a revivalist, temperance advocate, magazine editor, farmer, headmaster, and politician who lived in Kvinnherad from 1885 where he was Mayor for eight years
• Jens Tvedt (1857 in Kvinnherad – 1935), a Norwegian novelist and writer of short stories
• Gisle Midttun (1881 in Kvinnherad – 1940), a Norwegian cultural historian and museologist
• Olav Midttun (1883 in Mauranger – 1972), a philologist, biographer, and magazine editor
• Ragnvald Vaage (1889 in Husnes – 1966), a Norwegian poet, novelist, and children's writer
• Sigurd Valvatne DSO DSC (born 1913 in Kvinnherad), a naval officer and submariner
• Frank Meidell Falch (1920 in Kvinnherad – 2013), a Norwegian media director and politician
• Egil Myklebust (born 1942 in Kvinnherad), a businessperson, lawyer, and CEO of SAS Group
• Lars Amund Vaage (born 1952 at Sunde), a novelist
• Endre Hellestveit (born 1976 in Rosendal), a Norwegian actor{{IMDb name|1040262|Endre Hellestveit}}. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
• Hans Inge Myrvold (born 1985), a Norwegian politician and mayor of Kvinnherad in 2019
• Erlend Bratland (born 1991 in Husnes), a Norwegian singer who won Norske Talenter in 2008

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/kvinherad Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• http://www.kvinnherad.kommune.no {{in lang|no}}
• http://www.baroniet.uio.no {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070402232016/http://www.kvinnheradguiden.no/ Kvinnheradguiden.no] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160602013712/http://www.kvinnheringen.no/ Kvinnheringen.no] {{in lang|no}}
• [http://www.grenda.no/ Grenda.no] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323014847/http://www.innsida.no/ Innsida.no] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724075504/http://www.husnes.ungdomsskule.no/ Husnes Ungdomsskule] {{in lang|no}}

{{Vestland}}

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Category:Municipalities of Vestland

Category:1838 establishments in Norway