Sveio

File:Vikebygd04.jpg

File:Ryvarden Lighthouse - Norway.jpg

File:Sveio, Valen kapell.JPG

The municipality of Sveio was established in 1865 when the part of Finnås municipality located south of the Bømlafjorden (population: 2,227) and the Vikebygd part of the municipality of Fjelberg (population: 1,062) were joined as the new municipality of Sveen (later the spelling was changed to Sveio). On 1 January 1902, the Vikebygd area (population: 1,092) was separated from Sveio to form its own municipality.{{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, Sveio (population: 1,697) was merged with the neighboring municipality of Valestrand (population: 1,216), the western half of the municipality of Vikebygd (population: 471), and a small part of the municipality of Skjold (population: 24). The part of Skjold was transferred from Rogaland county to Hordaland county on the same date.

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Sveio farm ({{langx|non|Svíða }}) since the medieval Sveio Church was built there. The name is identical with the word {{wikt-lang|non|svíða}} which means "to singe" or "to burn", referring to an area that was cleared by burning.{{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=106 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}} Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Sveen. On 1 December 1911, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Sveio.{{Cite journal |year=1911 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1911. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381017_001 |journal=Norsk Lovtidend |language=no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=590}}

The coat of arms was granted on 19 February 1982. The official blazon is "Gules, a fleur-de-lis cleft argent." ({{langx|no|På raud grunn ei kløyvd kvit lilje}}). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a split fleur-de-lis. 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 arms are derived from the historic arms of Jon Gauteson from Sveio, who lived around the year 1500. His family became Norwegian nobility in 1591, and he was the first in his family to use this symbol as part of his arms. The municipal arms were designed by Kolbjørn Ekkje. 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=Sveio |access-date=2023-05-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Sveio, Hordaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-12-16.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1982-02-19 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1982-02-19-422 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}

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

The municipality is located on the mainland of Norway on the western coast of the county on the Haugalandet peninsula, facing the North Sea to the west. The entrance to the Hardangerfjorden lies along the northern side of the municipality, and the smaller Ålfjorden lies along the eastern border of the municipality. Sveio's southern border is also the county border, bordering the town of Haugesund and the municipality of Tysvær to the south, the municipality of Vindafjord to the east (across the Ålfjorden), and the island municipalities of Bømlo and Stord to the north (across the Hardangerfjorden). The lakes Vigdarvatnet and Stakkastadvatnet lie in the southern part of the municipality, crossing into the neighboring municipalities. The Ryvarden Lighthouse is located on a small point, along the Hardangerfjorden.

{{Historical populations

|align = none

|direction = horizontal

|percentages = pagr

|footnote = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1902 and 1964, 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_1216.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}}

|1865|3289

|1875|3340

|1900|3138

|1910|1957

|1920|1937

|1930|1938

|1946|1979

|1951|1954

|1960|1782

|1970|3477

|1980|4216

|1990|4582

|2000|4623

|2010|4999

|2020|5766

|2023|5732

}}

Sveio 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 Sveio is made up of 25 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 = Sveio

|start = 2023

|end = 2027

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

|collapsed =

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 4

|Grønne = 1

|Høyre = 5

|INP = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|otherparty = Cross-party common list

|otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk fellesliste

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|start = 2019

|end = 2023

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 4

|Grønne = 1

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Fremskrittspartiet = 4

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 1

|Grønne = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|start = 2011

|end = 2015

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

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 1

|SV/G = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|start = 2007

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Kyst = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Local list for Sveio

|otherparty_no = Bygdeliste for Sveio

|otherparty_number = 1

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|start = 2003

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 6

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Kyst = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Local list for Sveio

|otherparty_no = Bygdeliste for Sveio

|otherparty_number = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|start = 1999

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|nynorsk = yes

|Total = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Local list for Sveio

|otherparty_no = Bygdeliste for Sveio

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 3

|otherparty = Local list for Sveio

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista for Sveio

|otherparty_number = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Local list - South

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista - Sør

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Venstre = 2

|otherparty = Local list - South

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista - Sør

|otherparty_number = 3

|otherparty1 = Local list Eikeland

|otherparty_no1 = Bygdelista Eikeland

|otherparty_number1 = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Local list for the Rua, Lid, Sveio, Vandaskog, and Vikse areas

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista for krinsane Rua, Lid, Sveio, Vandaskog og Vikse

|otherparty_number = 2

|otherparty1 = Local list Eikeland

|otherparty_no1 = Bygdelista Eikeland

|otherparty_number1 = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 1

|otherparty = Local list

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista

|otherparty_number = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 3

|KrF/Sp = 12

|otherparty = Local list for Bua, Eikeland, Lid, Oa, Rød, Sveio, Vandaskog, and Vikse

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista for Bua, Eikeland, Lid, Oa, Rød, Sveio, Vandaskog og Vikse

|otherparty_number = 6

|otherparty1 = Local list for Einstabøvoll, Ørevik, and Førde

|otherparty_no1 = Bygdelista for Einstabøvoll, Ørevik og Førde

|otherparty_number1 = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Local_Lists = 21

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 4

|Local_Lists = 21

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 25

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Local_Lists = 20

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 17

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 15

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 17

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3

|Local_Lists = 14

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 16

|AFS = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Local_Lists = 11

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 14

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 14

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Sveio

|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 = 16

|Arbeiderpartiet = 2

|Local_Lists = 14

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayors ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Sveio:{{Cite book |last=Sjurseth |first=Karl |title=Hordaland fylke 1837–1937 |publisher=Hordaland fylke |year=1937 |location=Bergen |pages=82–108 |language=no}}{{Cite book |last=Steinsbø |first=Simon |title=Gards- og ættesoge for Sveio |publisher=Sveio kommune |year=1987 |isbn=8270961736 |volume=2 |language=no}}{{Cite book |last=Steinsbø |first=Simon |title=Gards- og ættesoge for Sveio |publisher=Sveio kommune |year=1987 |isbn=8270961930 |volume=3 |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1865–1867: Jens Johannessen Tvedt
• 1868–1869: Gunnar Johannessen Røkenes
• 1870–1873: G.F. Gautessen
• 1874–1877: Reinert Enerstvedt
• 1878–1883: Gunnar Johannessen Røkenes
• 1884–1893: Jakob Stensen Haukås (H)
• 1894–1901: Ivar Rodvold (H)
• 1902–1910: Absalon Eritsland (H)
• 1911–1913: Bendik Bjelland
• 1914–1916: Mikal Mølstrevold
• 1917–1922: Peder Hansen (V)
• 1923–1927: Georg Tveit (V)
• 1928–1945: Jakob Enerstvedt (H)
• 1946–1951: Sigurd Hjellum (V)
• 1952–1955: Harald Unneland (V)
• 1956–1963: Sigurd Hjellum (V)
• 1964–1967: Harald Unneland (V)
• 1968–1969: S. Ludvig Rasmussen (V)
• 1970–1973: Ingebrigt Rossehaug (KrF)
• 1974–1978: Harald Straume (Sp)
• 1978–1979: Olav Vihovde (KrF)
• 1988–1990: Mikal Møller Hovda (H)
• 1991–1991: Reinert Rød (KrF)
• 1992–1999: Magnus Skåden (Ap)
• 1999–2003: Olav Haugen (KrF)
• 2003–2011: Jorunn Skåden (Ap)
• 2011–2015: Ruth Grethe Eriksen (FrP)
• 2015–2019: Jorunn Skåden (Ap)
• 2019–2023: Linn Therese Erve (Ap)
• 2023-present: André Mundal Haukås (H){{Cite news |date=2023-09-19 |title=Sveio får sin yngste ordfører noensinne |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestland/sveio-far-sin-yngste-ordforer-noensinne-1.16564028 |access-date=2024-01-23 |work=NRK |language=no}}

{{div col end}}

File:May Britt Vihovde (bilde 01).jpg

• Einar Økland (born 1940 in Sveio), a Norwegian poet, playwright, essayist, and children's writer
• May Britt Vihovde (born 1958 in Sveio), a politician and former Member of Parliament
• Sigbjørn Apeland (born 1966), a scientist and musician, who plays organ and harmonium, was raised in Sveio
• Bjørn Berge (born 1968 in Sveio), a Norwegian guitarist and blues artist
• Grutle Kjellson (born 1973 in Sveio), a bassist and vocalist in the progressive black metal band Enslaved
• Agnes Ravatn (born 1983), an author, columnist, and journalist who lived in Valevåg
• Cecilie Pedersen (born 1990 in Førde), a Norwegian football striker

{{reflist}}

• [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/sveio Municipal fact sheet] from Statistics Norway {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110317060842/http://www.sveio.net/ Welcome to Sveio]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110220182226/http://www.sveio.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=1&MId1=1110 Sveio kommune website]

{{Vestland}}

{{authority control}}

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

Category:Municipalities of Vestland

Category:1865 establishments in Norway