Vikna Municipality

File:Vikna1 072006.jpg

The municipality of Vikten was established on 1 July 1869 when it was separated from the large Nærøy Municipality. Initially, the population of Vikten Municipality was 1,749. On 1 January 1881, a small area of Fosnes Municipality (population: 61) was transferred to Vikten Municipality. The spelling of the name was later changed to Vikna Municipality.{{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 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

On 1 January 2020, Vikna Municipality was merged with most of the neighboring Nærøy Municipality to form the new Nærøysund Municipality.{{Cite web |title=Om Nærøysund kommune |url=http://naroysund.info/om-naroysund-kommune/ |access-date=2019-03-03 |publisher=Nærøysund kommune |language=no}} The Lund area of Nærøy Municipality was not part of the merger, however, instead it became part of the newly enlarged Namsos Municipality on the same date.{{Cite web |title=Vedtak om grensejustering mellom Nærøy og Fosnes kommuner |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/d377736a840246f485b389f135ceae0e/naroy_og_fosnes.pdf |access-date=2019-12-30 |language=no}}

The municipality (originally the parish) is named "Vikna". It was named after the three large islands which made up the municipality: Inner-Vikna, Mellom-Vikna, and Ytter-Vikna ({{langx|non|Víkn}}). The name is derived from the word {{wikt-lang|non|vík}} which means "cove" or "wick" (likely since the islands have numerous coves and inlets).{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kFFxvxaufcC |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt |date=1903 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=15 |location=Kristiania, Norge |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}} Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Vikten. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Vikna.{{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 13 May 1988 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Azure, three salmon argent in annulo" ({{langx|no|I blått tre sølv lakser som danner en sirkel}}). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is three salmon forming a circle. The fish design has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize the importance of salmon fishing and farming in the municipality. The arms were designed by Torleif Flosand. 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=Vikna |access-date=2023-02-20 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}{{Cite web |title=Vikna, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-17-50.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Flags of the World}}{{Cite web |date=1988-05-13 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LFO/forskrift/1988-05-13-372 |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}

The Church of Norway had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Vikna Municipality. It was part of the Namdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

File:Vikna-Langsundet.jpg

File:Vikna-Norway-coast-landscape.JPG

The municipality consisted of a large island archipelago with some 6,000 large and small islands going far into the Norwegian Sea off the northwestern coast of Trøndelag county. Vikna is the largest spawning area for cod south of Lofoten. The three largest islands are: Inner-Vikna, closest to the mainland, Mellom-Vikna, and then Ytter-Vikna as the westernmost island. Other islands include Borgan and Lauvøya. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|172.9|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Vattafjellet on the island of Ytter-Vikna.

The main village for the municipality was Rørvik, located on the eastern shore of Inner-Vikna, facing the mainland across the Nærøysundet strait. The many islands in the area means that there are many lighthouses including Gjeslingene Lighthouse, Grinna Lighthouse, Nærøysund Lighthouse, and Nordøyan Lighthouse.

On 21 October 1962, the coastal steamer (Hurtigruten) Sanct Svithun run aground on Nordøyan as a result of navigational error. The ship sunk, and there was a tragic loss of 41 lives. A memorial bauta was raised on Nordøyan in 2002.

While it existed, Vikna Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was 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 was under the jurisdiction of the Namdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

The municipal council ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Vikna was made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

{{div col}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 2016

|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}}

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 7

|note = On 1 January 2020, Vikna Municipality became part of Nærøysund Municipality.

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 2012

|end = 2015

|reference = {{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag |url=https://valgresultat.no/nord-tr%C3%B8ndelag/vikna?type=ko&year=2011 |access-date=2019-10-20 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 4

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 2008

|end = 2011

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5

|Venstre = 3

|Høyre = 2

|Fremskrittspartiet = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 2004

|end = 2007

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 5

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 4

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4

|Senterpartiet = 2

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 2000

|end = 2003

|reference =

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 6

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1996

|end = 1999

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Fremskrittspartiet = 2

|Høyre = 3

|Senterpartiet = 8

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1992

|end = 1995

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Fremskrittspartiet = 1

|Høyre = 3

|Senterpartiet = 7

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1988

|end = 1991

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Fremskrittspartiet = 3

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1984

|end = 1987

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 11

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1980

|end = 1983

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|Høyre = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1976

|end = 1979

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 7

|Høyre = 3

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2

|Senterpartiet = 6

|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1972

|end = 1975

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 7

|Venstre = 3

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1968

|end = 1971

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 6

|Venstre = 5

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|start = 1964

|end = 1967

|reference = {{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 12

|Høyre = 2

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 4

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|herad = yes

|start = 1960

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 1

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Venstre = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|herad = yes

|start = 1956

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 23

|Arbeiderpartiet = 10

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 5

|Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1

|Venstre = 4

|Local_Lists = 2

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|herad = yes

|start = 1952

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 7

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|herad = yes

|start = 1948

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 6

|NKP = 1

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 4

|Venstre = 8

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Arbeiderpartiet = 9

|NKP = 1

|Høyre = 1

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 6

|}}

{{Kommunestyre table

|name = Vikna

|herad = yes

|start = 1938

|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=2020-04-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}

|collapsed = yes

|Total = 20

|Senterpartiet = 3

|Venstre = 7

|Borgerlige_Felleslister = 2

|Arbeiderpartiet = 8

|}}

{{div col end}}

The mayor ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Vikna was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who held this position:{{Cite book |last=Sakshaug |first=Dagfinn |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2009010600025 |title=Oversikt for tiden etter andre verdenskrig |publisher=Nord-Trøndelag fylkeskommune |year=1996 |isbn=978-82-91316-27-7 |location=Steinkjer |page=272 |language=no}}{{Cite news |date=1953-02-14 |title=Ordførere i Vikna fra 1870–1951 |work=Adresseavisen |page=2 |language=no}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1870–1875: Iver Kirkeby
• 1876–1877: Arnold Bugge
• 1878–1881: Benjamin Gjestsen
• 1882–1898: Kasper Sund (V)
• 1899–1901: Christoffer Inderberg (V)
• 1902–1904: Knut Rangsæter (V)
• 1905–1922: Christoffer Inderberg (V)
• 1923–1928: Christian Ulsund (Bp)
• 1929–1942: Ingvar Inderberg (V)
• 1942–1943: T.B. Norberg (NS)
• 1943–1945: Fredrik C. Hansen (NS)
• 1945-1945: Ingvar Inderberg (V)
• 1946–1947: Arthur Prestvik (Ap)
• 1948–1951: Leon Brevik (V)
• 1952–1955: Fredrik Lie-Gjeseth (Bp)
• 1956–1975: Lars Kirkeby-Garstad (Bp)
• 1976–1979: Arne Hansen (V)
• 1980–1983: Roald Kirkeby-Garstad (Sp)
• 1984–1991: Magnus Kleven (Ap)
• 1992–1997: Lars Peder Brekk (Sp)
• 1997–2003: Else Hansvik Storsul (H)
• 2003–2011: Karin Søraunet (KrF)
• 2011–2015: Reinert Eidshaug (Ap)
• 2015–2019: Amund Hellesø (Ap)

{{div col end}}

Fishing, fish farming, public services, and agriculture are the main sources of income. The Norveg museum, devoted to the coastal way of life through the centuries, is located in Rørvik. The Vikna Wind Farm is located on Mellom-Vikna, just west of Garstad, and it produces power for much of the municipality.

Hurtigruten boats stop frequently at Rørvik and Norwegian County Road 770 via the Nærøysund Bridge connects Vikna to the mainland and European route E6. There is also the small Rørvik Airport, Ryum, just south of Rørvik. Vikna and neighbouring Nærøy Municipality formed a common work area with nearly 10,000 inhabitants.

{{See also|Nærøysund Municipality#Notable_people}}

• List of former municipalities of Norway

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080321151924/http://museumsnett.no/norveg/en/forside.htm Norveg Museum]
• [http://www.kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T908641&kommune=T927449 Cultural map of Vikna] {{in lang|no}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051128051909/http://www.ntnu.no/vmuseet/botavd/refesumm/summ3_03.html The plant cover of Kalvøya island]

{{use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Trøndelag|wikt=Vikna}}

{{Trøndelag}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Nærøysund

Category:Former municipalities of Norway

Category:Archipelagoes of the Atlantic Ocean

Category:Archipelagoes of Norway

Category:1869 establishments in Norway

Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway

Category:Populated places established in 1869

Category:Populated places disestablished in 2020