Hitra Municipality

Hitra is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The municipality covers the island of Hitra and hundreds of smaller islands, islets, and skerries as well as an area on the mainland of Norway. It is part of the Fosen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fillan. Other villages include Andersskogan, Ansnes, Forsnes, Hestvika, Knarrlaget, Kvenvær, Melandsjøen, Nordbotn, Sandstad, and Ulvan.

The municipality is the 149th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Hitra Municipality is the 178th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,323. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 17.7% over the previous 10-year period.

Hitra Municipality is famous in Norway for its large and dense population of red deer (as symbolised in its coat of arms — see image right). Hitra Municipality is a member of the International Island Games Association.

General information

File:Hitra old county borders.jpg

Map of the old municipal borders on the island of Hitra

File:Hopsoe.jpg

Hopsjøbrygga, Hitra

The prestegjeld of Hitra was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1877, the northern island of Frøya and its smaller surrounding islets (population: 3,949) was separated from Hitra to form the new Frøya Municipality. On 1 January 1886, the southern and eastern parts of Hitra Municipality were separated into a new Fillan Municipality. This left Hitra Municipality with 2,241 residents. Then on 1 January 1913, the western part of Hitra Municipality was separated to form the new Kvenvær Municipality. This left Hitra Municipality with 1,439 residents.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Hitra Municipality (population: 1,344), Kvenvær Municipality (population: 840), Fillan Municipality (population: 1,759), and Sandstad Municipality (population: 1,028) were merged to form a new, larger Hitra Municipality.

On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Sør-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

On 1 January 2020, the island of Hemnskjela and the northwestern corner of Snillfjord Municipality on the mainland was merged into Hitra Municipality.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Hitra (Template:Langx). The name is probably derived from a word meaning "split" or "cleft" (referring to the many inlets of the island). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Hitteren. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Hitra.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 7 August 1987. The official blazon is "Azure, a stag's head couped argent" (Template:Langx). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is the head of a stag. The stag's head 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 blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea for the island municipality. The design of the stag's head symbolizes that Hitra is home to one of Northern Europe's largest populations of red deer. The arms were based on an idea by Ketil Gylland from Fillan and drawn by the designer Einar Skjervold from Trondheim.

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes () within Hitra Municipality. It is part of the Orkdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Hitra

Parish ()	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Hitra og Fillan	Hitra Church	Melandsjøen	1927
	Dolm Church	Dolmøya	1188
	Fillan Church	Fillan	1789
	Nordbotn Church	Nordbotn	1900
Kvenvær og Sandstad	Kvenvær Church	Kvenvær	1909
	Forsnes Chapel	Forsnes	1935
	Sandstad Church	Sandstad	1888

Government

Hitra 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. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council () of Hitra 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.

Hitra kommunestyre 2023–2027   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	3
	Conservative Party	7
	Pensioners' Party	2
	Red Party	2
	Centre Party	1
	Socialist Left Party	1
Total number of members:		25

Hitra kommunestyre 2019–2023   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	2
	Conservative Party	3
	Pensioners' Party	4
	Red Party	2
	Centre Party	3
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Liberal Party	1
Total number of members:		25

Hitra kommunestyre 2015–2019   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	2
	Green Party	1
	Conservative Party	2
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Pensioners' Party	4
	Centre Party	2
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Liberal Party	1
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 2011–2015   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	3
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Pensioners' Party	4
	Centre Party	1
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Liberal Party	1
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 2007–2011   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	8
	Progress Party	7
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Centre Party	2
	Socialist Left Party	2
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 2003–2007   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	6
	Progress Party	6
	Conservative Party	5
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Centre Party	2
	Socialist Left Party	3
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 1999–2003   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	6
	Progress Party	3
	Green Party	1
	Conservative Party	7
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	3
	Liberal Party	1
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 1995–1999   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	6
	Progress Party	2
	Conservative Party	7
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	5
	Socialist Left Party	1
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 1991–1995   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	6
	Progress Party	1
	Conservative Party	7
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	3
Total number of members:		23

Hitra kommunestyre 1987–1991   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Progress Party	1
	Conservative Party	7
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Red Electoral Alliance	1
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	2
	Non-party list for Fjellværøy/Ulvøy	2
Total number of members:		29

Hitra kommunestyre 1983–1987   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	1
	Conservative Party	5
	Christian Democratic Party	3
	Red Electoral Alliance	1
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Hitra non-party list	2
	Non-party list for Fjellværøy/Ulvøy	3
Total number of members:		29

Hitra kommunestyre 1979–1983   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Conservative Party	8
	Christian Democratic Party	3
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	2
	Liberal Party	1
	Non-party list	2
Total number of members:		29

Hitra kommunestyre 1975–1979   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	8
	Conservative Party	7
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Centre Party	5
	Socialist Left Party	2
	Liberal Party	1
	Non-party list	1
Total number of members:		29

Hitra kommunestyre 1971–1975   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Conservative Party	4
	Christian Democratic Party	3
	Centre Party	6
	Socialist People's Party	1
	Liberal Party	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	2
	Local List(s)	1
Total number of members:		29

Hitra kommunestyre 1967–1971   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	13
	Conservative Party	8
	Christian Democratic Party	5
	Socialist People's Party	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
	Local List(s)	2
Total number of members:		37

Hitra kommunestyre 1963–1967   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	14
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	20
	Local List(s)	3
Total number of members:		37

Hitra herredsstyre 1959–1963   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	2
	Local List(s)	15
Total number of members:		17

Hitra herredsstyre 1955–1959   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	4
	Liberal Party	1
	Local List(s)	12
Total number of members:		17

Hitra herredsstyre 1951–1955   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	3
	Liberal Party	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	6
	Local List(s)	6
Total number of members:		16

Hitra herredsstyre 1947–1951   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
	Local List(s)	4
Total number of members:		16

Hitra herredsstyre 1945–1947   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	8
	Local List(s)	8
Total number of members:		16

Hitra herredsstyre 1937–1941*   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	4
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	3
	Hitra Voters' Association	8
Total number of members:		16
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayor (Template:Langx) of Hitra 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 (incomplete list):

• 1838–1840: Johan Jørgen Borten
• 1840–1841: Christian Johannes Brodtkorb
• 1862–1869: Martin Nicolai Brodtkorb
• 1878–1878: C. Strøm
• 1888–1891: Nils Kristian Jørstad
• 1892–1898: Hans Fredrik Strøm
• 1913–1913: Jonas Strøm
• 1913–1920: Hans Melandsjø (V)
• 1920–1922: Fredrik H. Strøm (Bp)
• 1922–1925: Morten Lossius (V)
• 1926–1931: Fredrik H. Strøm (Bp)
• 1931–1934: Johan Olaus Asmundvaag (H)
• 1935–1940: Ludvig Smaage (V)
• 1941–1942: Morten Lossius (V)
• 1942–1945: Sigbjørn Årnes (NS)
• 1945–1945: Ludvig Smaage (V)
• 1946–1947: Sten Hamnes (Ap)
• 1948–1955: Ludvig Smaage (V)
• 1956–1959: Peder Roksvåg (Ap)
• 1960–1963: Jakob Storvik (LL)
• 1964–1967: Arne Schanche Nilsen (Sp)
• 1968–1971: Isak Hegerberg (H)
• 1972–1975: Arne Schanche Nilsen (Sp)
• 1976–1981: Isak Hegerberg (H)
• 1982–1983: Bergljot Stokkan (Sp)
• 1984–1987: Helge Jektvik (Ap)
• 1988–1999: Egil Hestnes (H)
• 1999–2003: Sigmund Jessen (Ap)
• 2003–2007: Egil Hestnes (H)
• 2007–2023: Ole Haugen (Ap)
• 2023–present: John Lernes (Ap)

Geography

File:Hitra 1.jpg

View of Hitra

File:Hitratunnelhemnskjel2.jpg

Entrance to the Hitra Tunnel

Hitra is the seventh largest island of mainland Norway. It is bordered by Frøya Municipality to the north and to the south (on the mainland) are Heim Municipality and Orkland Municipality. It lies between the Trondheimsleia strait and the Frøyfjorden. The tall Mørkdalstuva is the highest point on the island of Hitra. The highest point in the whole municipality is the tall mountain Vingfjellet on the mainland, on the border with Orkland Municipality.

Other than the large island of Hitra, there are many other islands in the municipality, notably Fjellværsøya, Ulvøya, Dolmøya, Helgbustadøya, Hemnskjela, and Bispøyan. The Børøyholmen Lighthouse and Terningen Lighthouse are located in the Trondheimsleia in the southeast part of Hitra Municipality.

Transportation

File:StraumHitra.jpg

Hitra landscape with wind turbines, near Straum

The company Kystekspressen runs westamaran services from Trondheim and Kristiansund. The long undersea tunnel called the Hitratunnelen connects the island of Hitra to the mainland to the south and the long Frøya Tunnel connects Hitra to the neighboring island of Frøya to the north.

Energy

There is a wind farm in the central part of the island, Hitra Wind Farm, founded in 2004, which has 24 wind turbines which produce a total of .

Notable people

File:Margaret Berger, ESC2013 press conference 01 (crop).jpg

Margaret Berger, 2013

• Simon Michelet (1863–1942), a theologian, teacher, and academic who was brought up in Hitra
• John Aalmo (1902–1981), a Norwegian politician and Mayor of Sandstad Municipality from 1934 to 1957 (except 1946–1947)
• Martin Skaaren (1905 in Hitra – 1999), a Norwegian politician and Mayor of Kvenvær Municipality from 1945 to 1961
• Kjerstin Øvrelid (1929 in Hitra – 1989), a painter of flowers and the sea and skerries
• Knut Børø (born 1948 in Hitra), a retired 5,000- and 10,000-metre runner who competed in the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics
• Rita Ottervik (born 1966 in Hitra), a Norwegian politician and Mayor of Trondheim from 2003 to 2023
• Anders Jektvik (born 1982 in Hitra), a musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist
• Margaret Berger (born 1985), a singer, songwriter, music director, and DJ who was brought up in Hitra

See also

• Hitra official football team

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway Template:In lang
• Hitra Windpark Template:In lang