Brunlanes

Brunlanes is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1988. The area is now the southwestern part of Larvik Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Tanum. Other villages in Brunlanes include Kjose, Nevlunghavn, Vardåsen, and Helgeroa.

Some of the best agricultural land in Vestfold County is found in Brunlanes, and farming is the main industry with considerable vegetable- and grain cultivation. Brunlanes is particularly known for its strawberry cultivation. Brunlanes is also known for forestry and wood processing industry. A large moraine runs into the ocean in the far southwestern part of Brunlanes.

History

File:Historisk Tidsskrift (1909) - Map p. 94.jpg

Map of Brunlanes in 1905

The parish of Brunlagnæs (later spelled Brunlanes) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1875, a small area of Brunlanes (population: 4) was transferred to the town of Larvik. On 23 June 1883, an area of Brunlanes (population: 22) became part of Fredriksvern municipality after a border adjustment. In 1938, another area of Brunlanes (population: 28) became part of Fredriksvern municipality. In 1949, another area of Brunlanes (population: 13) became part of Stavern municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Enigheten, Høyberg, and Skavåsen farms (population: 12) was transferred from Brunlanes to the newly enlarged neighboring municipality of Porsgrunn (this also caused them to switch from Vestfold to Telemark county). On 1 January 1969, an area of Brunlanes (population: 4) became part of Stavern municipality.

On 1 January 1988, the municipality was dissolved as part of a major municipality merger which consolidated the municipalities of Brunlanes (population: 8,138), Hedrum (population: 10,449), and Tjølling (population: 7,878) with the towns of Larvik (population: 8,045) and Stavern (population: 2,538) to create a new, much larger Larvik Municipality with a population of 37,048 people.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is a composition of the old Brunla farm and an old name for the area . Prior to 1879, the name was written "Brunlagnæs" (with variations in the spelling). From 1879 to 1888 it was spelled "Brunlanæs". In 1889, the spelling was updated to "Brunlanes". The meaning of the first element is uncertain. It may come from Template:Wikt-lang which means "well" or "spring" or the name could come from the word Template:Wikt-lang which means "sharp edge" or "rim". The second element comes from the word Template:Wikt-lang which means "the line of the shoal water along the shore". The last element is Template:Wikt-lang which means "headland" (since the area lies between the Langesundsfjorden, the sea, and the lake Farris).

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was approved on 29 August 1985. The official blazon was "Azure, twelve plates 3-4-5" (Template:Langx). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a set of twelve plates (circles) that are lined up in three rows (3 circles in the top row, f circles in the next row, and 5 circles in the bottom row). The circles have a tincture of argent which means they are commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The blue color in the field symbolized the importance of the sea and the small circles symbolised the typical round stones (made by glaciers), which can be found in huge quantities in the municipality. The arms were designed by Kjell Ronald Hansen. The municipal flag had the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes () within the municipality of Brunlanes. It was part of the Larvik prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

Churches in Brunlanes

Prestegjeld	Parish ()	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Brunlanes	Tanum	Tanum Church	Tanum	c. 1100
	Kjose	Kjose Church	Kjose	1850
	Berg	Old Berg Church	Berg	c. 1100
		Berg Church	Berg	1878

The Old Berg Church was built of stone in ca. 1100. The old medieval church was partially demolished in 1882, after the "new" Berg Church had been built on the site in 1878. The remains of the walls were preserved and from 1965 to 1970, the church was restored partly with the original stone. The church has conservation status protected.

• Old Berg Church
  Old Berg Church
• Berg Church
  Berg Church
• Tanum Church
  Tanum Church
• Kjose Church
  Kjose Church

History

There are many historical relics in Brunlanes, including many burial mounds from the Iron Age and Bronze Age. The Old Berg Church at Berg, which was erected in the 1100s, is located in Brunlanes. The church fell into ruin by the 1960s, but it has been rebuilt and features a clear-cut architecture with a red tilestone roof.

Government

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.

Municipal council

The municipal council of Brunlanes was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1984–1987   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	11
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Centre Party	1
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Liberal Party	2
Total number of members:		29

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1980–1983   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	10
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Centre Party	2
	Liberal Party	3
Total number of members:		29

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1976–1979   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	5
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Centre Party	2
	Liberal Party	3
	Brulanes Independents List	1
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1972–1975   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	3
	Centre Party	3
	Liberal Party	5
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1968–1971   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Conservative Party	4
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	2
	Liberal Party	6
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes kommunestyre 1964–1967   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Conservative Party	4
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	2
	Liberal Party	5
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1960–1963   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Liberal Party	6
	Local List(s)	1
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1956–1959   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Farmers' Party	2
	Liberal Party	6
Total number of members:		25

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1952–1955   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	4
	Farmers' Party	1
	Liberal Party	7
Total number of members:		24

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1948–1951   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	7
	Conservative Party	2
	Communist Party	1
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Farmers' Party	1
	Joint list of the Liberal Party and the Radical People's Party	11
Total number of members:		24

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1945–1947   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	8
	Conservative Party	2
	Communist Party	1
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Farmers' Party	1
	Joint list of the Liberal Party and the Radical People's Party	10
Total number of members:		24

Brunlanes herredsstyre 1938–1941*   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	8
	Farmers' Party	1
	Liberal Party	11
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	4
Total number of members:		24
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 mayors (Template:Langx) of Brunlanes:

• 1838-1846: Paul Winsnes
• 1846-1851: Hans Cato Aall
• 1852-1854: Finn Wedel Jarlsberg
• 1855-1863: Carl Didrik Hoppe
• 1864-1867: Hans Nilsen Bentsrød
• 1868-1875: Carl Didrik Hoppe
• 1876-1877: Bredo Stang
• 1878-1881: Knut Jensen Bergene
• 1882-1885: Nils Johansen Dolven
• 1886-1891: Ole Torgersen Bakkene
• 1892-1916: Martin Olsen Nalum (V)
• 1916-1922: Nils S. Waale
• 1923-1935: Louis Narvesen
• 1935-1941: Karl Edvardsen (V)
• 1946-1951: Karl Edvardsen (V)
• 1952-1959: Arne Olsen Nalum (V)
• 1960-1961: Karl Bærug (V)
• 1962-1963: Alf Støen (Ap)
• 1964-1967: Harald Flesche (V)
• 1968-1975: Eystein Bærug (V)
• 1976-1987: Bjørg Holmsen (H)

Recreation

The Brunlanes area has Vestfold’s longest coastal hiking trails. The main trail begins at the bay Ødegårdsbukta in the west and goes through Helgeroa on its way to Mølen Geopark. Along the trail are various beaches, campsites, and unique coastal landscapes. The trail from Mølen to Nevlunghavn is and passes by Nevlungstranda Nature Preserve. The trail continues from Nevlunghavn to Løvallodden and later Guslandsmarka. The last section of the trail leads from Gusland to the beach Nalumstranda in the innermost parts of the Naverfjorden. The trailhead is located at Hummerbakken Nature Preserve by the Hummerbakkfjord. The from Nalumstranda to Stavern leads through beaches, coastal landscapes, forests, and slopes of naked rocks on its way to Røvika. It also leads by the home of the artist Odd Nerdrum. There are panoramic views at Rakke of nearby areas such as Røvika in the west and Skagerak in the south. There are also remains of World War II fortifications here such as concrete gun pits. The trail ends at Fredriksvern Verft in Stavern, a former naval base with buildings dated to the 17th century.

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway