Sørfold Municipality

Template:Native name or Template:Native name is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Straumen. Other villages in the municipality include Leirfjordgården, Mørsvikbotn, Røsvika, Rørstad, Styrkesvik, and Øvre Kvarv. The municipality surrounds the Sørfolda fjord and stretches east to the border with Sweden.

File:Zwischen Narvik & Mo i Rana Norwegen.JPG

Kobbvatnet lake, Sørfold

File:Mørsvikbotn-Sørfold-Nordland.JPG

Mørsvikbotn village and E6 road

File:E6, Kviturfjellet & Veikdalsisen, 2011 June.jpg

View from the E6 highway

The municipality is the 48th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Sørfold is the 290th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,858. The municipality's population density is and its population has decreased by 6.5% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of Sørfolden was established on 1 January 1887 when the old Folden Municipality was divided into two: Sørfolden Municipality (population: 1,946) and Nordfolden-Kjerringø Municipality (population: 1,347). The spelling was later changed to just Sørfold. On 1 January 1894, the Movik farm (population: 30) along the Sagfjorden was transferred from Nordfolden-Kjerringø Municipality to Sørfold Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Øyjord area along the Nevelsfjorden (population: 81) was transferred to the neighboring Bodin Municipality. On the same date, the Mørsvikbotn area (population: 268) was transferred from Nordfold Municipality to Sørfold Municipality. On 1 January 1984, the Tårnvika and Øygården area (population: 22) along the Sørfolda fjord was transferred from Sørfold Municipality to Bodø Municipality.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the local Folda fjord (Template:Langx). The first element is the prefix Template:Wikt-lang which means "southern". The last element is Template:Wikt-lang which has an unknown meaning (maybe "the broad one"). The inner part of the fjord is divided into two arms Nordfolda ("the northern Folda") and Sørfolda ("the southern Folda"). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Sørfolden. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Sørfold.

On 16 February 2024, the national government approved a resolution to add a co-equal, official Sami language name for the municipality: . The spelling of the Sami language name changes depending on how it is used. It is called when it is spelled alone, but it is when using the Sami language equivalent to "Sørfold Municipality".

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 24 April 1987. The official blazon is "Azure, a turbine wheel argent" (Template:Langx). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a turbine wheel for a hydroelectric power plant. The turbine 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 and the turbine were chosen to symbolize the rivers around the municipality which contain many rapids and waterfalls. These are partly harnessed to generate electricity which has provided a major source of income for the municipality. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen from Vadsø.

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish () within Sørfold Municipality. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Sørfold Municipality

Parish ()	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Sørfold	Rørstad Church	Rørstad	1761
	Røsvik Church	Røsvika	1883
	Mørsvikbotn Chapel	Mørsvikbotn	1955

Geography

File:Trengsel Bridge.jpg

Trengsel Bridge on the E6 road

Sørfold Municipality is located about north of the Arctic Circle. The total land area of Sørfold is , of which is covered with permanent ice and snow, and only lies below the contour line. The total length of coastline is . In 1987, only of land was being actively farmed. The highest point in the municipality is the tall mountain Skagmatoppen.

To the north of Sørfold is Hamarøy Municipality and to the south is Fauske Municipality. To the east, the Sørfold borders Jokkmokk Municipality in Sweden.

Rago National Park, with its wild nature dominated by bare rock, streams, and pine forest, is located in Sørfold. The glacier Blåmannsisen, one of the largest in Norway, is partly located in the municipality. There are several nature reserves. Veikdalen nature reserve, roughly above sea level, protects a largely undisturbed pine and birch forest (some logging before 1918) with many standing dead pine trees.

There are many large lakes in Sørfold, including Andkjelvatnet, Faulvatnet, Forsvatnet, Grovatnet, Horndalsvatnet, Kobbvatnet, Kvitvatnet, Langvatnet, Leirvatnet, Litlverivatnet, Mørsvikvatnet, Nedre Veikvatnet, Røyrvatnet, Rundvatnet, Sildhopvatnet, Sisovatnet, Storskogvatnet, Straumvatnet, and Trollvatnet.

Government

Sørfold 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 Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council () of Sørfold Municipality is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Sørfold kommunestyre 2023–2027   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	7
	Conservative Party	3
	Red Party	1
	Centre Party	5
	Socialist Left Party	1
Total number of members:		17

Sørfold kommunestyre 2019–2023   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	6
	Conservative Party	2
	Red Party	1
	Centre Party	7
	Socialist Left Party	1
Total number of members:		17

Sørfold kommunestyre 2015–2019   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	3
	Centre Party	6
	Socialist Left Party	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 2011–2015   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Progress Party	2
	Conservative Party	3
	Centre Party	3
	Socialist Left Party	1
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 2007–2011   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Progress Party	2
	Conservative Party	2
	Centre Party	3
	Socialist Left Party	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 2003–2007   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Progress Party	1
	Conservative Party	2
	Centre Party	5
	Socialist Left Party	4
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1999–2003   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	7
	Conservative Party	1
	Centre Party	11
	Socialist Left Party	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1995–1999   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	9
	Conservative Party	3
	Centre Party	6
	Socialist Left Party	3
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1991–1995   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	2
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Centre Party	5
	Socialist Left Party	3
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1987–1991   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	2
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	2
	Sørfold independent list	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1983–1987   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Conservative Party	2
	Christian Democratic Party	1
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1979–1983   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	4
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1975–1979   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Conservative Party	3
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Centre Party	4
	Socialist Left Party	1
	Liberal Party	1
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1971–1975   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	10
	Centre Party	6
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	3
	Local List(s)	2
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1967–1971   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Centre Party	6
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	3
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold kommunestyre 1963–1967   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	13
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold herredsstyre 1959–1963   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
	Local List(s)	1
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold herredsstyre 1955–1959   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	12
	Communist Party	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
Total number of members:		21

Sørfold herredsstyre 1951–1955   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Communist Party	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	7
Total number of members:		20

Sørfold herredsstyre 1947–1951   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Christian Democratic Party	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	5
	Local List(s)	2
Total number of members:		20

Sørfold herredsstyre 1945–1947   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	Communist Party	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	7
Total number of members:		20

Sørfold herredsstyre 1937–1941*   

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party	11
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties	8
Total number of members:		20
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 Sørfold Municipality 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:

• 1887–1887: Lars J. Wormdahl (H)
• 1893–1896: Nils Lie (V)
• 1897–1899: Hans A. Pedersen (LL)
• 1899–1901: Einar Amlie (LL)
• 1902–1907: Henrik Brækkan (H)
• 1908–1920: Petter Skog (LL)
• 1920–1927: Søren Øigaard (LL)
• 1927–1935: Søren L. Ørnes (Bp)
• 1935–1940: Johan Abelsen (Ap)
• 1941–1945: Olaf Hestvik (NS)
• 1945–1945: Johan Abelsen (Ap)
• 1946–1951: Magnus Lilleeng (Ap)
• 1952–1963: Hilmar Hammerfall (Ap)
• 1964–1971: Ottar Vollan (Ap)
• 1972–1975: Edvin Didriksen (Ap)
• 1976–1995: Frantz Pettersen (Ap)
• 1995–2003: Jakob Jakobsen (Sp)
• 2003–2019: Lars Evjenth (Ap)
• 2019–2023: Gisle Hansen (Sp)
• 2023–present: Kolbjørn Mathisen (Ap)

History

File:Husmannsbolig.JPG

Husmannsplass Kjelvik

The small village of Mørsvikbotn is located in the north part of the municipality. About north of Mørsvikbotn lies the lake Mørsvikvatnet. In this area, Mørsry, the German army had a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II housing mostly Russian POWs. They were building the Polarbanen railway, which was intended to be a link between Fauske and Narvik. Some ruins of the camp, the foundations of the railway line, a tunnel, and roads can still be observed. A small, now empty, cemetery for fallen Russian soldiers is located close to the camp, about off the left-hand side just before the single concrete bridge.

Notable people

• Alfred B. Skar (1896 in Sørfold – 1969), a newspaper editor, writer, trade unionist, and politician
• Eivind Tverbak (1897 in Sørfold – 1982), a novelist and children's writer
• Oddmund Ingvald Jensen (1928 in Sørfold – 2011), a cross-country skier and coach who competed at the 1956 and 1960 Winter Olympics
• Thor Helland (1936 in Sørfold – 2021), a 5000-metre runner who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway Template:In lang