Torsken Municipality
Torsken Municipality Torsken kommune Doaskku suohkan (Northern Sami) | |
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View of Medby in Torsken | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms | |
![]() Troms within Norway | |
![]() Torsken within Troms | |
Coordinates: 69°17′47″N 17°02′11″E / 69.29639°N 17.03639°E / 69.29639; 17.03639 | |
Country | Norway |
County | Troms |
District | Midt-Troms |
Established | 1 Jan 1902 |
• Preceded by | Berg Municipality |
Disestablished | 1 Jan 2020 |
• Succeeded by | Senja Municipality |
Administrative centre | Gryllefjord |
Government | |
• Mayor (2007–2019) | Fred Flakstad (Ap) |
Area (upon dissolution) | |
• Total | 243.42 km2 (93.98 sq mi) |
• Land | 235.30 km2 (90.85 sq mi) |
• Water | 8.12 km2 (3.14 sq mi) 3.3% |
• Rank | #310 in Norway |
Highest elevation [1] | 963.4 m (3,160.8 ft) |
Population (2019) | |
• Total | 931 |
• Rank | #403 in Norway |
• Density | 3.8/km2 (10/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Torskeværing[2] |
Official language [3] | |
• Norwegian form | Bokmål |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-1928[4] |
Data from Statistics Norway |
Torsken (Northern Sami: Doaskku suohkan) is a former municipality that was located on the western coast of the large island of Senja in Troms county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1902 until its dissolution in 2020 when it was merged into the new Senja Municipality. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Gryllefjord. Other larger villages in Torsken Municipality included the villages of Torsken, Medby, and Flakstadvåg.
Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 243-square-kilometre (94 sq mi) municipality was the 310th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Torsken was also the 403rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 931. The municipality's population density was 3.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (9.8/sq mi) and its population has increased by 1.6% over the previous decade.[5][6]
The historic Torsken Church in the village of Torsken dates back to the 18th century. Ånderdalen National Park was partially located inside the old borders of both Torsken Municipality and neighboring Tranøy Municipality.
General information
Torsken Municipality was established on 1 January 1902 when it was separated from Berg. The initial population of Torsken was 1,229. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Rødsand area of Torsken (population: 160) was transferred to the neighboring Tranøy Municipality.[7]
In March 2017, the Parliament of Norway voted to merge Berg Municipality, Torsken Municipality, Lenvik Municipality, and Tranøy Municipality. The new municipality would encompass the whole island of Senja plus part of the mainland located between the Gisundet strait and the Malangen fjord. On 1 January 2020, Torsken Municipality ceased to exist when it became part of the new Senja Municipality.[8][9]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Torsken farm (Old Norse: Þoskar) since the first Torsken Church was built there. The farm (and municipal) name were taken from the nearby mountain, Torsken. The name comes from the word þorskr which means "cod". (Several mountains in Norway are named after their likeness with a fish.)[10]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 23 March 1990. The official blazon is "Sable, a cross moline Or" (Norwegian: I svart et gull ankerkors). This means the arms have a black field (background) and the charge is a cross moline (Norwegian: ankerkors; lit. 'anchor cross'). The cross moline has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The cross is a symbol for both Christianity and the importance of the local harbor. The economy of Torsken is largely dependent on its harbors and an anchor cross is an appropriate symbol. The arms were designed by Ivar Enoksen.[11][12][13]
Churches
The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Torsken Municipality. It was part of the Senja prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Torsken | Torsken Church | Torsken | 1784 |
Flakkstadvåg Chapel | Flakstadvåg | 1925 | |
Gryllefjord Chapel | Gryllefjord | 1902 | |
Medby Chapel | Medby | 1890 |
Economy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Gryllefjord-From-Ballesvikskaret.jpg/220px-Gryllefjord-From-Ballesvikskaret.jpg)
Most of the inhabitants of the municipality lived in the fishing village of Gryllefjord in the northern part of the municipality. The second most important village was Torsken, only a few kilometers to the south. Kaldfarnes/Medby, Grunnfarnes, and Flakstadvåg were other fishing villages further south. The municipality was close to the resources of the major fishing grounds off the Vesterålen archipelago, and 2004 landed 9.8 million tons of fish with a value of 76.3 million kr for fish-processing in Torsken, Gryllefjord, Kaldfarnes, and Grunnfarnes. Most people worked in the fishing or fish processing industries.
The municipality had few productive forests, but there were some spruce trees planted in sheltered areas. In the southern parts of Torsken there was some usable farmland. There were five farms with more than 5 decares (0.0050 km2; 0.0019 sq mi) of agricultural land in the entire municipality (as of 1999).[14]
Transportation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Gryllefjord-Gryllefjorden.jpg/500px-Gryllefjord-Gryllefjorden.jpg)
The Andenes–Gryllefjord Ferry went across the Andfjorden to the village of Andenes on the island of Andøya. The ferry was operated during about two months each summer. The road from the northern part of the municipality to Kaldfarnes, Grunnfarnes, and Flakstadvåg was far from direct. One had to drive north and then east into the neighboring Berg Municipality and then south into Tranøy Municipality before turning northwest and returning to Torsken Municipality. These were the only road connections from the rest of Norway into Torsken.
Government
While it existed, Torsken 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 is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[15] The municipality fell under the Senja District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Torsken was made up of 15 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 15 | |
Note: On 1 January 2020, Torsken Municipality became part of Senja Municipality. |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Common list in Torsken (Felleslista i Torsken) | 1 | |
Gryllefjord local list (Gryllefjord bygdeliste) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 1 | |
Joint list of the Centre Party and free voters (Senterpartiet og frie velgeres liste) | 5 | |
Common list in Torsken (Felleslista i Torsken) | 2 | |
Gryllefjord local list (Gryllefjord bygdeliste) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Common list (Felleslista) | 5 | |
Gryllefjord local list (Gryllefjord bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Common list (Felleslista) | 4 | |
Gryllefjord local list (Gryllefjord bygdeliste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Common list (Felleslista) | 13 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Torsken social democrat common list (Torsken sosialdemokratisk fellesliste) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 | |
Torsken non-party list (Torsken upolitiske liste) | 3 | |
Grunnfarnes common list (Grunnfarnes Felleslista) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Torsken non-party list (Torsken upolitiske liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Torsken non-party list (Torsken Upolitiske Liste) | 3 | |
Midtbygda non-party list (Midtbygda Upolitiske Liste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 12 | |
Total number of members: | 19 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 15 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 12 | |
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 (Norwegian: ordfører) of Torsken was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:
- 1902-1910: Edvard Pedersen[33]
- 1911-1916: M.F. Carlsen[34]
- 1917-1919: Christian Eilertsen[35]
- 1920-1923: M.F. Carlsen[36]
- 1923-1928: Harry Alvær (V)[37]
- 1928-1932: M.F. Carlsen[38]
- 1932-1934: Harry Alvær (V)[37]
- 1935-1941: Ingvald Johansen (V)[39]
- 1941-1942: Harry Alvær (V)[40]
- 1942-1945: Hjalmar Johansen[41]
- 1945-1945: Ingvald Johansen (V)[42]
- 1946-1951: Arthur Brox (V)[43]
- 1951-1955: Arne Andreassen (Ap)[44]
- 1956-1957: Ingvald Johansen (V)[39]
- 1958-1959: Arne Andreassen (Ap)[45]
- 1960-1963: Ingvald Johansen (V)[46]
- 1964-1967: Konrad Fagerthun (Ap)[47]
- 1968-1975: Ottar Jakobsen (Ap)[48]
- 1975-1979: Ottar Alver (Ap)
- 1979-1983: Oddmund Thobiassen (Ap)
- 1983-1987: Atle Hilmarsen (Ap)
- 1987-1991: Annie Ingvarda Halvorsen (Ap)
- 1991-2007: Hans Peder Pedersen (Sp)
- 2007–2019: Fred Flakstad (Ap)
Geography
Torsken was a rugged area along the west coast of the island of Senja. Many different fjords cut into its mountainous coastline including Sifjorden, Selfjorden, Torskefjorden, Gryllefjorden, and Skipsfjorden. Between mountain peaks that ranged from 600 to 1,000 metres (2,000 to 3,300 ft), there were deep valleys and narrow depressions. The highest point in the municipality was the 963.4-metre (3,161 ft) tall mountain Kvænan.[1] Many of the valleys contained marshes or lakes. The bedrock under Torsken consisted mostly of gneiss and granite.[14]
Climate
Climate data for Gryllefjord, Torsken | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) | −2.5 (27.5) | −1.4 (29.5) | 1.3 (34.3) | 5.4 (41.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.5 (52.7) | 11.3 (52.3) | 7.8 (46.0) | 4.1 (39.4) | 0.6 (33.1) | −1.6 (29.1) | 3.6 (38.5) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 107 (4.2) | 93 (3.7) | 87 (3.4) | 76 (3.0) | 55 (2.2) | 67 (2.6) | 77 (3.0) | 91 (3.6) | 114 (4.5) | 150 (5.9) | 128 (5.0) | 130 (5.1) | 1,175 (46.3) |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[49] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
- ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2018). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 December 2018.
- ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
- ^ "Senja kommune 2020" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Vermes, Thomas (29 March 2017). "Stortingsflertallet gjør fire Senja-kommuner til én". ABC Nyheter (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 77.
- ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Torsken, Troms (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 30 May 1990. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ a b Store norske leksikon. "Torsken" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Ordfører". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 13 December 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene". Senjens Blad (in Norwegian). 10 December 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Amtets nyvalgte ordførere for 1917-1919". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 15 February 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ordførervalg". Haalogaland (in Norwegian). 23 December 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Ungdommelig 80-åring Gryllefjord". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 22 February 1962. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ordførervalg". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 24 December 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Borgerlig ordfører i Torsken". Nordlys (in Norwegian). 30 December 1955. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Nye ordførere i Nordland og Troms fylker". Nordlandsposten (in Norwegian). 22 February 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ny ordfører i Torsken". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 21 September 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Kommunestyrer". Tromsø (in Norwegian). 5 June 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ordførervalgen i Troms". Nordlys (in Norwegian). 2 January 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Arbeiderpartiet styrket sin stilling i Troms fylkesting". Folkeviljen (in Norwegian). 4 January 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ny ordfører i Torsken". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 13 December 1957. p. 4. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ny ordfører i Torsken". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 17 December 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Fagerthun ordfører i Torsken". Lofotposten (in Norwegian). 14 December 1963. p. 2. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Ottar Jakobsen blir ordfører i Torsken". Tromsø (in Norwegian). 28 December 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
- v
- t
- e
- Main article: Troms
- Capital: Tromsø
- County government: Troms County Municipality
- County lists:
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Midt-Troms | |
Sør-Troms |
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