Lødingen

Lødingen (Northern Sami: Lodegat) is a municipality in Nordland county in Norway. Lødingen is located on the southeastern corner of the island of Hinnøya, and is part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the Town of Lødingen. The other main part of the muncipality is Vestbygda. Lødingen has the nickname "Biketown" because it hosts several annual bicycle races, including "Lofoten Insomnia" and Vestbygd-rittet.

Lødingen kommune Lodegat
Municipality
Lødingen City seen from Hjertholmen lighthouse
Coat of arms Nordland within Norway
Nickname(s):  Biketown
Lødingen within Nordland
Coordinates: 68°24′15″N 15°34′17″E
Country	Norway
County	Nordland
District	Ofoten
Established	1 Jan 1838
Administrative centre	Lødingen
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Hugo Jacobsen (Ap)
Area
• Total	527.41 km^2 (203.63 sq mi)
• Land	507.66 km^2 (196.01 sq mi)
• Water	19.75 km^2 (7.63 sq mi)  3.7%
Area rank	202 in Norway
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,034
• Rank	279 in Norway
• Density	4/km^2 (10/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−6.7%
Demonym(s)	Lødingsværing[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1851
Official language form	Bokmål[2]
Website	lodingen.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

The 527-square-kilometre (203 sq mi) municipality is by area the 202nd largest out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lødingen is the 279th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,034. The municipality's population density is 4 inhabitants per square kilometre (10/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.7% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]

General information

View north into Tjeldsundet from just north of Lødingen village

Saami family near Kanstad, Lødingen, 1896. Some of the descendants of the children in the photograph are reindeer herders in the area to this date .

The municipality of Lødingen was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 1869, the southern district of Lødingen surrounding the Tysfjorden on the mainland (population: 1,402) was separated to form the new Tysfjord Municipality. This left 2,064 residents in Lødingen. Then on 1 January 1909, the northeastern district of Lødingen (population: 1,404) was separated to form the new Tjeldsund Municipality. This left 3,034 residents in Lødingen.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, the southern mainland part of Lødingen surrounding the Efjorden and the island of Barøya (population: 433) were transferred to Ballangen Municipality. Then on 1 January 1964, the eastern part of Lødingen on the island of Tjeldøya (population: 297) was transferred to Tjeldsund Municipality.[5]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Lødingen farm (Old Norse: Lǫðueng), since the first Lødingen Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of laða which means "grain/hay barn" and the last element is eng which means "meadow".[6][7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 May 1984. The arms show a gold-colored woollen thread that is folded as a flower with five leaves on a red background. The municipality is at the junction of road, shipping, and ferry routes to five areas: Lofoten, Ofoten, Salten, Vesterålen, and Southern Troms. It is also located between five fjords: Vestfjorden, Ofotfjorden, Tysfjorden, Tjeldsundet, and Gullesfjorden. The symbol is also an ancient symbol for good fortune.[8]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Lødingen. It is part of the Ofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Lødingen

Parish (sokn)	Church Name	Location of the Church	Year Built
Lødingen	Lødingen Church	Lødingen	1897
	Vestbygd Church	Vågehamn	1885

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Lødingen, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[9] The municipality falls under the Ofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lødingen is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2020–2023 [10]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	10
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	12
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
Total number of members:		21

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	7
Total number of members:		16

Lødingen Herredsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  

Party Name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	9
Total number of members:		16

Mayor

The mayors of Lødingen (incomplete list):

• 2019–present: Hugo Bongard Jacobsen (Ap)
• 2015-2019: Atle Andersen (Ap)
• 2011-2015: Anita Marthinussen (H)
• 2007-2011: Vibeke Tveit (Ap)
• 2003-2007: Kurt Olsen (SV)
• 1999-2003: Eirik Eriksen (Ap)

Geography

The municipality encompasses the southern part of the island of Hinnøya. The terrain is mountainous, with several small islands and fjords. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lødingen, located at the inner part of the Vestfjorden at the southern entrance of the Tjeldsundet strait. The nearest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, about 73 kilometres (45 mi) away by road. Lødingen is an important ferry harbor, the car ferry to/from Bognes in Tysfjord leaves 12 times per day and takes 60 minutes. Møysalen National Park is located in the northern part of the municipality. It's named after the mountain Møysalen on the municipal border between Lødingen and Sortland. The Rotvær Lighthouse is located in Lødingen.

Climate

Climate data for Lødingen (village)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °C (°F)	−3.1 (26.4)	−3.0 (26.6)	−1.6 (29.1)	1.5 (34.7)	6.3 (43.3)	10.0 (50.0)	12.5 (54.5)	12.0 (53.6)	8.1 (46.6)	4.2 (39.6)	0.4 (32.7)	−2.1 (28.2)	3.8 (38.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	158 (6.2)	140 (5.5)	114 (4.5)	95 (3.7)	71 (2.8)	80 (3.1)	100 (3.9)	110 (4.3)	157 (6.2)	230 (9.1)	160 (6.3)	185 (7.3)	1,600 (63.0)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[28]

Attractions

E10 road in Lødingen, May 2011.

• Eye in Stone (Øye i stein), part of Artscape Nordland (Skulpturlandskap Nordland)
• Norwegian Telecom Museum, telegraphy
• Pilotage Service Museum
• Rotvær Lighthouse

Notable people

• Christopher Nyrop (1680–1733) a theologian and Bishop of Christianssand
• Dagfinn Bakke (1933–2019) a painter, illustrator and printmaker
• Dagfinn Henrik Olsen (born 1966) a Norwegian politician

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2020). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
6. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt (in Norwegian) (16 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 297.
7. Store norske leksikon. "Lødingen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2012-06-12.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
9. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
10. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
11. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
12. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
28. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 2004-06-14.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)

• Nordland travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Skulpturlandskap Nordland (in Norwegian)
• Norwegian Telecom Museum (in Norwegian)