Norddal

Norddal is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It merged with Stordal municipality to establish the new Fjord municipality in 2020. It covered the easternmost part of the Sunnmøre region along the border with Oppland county. The municipal center of the municipality was the village of Sylte (also known as Valldal) in the Valldalen valley.

Norddal kommune
Former municipality
View of Eidsdal
Coat of arms Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Norddal within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°17′32″N 07°26′18″E
Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Sunnmøre
Established	1 Jan 1838
Disestablished	1 Jan 2020
Administrative centre	Sylte
Government
• Mayor (2015-2019)	Arne Sandnes (Sp)
Area
• Total	943.51 km^2 (364.29 sq mi)
• Land	900.46 km^2 (347.67 sq mi)
• Water	43.05 km^2 (16.62 sq mi)  4.6%
Area rank	116 in Norway
	*Area at municipal dissolution.
Population  (2018)
• Total	1,670
• Rank	345 in Norway
• Density	1.9/km^2 (5/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−5.2%
Demonym(s)	Norddaling[1]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1524
Official language form	Nynorsk[2]
Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt in 1838
Succeeded by	Fjord in 2020
Website	norddal.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Norddal covered an area with several distinct valleys and villages: Eidsdal and Norddal (Dalsbygda) in the south; Tafjord in the east; and Fjørå/Selboskarbygda and Sylte in the Valldalen valley in the north. Norwegian County Road 63 traverses the municipality from south to north, going through several tunnels in the mountains including the Stordal Tunnel. The Heggur Tunnel connects the isolated village of Tafjord with the rest of the municipality.

At the time if its dissolution in 2020, the 944-square-kilometre (364 sq mi) municipality is the 116th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Norddal is the 345th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,670. The municipality's population density is 1.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (4.9/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.2% over the last decade.[3][4]

General information

The prestegjeld of Norddal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Historically, the district of Sunnylven was part of the parish of Norddal, but on 1 January 1838 when Norddal municipality was established, Sunnylven was established as its own municipality, separate from Norddal. The municipal borders have not changed since that time.[5]

On 1 January 2020, the neighboring municipalities of Norddal and Stordal were merged into the new Fjord Municipality.[6]

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was just Dalr, identical with the word dalr which means "valley" or "dale". The first element Nord- meaning "northern" was added around the year 1600. The parish church is still sometimes called Dale Church. Before 1918, the name was written Norddalen.[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 February 1990. The arms show a red twig of a strawberry plant on a yellow background. Norddal has a tradition for producing fruits such as apples, pears, and berries, notably strawberries.[8][9]

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Norddal. It is part of the Austre Sunnmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Norddal

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Norddal	Norddal Church	Norddal	1782
	Sylte Church	Sylte	1863

History

Valldal is mentioned in the historical books of Snorri Sturluson. While escaping the Danish army, Olav Haraldsson, later to become St. Olav, went ashore in Valldalen during the winter 1028/1029. Here, he supposedly came across a troublesome "sea serpent" which he tossed onto the mountainside and can today be seen as a lighter rock pattern above the town centre Sylte. On his journey up the valley towards Trollstigen, he received help from the farmers at Grønning to pass a rocky section called Skjærsura. For this help he deemed that the seed crop would never suffer from frost. Also, a natural spring in Valldal is named after St. Olav and is said to have a healing effect.

In 2008, a memorial stone was erected at the farm Døving, about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) up the valley from the sea, where the first church and cemetery is believed to have been located.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Norddal, 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.[10] The municipality falls under the Sunnmøre District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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

Norddal Kommunestyre 2016–2019 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Cross-party list for Norddal (Tverrpolitisk liste for Norddal)	5
Total number of members:		17

Norddal Kommunestyre 2012–2015 [12]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Cross-party list for Norddal (Tverpolitisk liste for Norddal)	4
	Norddal List (Norddalslista)	7
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 2008–2011 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Cross-party list for Norddal (Tverpolitisk liste for Norddal)	3
	Norddal List (Norddalslista)	7
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 2004–2007 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Action List for Norddal (Aksjonslista for Norddal)	4
	Norddal List (Norddalslista)	2
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 2000–2003 [11]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1996–1999 [13]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1992–1995 [14]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1988–1991 [15]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1984–1987 [16]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Socialist common list (Sosialistisk fellesliste)	1
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1980–1983 [17]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1976–1979 [18]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	1
	Local list for Eidsdal (Bygdeliste for Eidsdal)	6
	Local list for Valldal (Bygdeliste for Valldal)	10
	Local list for Fjørå (Bygdeliste for Fjørå)	1
	Local list for Tafjord (Bygdeliste for Tafjord)	1
	Local list for Dalsbygda (Bygdeliste for Dalsbygda)	2
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1972–1975 [19]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	18
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1968–1971 [20]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Kommunestyre 1964–1967 [21]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Heradsstyre 1960–1963 [22]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Heradsstyre 1956–1959 [23]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	21
Total number of members:		21

Norddal Heradsstyre 1952–1955 [24]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	19
Total number of members:		20

Norddal Heradsstyre 1948–1951 [25]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	20
Total number of members:		20

Norddal Heradsstyre 1945–1947 [26]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	20
Total number of members:		20

Norddal Heradsstyre 1938–1941* [27]  

Party Name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	18
Total number of members:		20

Geography

The municipality lies around the Norddalsfjorden and the Tafjorden which flow west to east. They are the innermost branches off the main Storfjorden. Stranda Municipality lies to the west and south, Skjåk Municipality lies to the southeast, Rauma Municipality lies to the east and north, and Stordal Municipality lies to the northwest.

The main Valldalen valley runs to the northeast from the fjord. The valleys are surrounded by the Tafjordfjella mountain range. The mountains Puttegga, Karitinden, and Tordsnose sit on the eastern border of the municipality. The mountain Høgstolen lies in the northern part of the municipality. Reinheimen National Park is located partially in the municipality of Norddal.

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway

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 (2018). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-24.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2019-08-24.
5. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
6. Sivertstøl, Anette (2017-08-09). "Stordal og Norddal blir truleg Fjord kommune". Sunnmørsposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2017-10-17.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 115.
8. Store norske leksikon. "Norddal" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2013-06-28.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
10. Hansen, Tore, ed. (2016-05-12). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-04-06.
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 - Møre og Romsdal" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
13. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
14. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
15. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
18. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
19. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
20. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
22. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
23. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
24. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2020-04-26.

External links

• Media related to Norddal at Wikimedia Commons
• Destinasjon Geirangerfjord - Trollstigen
• Møre og Romsdal travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)