Vestre_Slidre_Municipality
Vestre Slidre
Municipality in Innlandet, Norway
Vestre Slidre is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Slidre. Other villages in Vestre Slidre include Lomen and Røn.
Vestre Slidre Municipality
Vestre Slidre kommune | |
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View of Kvåle | |
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Innlandet within Norway | |
Vestre Slidre within Innlandet | |
| Coordinates: 61°3′38″N 8°55′2″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Innlandet |
| District | Valdres |
| Established | 1 Jan 1849 |
| • Preceded by | Slidre |
| Administrative centre | Slidre |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2019) | Haldor Ødegård (Sp) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 457.15 km2 (176.51 sq mi) |
| • Land | 415.17 km2 (160.30 sq mi) |
| • Water | 41.98 km2 (16.21 sq mi) 9.2% |
| • Rank | #219 in Norway |
| Population (2023) | |
| • Total | 2,091 |
| • Rank | #275 in Norway |
| • Density | 5/km2 (10/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) |  −5.8% |
| Demonym | Vestreslidring[1] |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-3452[3] |
| Website | Official website |
The 457-square-kilometre (176 sq mi) municipality is the 219th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vestre Slidre is the 275th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,091. The municipality's population density is 5 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
The municipality of Vestre Slidre was established in 1849 when the old municipality of Slidre was divided into two municipalities: Vestre Slidre (population: 3,130) and Øystre Slidre (population: 2,406). On 1 January 1899, a small unpopulated part of Øystre Slidre was transferred to Vestre Slidre.[6] On 1 January 2021, the Skjelgrenda area of Vestre Slidre was transferred to Øystre Slidre.[7]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse: Slíðrar) since the old Slidredomen church was built there. The name is probably derived from the word slíðr which means "sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). In 1849, the municipality (and parish) was divided into two separate municipalities. The word vestre (meaning "western") was added to the beginning of the name. Thus, the meaning of the name Vestre Slidre is "(the) western (part of) Slidre".[8]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 20 November 1987. The official blazon is "Azure, a sea-leaf within a tressure invected on the outer edge and engrailed on the inner edge argent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn eit sølv sjøblad omgjeve av sølv bord laga med taggesnitt). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a heart-shaped seeblatt design with a tressure border around the edge of the escutcheon. The charge 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 design is based on a heraldic decoration found in the local Slidredomen church that dates back to the year 1170. The design was originally part of a seal that belonged to a medieval nobleman from the area. The arms were designed by Kari Ruud Flem. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]
Churches
The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vestre Slidre. It is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomen | Lomen Church | Lomen | 1914 |
| Lomen Stave Church | Lomen | 1179 | |
| Røn | Røn Church | Røn | 1747 |
| Øyjar Chapel | Øyjar | 1963 | |
| Slidre | Slidredomen | Slidre | c. 1200 |
- The ruins of Mo church (Mo kirkeruin) are located on the west side of the Slidrefjorden. The medieval church of stone was built ca. 1215 and was probably out of use after the Reformation. The ruins were excavated and restored from 1972–1977.[12]
- Slidredomen, a medieval stone-built church, was once the main church for Valdres. The church is built around 1170. The church is entirely made of stone. Its treasures formerly included a chalice presented by Bishop Salomon of Oslo (1322–1352), the only Bishop in Norway to survive the Black Death. Slidredomen is also known to have had a local bishop.[13]
- Lomen Stave Church is located in the small village of Lomen. It was built circa 1170. The exterior of the present Lomen church is post-Reformation, and only the wall and roof timbers remain from the original building.[13]
Slidredomen, medieval church
Lomen Stave Church in the summer of 2005
Ruins of Mo church
| Ancestry | Number |
|---|---|
 Lithuania | 29 |
 Netherlands | 23 |
 Eritrea | 18 |
High above the village of Slidre, there is an ancient burial ground called the Gardberg site. At this site, there is a runestone which reads I Godguest wrote the runes. This stone is known as the Einang stone.
Vestre Sildre figures prominently in the Norse Sagas:
- According to the Sagas, Harald Fairhair was the first Norwegian king (872–930) of Norway. In 866, he made the first of a series of conquests over a number of petty kingdoms. One of the encounters leading to the overall conquest was with Skallagrim Kveldulvssøn in Vestre Slidre. In 872, after winning the Battle of Hafrsfjord near Stavanger, he found himself king of the whole country.[13]
- In the Heimskringla attributed to Snorri Sturluson, it is recorded that in 1023 King Olav came unannounced from Sogn as part of his campaign to Christianize Norway. At Slidre, he caught the peasants unaware and secured all their boats. As a condition for having their boats restored, they accepted Christianity.[13]
Vestre Slidre 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.[15] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestre Slidre 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.
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
| Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 17 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 17 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
| Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 17 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Local List (Bygdeliste) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 10 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 11 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 11 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 8 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 5 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 9 | |
| Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 24 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 11 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 9 | |
| 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 (Norwegian: ordfører) of Vestre Slidre (incomplete list):[37]
- 1945-1947: Endre Fyrstro (V)
- 1948-1951: Ola J. Dahle (Sp)
- 1952-1955: Erik Steine Riste (Sp)
- 1956-1963: Erik Kirkeeng (V)
- 1964-1967: Erik Steine Riste (Sp)
- 1968-1979: Ola Ødegård (Sp)
- 1980–1999: Sverre Vik (Sp)
- 1999-2011: Eivind Brenna (BL)
- 2011-2015: Lars Kvissel (Sp)
- 2015–2019: Eivind Brenna (V)
- 2019–present: Haldor Ødegård (Sp)
Vestre Slidre is bordered to the northwest by Vang Municipality, to the northeast by Øystre Slidre Municipality, to the east by Nord-Aurdal Municipality, and to the southwest by Hemsedal Municipality (in Buskerud county). Vestre Slidre is part of the Valdres region in south-central Norway. It is situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.
The municipality is located along the river Begna and its surrounding valley. There are several lakes in the municipalities including Helin, Øyangen, Slidrefjorden, and Strondafjorden.
- Ole Brandt (1818–1880), a Norwegian farmer and Mayor of Vestre Slidre in the 1850s and 1860s
- Ragnhild Kåta (1873–1947), the first deafblind Norwegian to receive proper schooling
- Ola Bøe (1910–1986), a Norwegian fiddler
- Knut Hauge (1911–1999), an author of novels, children's books, and plays
- Berit Skjefte (1809–1899), a langeleik player
- "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 (2022). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
- Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
- "Vedtak om grensejustering mellom Vestre Slidre og Øystre Slidre kommuner" (PDF). Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). 13 May 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- Rygh, Oluf (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 285.
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Vestre Slidre, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 20 November 1987. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- "Mo kirkeruin, Vestre Slidre, Oppland". Riksantikvaren. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- Stagg, Frank Noel (1956). East Norway and its Frontier. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.
- "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
- Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
- Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
- "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
- "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
- "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
- "Ordførarar i Oppland". NRK Oppland (in Norwegian). 13 June 2003.
Media related to Vestre Slidre at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition of vestre slidre at Wiktionary
Valdres travel guide from Wikivoyage- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
