Hedrum Municipality

Hedrum Municipality
Hedrum kommune
Former municipality
Hedrum herred  (historic name)
View of the local Hedrum Church
View of the local Hedrum Church
Flag of Hedrum Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Hedrum Municipality
Coat of arms
Vestfold within Norway
Vestfold within Norway
Hedrum within Vestfold
Hedrum within Vestfold
Coordinates: 59°07′24″N 10°03′35″E / 59.1232°N 10.0596°E / 59.1232; 10.0596
CountryNorway
CountyVestfold
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished1 Jan 1988
 • Succeeded byLarvik Municipality
Administrative centreHedrum (1838-1952)
Nanset (1952-1988)
Government
 • Mayor (1986–1987)Per Michaelsen (H)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total
264.3 km2 (102.0 sq mi)
 • Rank#290 in Norway
Highest elevation
(Berganvarden)
456.5 m (1,498 ft)
Population
 (1987)
 • Total
10,449
 • Rank#96 in Norway
 • Density39.5/km2 (102/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +14.4%
DemonymHedrumssokning
Official language
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-0727

Hedrum (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈheːdrʉm]; locally [ˈhæːdɽʉm]) is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 264.3-square-kilometre (102.0 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1988. The area is now part of Larvik Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Nanset (from 1978-1988; prior to that, the municipal administration was located in the village of Hedrum where the Hedrum Church is located). Other villages in Hedrum include Gjone, Kvelde, Skinmo, and Verningen.

Prior to its dissolution in 1988, the 264.3-square-kilometre (102.0 sq mi) municipality was the 290th largest by area out of the 454 municipalities in Norway. Hedrum Municipality was the 96th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 10,449. The municipality's population density was 39.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (102/sq mi) and its population had increased by 14.4% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

Administrative history

The formannskapsdistrikt law of 1837 created a system of local government in Norway by establishing each town (ladested or kjøpstad) and each Church of Norway prestegjeld as a civil municipality. On 1 January 1838, Hedrum prestegjeld was established as Hedrum Municipality.

Over the years, there have been many municipal border adjustments. On 1 January 1875, an area of Hedrum Municipality (population: 46) became part of the neighboring Larvik Municipality. On 1 January 1878, an area of Hedrum Municipality (population: 61) became part of the neighboring Andebu Municipality. On 1 January 1891, an area of Tjølling Municipality (population: 11) became part of Hedrum Municipality. In 1937, an area of Hedrum Municipality (population: 69) became part of the neighboring Larvik Municipality. In 1948, an area of Hedrum Municipality (population: 296) became part of the neighboring Larvik Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, two border adjustments were made to Hedrum Municipality. One area of Hedrum Municipality (population: 16) was transferred to Siljan Municipality (in Telemark county) and the adjacent Bakke area (population: 75) was transferred to Porsgrunn Municipality (also in Telemark county). On 1 January 1968, the unpopulated Svartangen area of Siljan Municipality was transferred to Hedrum Municipality (and Vestfold county).

On 1 January 1974 the unpopulated Tagtvedt area of Hedrum Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Larvik Municipality. On 1 January 1983, the unpopulated Bergan area of Hedrum Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Lardal Municipality. On 1 January 1986, part of the Åsveien 3 property in Hedrum Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Larvik Municipality. On 9 January 1987 an unpopulated area in northern Hedrum Municipality was transferred to Lardal Municipality.

On 1 January 1988, Hedrum Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Larvik Municipality with a population of people:

Name

The municipality is named after the old Hedrum prestegjeld. The prestegjeld was named after the old Hedrum farm (Old Norse: Heiðarheimr) since the first Hedrum Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word heiðr which means "heath" or "moorland". The last element is heimr which means "home" or "abode".

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 18 November 1966. The official blazon is "Vert, a bend wavy argent" (Norwegian: På grønn bunn en sølv skråbjelke dannet ved bølgesnitt). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a wavy diagonal line. 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 green color in the field symbolizes the importance of the local forests and the wavy line was chosen to symbolize the river Numedalslågen which flows through the municipality. The arms were designed by D. Krohn-Holm, Jr. The municipal flag had the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within Hedrum Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Hedrum prestegjeld and the Larvik prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

Churches in Hedrum Municipality
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
HedrumHedrum ChurchHedrumc. 1100
HvarnesHvarnes ChurchHvarnes1705
KveldeKvelde ChurchKvelde1871
Hedrum Church

Hedrum Church (Hedrum Kirke) is a medieval era church that was the main church for the municipality. It is one of several ancient stone churches within a vicinity which also includes churches at Hem, as well as Efteløt and Hedenstad in Buskerud. Other churches in Hedrum include Kvelde Church and Hvarnes Church.

Hedrum Church was built of stone around 1100. The church celebrated its 950-year anniversary in 2010. The church has a rectangular nave, square choir and apse. Building Archaeological studies show that the apse is added later. The structure was extended by four meters in 1666. The west part with the portal and door openings are from after the Reformation. Hedrum Church has a number of tombstones, which cover large parts of the floor of the church. Hedrum Church cemetery is clearly visible from traffic arteries on both sides of Numedalslågen. Some of the graves are believed to pre-date the introduction of Christianity confirming the supposition that ancient pagan cult sites were chosen as the venue for the earlier churches.

Geography

Hedrum Municipality was located in the Lågendalen valley, the lower part of the valley that follows the river Numedalslågen. The valley is relatively flat and dominated by agricultural areas. The valley is surrounded by wooded hills which rise up towards 500-metre (1,600 ft) tall mountain peaks. Among other things, the area is known for potato cultivation and fishing. The highest point in the municipality was the 456.5-metre (1,498 ft) tall mountain Bergenvarden.

Nedre Nanset, the municipal hall of Hedrum Municipality from 1952 to 1978.

Lardal Municipality was located to the north, Andebu Municipality was located to the east, Sandefjord Municipality and Tjølling Municipality were located to the southeast, Larvik Municipality was located to the south, Brunlanes Municipality was located to the southwest, Porsgrunn Municipality (in Telemark county) was located to the west, and Siljan Municipality (in Telemark county) was located to the northwest.

Government

While it existed, Hedrum 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Larvik District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hedrum Municipality was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Hedrum kommunestyre 1983–1987   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:35
Note: On 1 January 1988, Hedrum Municipality became part of Larvik Municipality.
Hedrum kommunestyre 1979–1983   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 11
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:35
Hedrum kommunestyre 1975–1979   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:35
Hedrum kommunestyre 1971–1975   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:35
Hedrum kommunestyre 1967–1971   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:35
Hedrum kommunestyre 1963–1967   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:35
Hedrum herredsstyre 1959–1963   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:35
Hedrum herredsstyre 1955–1959   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
Total number of members:35
Hedrum herredsstyre 1951–1955   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 9
Total number of members:32
Hedrum herredsstyre 1947–1951   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 10
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:32
Hedrum herredsstyre 1945–1947   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 3
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 10
Total number of members:32
Hedrum herredsstyre 1937–1941*   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 11
Total number of members:32
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 Hedrum Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

  • 1838–1847: Knud Peder Kjerulf
  • 1848–1851: Hans Fredrik Kjerulf
  • 1851–1853: Peder Johansen Berg
  • 1860–1861: Knud Peder Kjerulf
  • 1862–1867: Hans Christian Nilssen Fosserød
  • 1868–1869: Gunnar Thommesen
  • 1870–1871: Ole Olsen Eftedal
  • 1872–1875: Anders Andersen
  • 1876–1887: Gunnar Thommesen
  • 1887–1891: Frants Carlsen Rødbøl
  • 1892–1895: Nils Olsen Hellenes
  • 1896–1897: Ole Evensen Sundby
  • 1898–1901: Frants Carlsen Rødbøl
  • 1902–1910: Ivar Hagtvedt
  • 1911–1913: Karl Johan Hvatum
  • 1914–1916: Karl Bergan
  • 1917–1919: Thorvald Hvidsteen
  • 1920–1922: Anund Iversen Allum
  • 1923–1928: Ole Andersen Gåsholt
  • 1929–1941: Anund Iversen Allum
  • 1941–1941: Ole N. Rimstad
  • 1941–1942: Martin Ringdal (NS)
  • 1942–1945: Martin Zimmermann (NS)
  • 1945–1945: Anund Iversen Allum
  • 1946–1963: Mathias Skoli (V)
  • 1963–1963: Anders Gåsholt (Sp)
  • 1964–1967: Ole Hvidsten (V)
  • 1968–1971: Kristoffer Bakkerud (Sp)
  • 1972–1975: Harald A. Holm (V)
  • 1976–1985: Olav Bergene Holm (KrF)
  • 1986–1987: Per Michaelsen (H)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (26 November 2024). "Hedrum". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  3. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. 1 2 Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 1951). Norges Sivile, Geistlige, Rettslige og Militære Inndeling 1. Januar 1951 (PDF). Norges Offisielle Statistikk (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: H. Aschehoug & Co.
  5. ↑ Vabo, Signy Irene, ed. (4 February 2026). "formannskapslovene". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. ↑ Grepstad, Jon, ed. (25 March 2025). "Nikolai Schei". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (27 May 2024). "kommuneinndelingen i Norge". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1907). Norske gaardnavne: Jarlsberg og Larviks amt (in Norwegian) (6 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 338.
  10. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Larvik". Flags of the World. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Ekroll, Øystein; Ladder, Morten; Havran, Jiri (2000). "Middelalder i Stein". Kirker i Norge. Vol. 1. ISBN 8291399093.
  13. ↑ "Hedrum Church, Larvik". Norway Attractions and Hotels.
  14. ↑ Nyhus, Per (1999). Larvik A-Å (in Norwegian). Larvik: Østlandsposten. ISBN 8299083532.
  15. ↑ Krohn-Holm, Jan W. (1982). Hedrum bygdebok (in Norwegian). Larvik: kulturhistorie.
  16. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
  18. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
  19. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
  20. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
  21. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  22. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  23. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  26. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  28. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  29. ↑ Krohn-Holm, Jan W. (1982). Hedrum bygdebok. 1 : Kulturhistorie (in Norwegian). Vol. 1. Larvik: Hedrum kommune. ISBN 8299051320.
  30. ↑ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).