Lindesnes Municipality

Lindesnes Municipality
Lindesnes kommune
View of the village of Vigeland
View of the village of Vigeland
Agder within Norway
Agder within Norway
Lindesnes within Agder
Lindesnes within Agder
Coordinates: 58°06′15″N 07°17′20″E / 58.10417°N 7.28889°E / 58.10417; 7.28889
CountryNorway
CountyAgder
DistrictSørlandet
Established1 Jan 1964
 • Preceded by
Administrative centreMandal
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Alf Erik Andersen (FrP)
Area
 • Total
933.56 km2 (360.45 sq mi)
 • Land883.48 km2 (341.11 sq mi)
 • Water50.08 km2 (19.34 sq mi)  5.4%
 • Rank#126 in Norway
Highest elevation
511.78 m (1,679.1 ft)
Population
 (2026)
 • Total
23,702
 • Rank#55 in Norway
 • Density26.8/km2 (69/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +4.1%
Demonym(s)Lindesnes-folk
Lindesnesmann (male)
Lindesneskvinne (female)
Official language
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4205
WebsiteOfficial website

Lindesnes is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mandal. Other villages in Lindesnes Municipality include Aukland, Bjelland, Breland, Bykjernen, Harkmark, Heddeland, Høllen, Koland, Krossen, Laudal, Skjebstad, Skinsnes-Ime, Skofteland, Skogsfjord-Hesland, Svennevik, Sånum-Lundevik, Tregde-Skjernøy, Vigeland, Vigmostad, Åvik, and Øyslebø.

The 933.56-square-kilometre (360.45 sq mi) municipality is the 126th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Lindesnes Municipality is the 55th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 23,702. The municipality's population density is 26.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (69/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.1% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

Lindesnes Fjellhallen (Millenium-Fjellhallen built in the rocks 2000–2004)
Lindesnes fyr. The lighthouse is close to the southernmost point of mainland Norway.
Aerial view of the southern coastline of Lindesnes

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. The municipality of Lindesnes was established on 1 January 1964 upon the merger of the following neighboring municipalities:

In 2020, there were many municipal and county mergers across Norway due to the work of the Solberg cabinet. Historically, this municipality was part of the old Vest-Agder county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Agder county (after Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder counties were merged). Also on 1 January 2020, the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Lindesnes Municipality. At the same time, the administrative centre of the enlarged municipality was moved to the town of Mandal.

Name

The oldest Old Norse form of the name was Líðandi. That name is derived from the verb líða which means "lead to an end" or "go to the end" and the meaning of this name is probably just "the end", referring to its location at the southern tip of Norway. A later form was Líðandisnes where the word nes which means "headland" was added (a word that is related to the English forms ness and naze). The traditional English language version of the name is just the Naze, derived from ness meaning headland.

Coat of arms

The original coat of arms was granted on 25 April 1986 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was enlarged and a new coat of arms was adopted. The official blazon was "Azure a lighthouse issuant argent" (Norwegian: I blått et oppvoksende sølv fyrtårn). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is the top of a lighthouse. The lighthouse 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 lighthouse represents the local Lindesnes Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in Norway. It was built in 1655 on the Lindesnes peninsula. The arms were designed by Truls Nygaard who based it after a design by Rolf Dybvig. The municipal flag had the same design as the coat of arms.

The new coat of arms was granted on 1 January 2020 and it was a slightly more modern take on the old arms. The blazon is "Azure, a lighthouse issuant and a crest a mural crown argent" (Norwegian: På blågrønn bakgrunn, et hvitt fyrtårn med murkrone). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a lighthouse with a crown above the shield. 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 new arms have a slightly different design and the addition of a mural crown above the escutcheon to represent the fact that the municipality now includes the town of Mandal. The color was also changed to a more teal blue.

Churches

The Church of Norway has eight parishes (sokn) within Lindesnes Municipality. It is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Lindesnes Municipality
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BjellandBjelland ChurchBjelland1793
HolumHolum ChurchKrossen1825
LaudalLaudal ChurchLaudal1826
MandalHarkmark ChurchHarkmark1613
Mandal ChurchMandal1821
SpangereidSpangereid ChurchHøllenc. 1140
ValleValle ChurchVigeland1793
VigmostadVigmostad ChurchVigmostad1848
ØyslebøØyslebø ChurchØyslebø1797

Government

Lindesnes 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. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lindesnes Municipality is made up of 39 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Lindesnes kommunestyre 2023–2027   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 9
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) 2
  The Conservatives (Konservativt) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:39
Lindesnes kommunestyre 2019–2023   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 11
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:39
Note: On 1 January 2020, Lindesnes Municipality]], Mandal Municipality, and Marnardal Municipality were merged to form an enlarged Lindesnes Municipality.
Lindesnes kommunestyre 2015–2019   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Lindesnes kommunestyre 2011–2015   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Lindesnes kommunestyre 2007–2011   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Lindesnes kommunestyre 2003–2007   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1999–2003   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1995–1999   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1991–1995   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1987–1991   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1983–1987   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1979–1983   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1975–1979   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 5
  New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk Liste)1
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1971–1975   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1967–1971   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:25
Lindesnes kommunestyre 1963–1967   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 8
Total number of members:25

Mayors

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Lindesnes Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

  • 1964–1967: Gunnar Gulli (V)
  • 1968–1971: Daniel Leland (Sp)
  • 1972–1975: Knut Lunden (KrF)
  • 1976–1979: Terje Gabrielsen (H)
  • 1980–1981: Kenneth Skofteland (KrF)
  • 1982–1983: Peder Skofteland (H)
  • 1984–1987: Kenneth Skofteland (KrF)
  • 1988–1993: Ansgar Gabrielsen (H)
  • 1993–1999: Oddleiv Skagestad (H)
  • 1999–2011: Ivar Lindal (KrF)
  • 2011–2019: Janne Fardal Kristoffersen (H)
  • 2019–2023: Even Sagebakken (Ap)
  • 2023–present: Alf Erik Andersen (FrP)

Geography

Lindesnes is a coastal municipality, with a long stretch of coastline to the south. It borders Lyngdal Municipality to the west, Evje og Hornnes Municipality to the north, both Kristiansand Municipality and Vennesla Municipality to the east, and the Skagerrak strait is to the south. The Lindesnes Lighthouse stands on the southernmost point of the mainland of Norway on the Lindesnes peninsula, nearly 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) southwest of Knivskjellodden, the northernmost point of mainland Norway.

The southern coast of Lindesnes Municipality is rugged and includes several fjords such as the Snigsfjorden and Grønsfjorden as well as many islands such as Svinør. The western part of the municipality follows the lower Audnedalen valley through which the river Audna flows south into the Snigsfjorden and the eastern part of the municipality follows the whole Mandalen valley which follows the river Mandalselva to the sea. The highest point in the municipality is the 511.78-metre (1,679.1 ft) tall mountain Ørteknappknuten.

Climate

Lindesnes Municipality has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb). The weather station has been recording since January 1863, and is situated near the Lindesnes lighthouse on a peninsula protruding into the sea. It is the southernmost mainland point in Norway. The all-time high temperature is 27.3 °C (81.1 °F) recorded August 1975; the all-time low is −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) recorded in January 1987. The five months May - September have not seen any overnight freeze, with coldest low 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in May 1981 (data since 1954).

Climate data for Lindesnes Lighthouse 1991-2020 (extremes 1954-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4)
9.5
(49.1)
14.9
(58.8)
18
(64)
23.2
(73.8)
26.4
(79.5)
27
(81)
27.3
(81.1)
21.3
(70.3)
16.6
(61.9)
13.7
(56.7)
11.4
(52.5)
27.3
(81.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
3.7
(38.7)
5
(41)
8.2
(46.8)
12.1
(53.8)
15.1
(59.2)
17.7
(63.9)
18.2
(64.8)
15.4
(59.7)
11.4
(52.5)
7.9
(46.2)
5.7
(42.3)
10.4
(50.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)
2
(36)
3.2
(37.8)
6.1
(43.0)
9.9
(49.8)
13
(55)
15.6
(60.1)
16.2
(61.2)
13.6
(56.5)
9.8
(49.6)
6.3
(43.3)
4
(39)
8.5
(47.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
0.5
(32.9)
1.6
(34.9)
4.4
(39.9)
8.1
(46.6)
11.2
(52.2)
13.9
(57.0)
14.4
(57.9)
11.9
(53.4)
8.1
(46.6)
4.7
(40.5)
2.3
(36.1)
6.9
(44.3)
Record low °C (°F) −18.1
(−0.6)
−15.1
(4.8)
−11
(12)
−5.5
(22.1)
0.6
(33.1)
4.5
(40.1)
6
(43)
7.8
(46.0)
3.6
(38.5)
−1.6
(29.1)
−8.3
(17.1)
−16.5
(2.3)
−18.1
(−0.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 131.2
(5.17)
99.7
(3.93)
87.5
(3.44)
69
(2.7)
63.5
(2.50)
71.9
(2.83)
81.8
(3.22)
101.3
(3.99)
119.1
(4.69)
151.6
(5.97)
132.4
(5.21)
135.2
(5.32)
1,244.2
(48.97)
Average precipitation days 17 13 13 10 10 9 10 12 14 16 16 17 157
Source 1: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Source 2: NOAA - WMO averages 91-2020 Norway
Climate data for Lindesnes Lighthouse 1961-1990
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 2.7
(36.9)
2.3
(36.1)
3.7
(38.7)
6.9
(44.4)
11.3
(52.3)
14.9
(58.8)
16.3
(61.3)
16.8
(62.2)
14.2
(57.6)
11.1
(52.0)
7.4
(45.3)
4.7
(40.5)
9.4
(48.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)
0.5
(32.9)
2.0
(35.6)
4.7
(40.5)
9.0
(48.2)
12.5
(54.5)
14.2
(57.6)
14.8
(58.6)
12.4
(54.3)
9.6
(49.3)
5.6
(42.1)
2.9
(37.2)
7.4
(45.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −0.7
(30.7)
−1.3
(29.7)
0.3
(32.5)
2.8
(37.0)
7.3
(45.1)
10.7
(51.3)
12.4
(54.3)
13.0
(55.4)
10.7
(51.3)
7.9
(46.2)
3.8
(38.8)
0.9
(33.6)
5.7
(42.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 109
(4.3)
72
(2.8)
83
(3.3)
60
(2.4)
71
(2.8)
65
(2.6)
78
(3.1)
102
(4.0)
125
(4.9)
143
(5.6)
146
(5.7)
105
(4.1)
1,159
(45.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 14.7 10.2 12.9 9.5 9.5 8.9 8.8 11.4 14.3 15.5 17.4 14.4 147.5
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Notable people

Public service & public thinking

Ellen Gleditsch, 1935
Adolph Tidemand, 1838
Gustav Vigeland, 1929

The Arts

Sport

References

  1. 1 2 "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Nilsen, Jan Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir; Lauritzen, Per Roger, eds. (1 July 2026). "Lindesnes". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  4. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ↑ Grepstad, Jon, ed. (25 March 2025). "Nikolai Schei". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 Hansen, Tore; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (27 May 2024). "kommuneinndelingen i Norge". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  7. ↑ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: periodical has ISBN (link)
  8. ↑ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (4 March 2026). "Agder". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Nye Lindesnes" (in Norwegian). Lindesnes kommune. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Lindesnes, Vest-Agder (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 25 April 1986. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Har vedtatt nytt kommunevåpen". NRK Sørlandet (in Norwegian). 21 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  14. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  18. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Vest-Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  22. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  23. ↑ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  25. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  26. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  28. ↑ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  29. ↑ Nordahl, Victoria Marie (13 September 2023). "Lindesnes: Frp får ordføreren og Ap varaordfører". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  30. ↑ "yr.no/statistics".
  31. ↑ "NOAA WMO normals Norway 1991-2020".
  32. ↑ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  33. ↑ Tobias Santelmann at IMDb. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  34. ↑ Helene Bøksle at IMDb. Retrieved 19 November 2020.