The 429.67-square-kilometre (165.90sqmi) municipality is the 229th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Nome Municipality is the 150th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,529. The municipality's population density is 16.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (44/sqmi) and its population has decreased by 0.1% over the previous 10-year period.
Nome is a large agricultural and forestry municipality. The agricultural area in Nome is approximately 27,000 decares (10mi2). Forest harvesting averaged 36,000 cubic metres (1,300,000cuft) annually in the five-year period 2017–2021. Just over half was spruce, the rest was pine.
General information
Administrative history
During the 1960s, there were many municipal changes across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. The municipality of Nome was established on 1 January 1964 when the following areas were merged to form an the new municipality:
The borders of the municipality have not changed since that time (which is pretty rare among municipalities in Norway).
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 Telemark county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Vestfold og Telemark county (after Telemark and Vestfold counties were merged). The merger was shortlived, and on 1 January 2024, the merger was undone and this municipality became part of Telemark county once again.
Name
The municipality is named after the lake Nomevatnet which is at the start of the river Eidselva. The meaning of the name is uncertain. It may be related to the first element in the name Numedal.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 10 March 1989. The official blazon is "Per bend sinistre dancettyargent and azure" (Norwegian: Venstre skrådelt av sølv og blått ved trappesnitt). This means the arms are divided with a diagonal line that is dancetty (in the shape of steps). The field (background) below the line has a tincture of blue. Above the line, the field 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 meant to represent the Telemark Canal and its locks to raise and lower boats. The canal was built in the 19th century and it runs through the municipality, connecting the lake Bandak to the North Sea. The arms were designed by Øyvind Larsen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.
Romnes Church (Romnes kirke) is a Romanesque stone church that was built between 1150 and 1250. The church was constructed of stone joined with lime, while the corners consist of limestone. The apse and nave has a flat ceiling, while the choir has vaulted wood ceilings. The entrance portal to the west is of decorated stone. The church also had an entrance on the south wall in the choir. The pulpit and baroque altarpiece are from the 1700s. The square bell tower dates to the end of the 1800s. The church currently has curved red bricks on the roof. During the restoration in 1921, murals from the late Middle Ages were restored. Additional restoration was conducted between 1966 and 1967.
The municipal council(Kommunestyre) of Nome Municipality is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Nome Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
123Nilsen, Jan Erik; Lundbo, Sten; Mæhlum, Lars, eds. (29 July 2026). "Nome". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
↑Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
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