Våle Municipality

Våle Municipality
Våle kommune
Former municipality
Våle herred  (historic name)
Vaale herred  (historic name)
View of the local Våle Church
View of the local Våle Church
Flag of Våle Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Våle Municipality
Coat of arms
Vestfold within Norway
Vestfold within Norway
Våle within Vestfold
Våle within Vestfold
Coordinates: 59°25′11″N 10°16′36″E / 59.41979°N 10.27664°E / 59.41979; 10.27664
CountryNorway
CountyVestfold
DistrictJarlsberg
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished1 Jan 2002
 • Succeeded byRe Municipality
Administrative centreKirkevoll
Government
 • Mayor (1999–2001)Thorvald Hillestad (Sp)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total
85.5 km2 (33.0 sq mi)
 • Rank#397 in Norway
Highest elevation
(Ryksåsen)
218 m (715 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
4,248
 • Rank#223 in Norway
 • Density49.7/km2 (129/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +9.3%
DemonymVålesokning
Official language
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-0716

Våle (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈʋoːlə]]; locally [ˈʋoːɽə]) is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 85.5-square-kilometre (33.0 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2002. The area is now part of Tønsberg Municipality in the traditional district of Jarlsberg. The administrative centre was the village of Kirkevoll (it was at Sørby prior to 1990). Other villages in the rural, agricultural municipality included: Brekkeåsen, Rånerudåsen, Svinevoll, Sørby, and Gretteåsen.

Prior to its dissolution in 2002, the 85.5-square-kilometre (33.0 sq mi) municipality was the 397th largest by area out of the 435 municipalities in Norway. Våle Municipality was the 223rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 4,248. The municipality's population density was 49.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (129/sq mi) and its population had increased by 9.3% over the previous 10-year period.

The famous Jarlsberg cheese first was produced in Våle Municipality. The medieval Våle Church was the main church for the municipality.

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, Vaale prestegjeld was established as Vaale Municipality (later spelled Våle). On 16 July 1873, a royal resolution approved transferring an uninhabited area of Vaale Municipality to the neighboring Ramnes Municipality. In 1947, a small area of Botne Municipality (population: 8) was transferred to Våle Municipality.

On 1 January 2002, Våle Municipality (population: 4,248) was merged with the neighboring Ramnes Municipality (population: 3,790) to form the new Re Municipality. Re Municipality became part of Tønsberg Municipality on 1 January 2020.

Name

The municipality is named after the old Våle prestegjeld. The prestegjeld was named after the old Vaale farm (Old Norse: Válir) since the first Våle Church was built there. The name is the plural form of the word váll which means "clearing in the woods".

On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Vaale with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Våle, using the letter å instead.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 23 February 1990. The official blazon is "Vert, a mistletoe branch Or" (Norwegian: I grønt en gull mistelteinkvist). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a branch of mistletoe. The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The mistletoe plant is very rare in Norway, but can be found in Våle. It is known from Norse mythology because Höðr shot a mistletoe arrow that killed the god Baldr. He was later avenged by his brother Váli (which sounds like Våle). The color green refers to agriculture and forestry. The arms were designed by Stein Davidsen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had two parishes (sokn) within Våle Municipality. It was part of the Nord-Jarlsberg prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

Churches in Våle Municipality
Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
UndrumsdalUndrumsdal ChurchUndrumsdal1882
VåleVåle ChurchBergsåsenc. 1100

Geography

The highest point in the municipality was a 218-metre (715 ft) tall point on the slopes of the mountain Ryksåsen located along the northern border. The peak of the mountain was located over the border in the neighboring Holmestrand Municipality. Holmestrand Municipality was located to the north, Horten Municipality was located to the east, Tønsberg Municipality was located to the southeast, and Ramnes Municipality was located to the west.

Government

While it existed, Våle 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 Horten District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Våle Municipality was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Våle kommunestyre 1999–2001   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 3
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
Total number of members:25
Note: On 1 January 2002, Våle Municipality became part of Re Municipality.
Våle kommunestyre 1995–1999   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:25
Våle kommunestyre 1991–1995   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:25
Våle kommunestyre 1987–1991   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:25
Våle kommunestyre 1983–1987   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 10
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:25
Våle kommunestyre 1979–1983   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 9
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
Total number of members:25
Våle kommunestyre 1975–1979   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:21
Våle kommunestyre 1971–1975   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:21
Våle kommunestyre 1967–1971   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:21
Våle kommunestyre 1963–1967   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
Total number of members:21
Våle herredsstyre 1959–1963   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
Total number of members:21
Våle herredsstyre 1955–1959   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 9
Total number of members:21
Våle herredsstyre 1951–1955   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 8
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 14
Total number of members:32
Våle herredsstyre 1947–1951   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 16
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 2
Total number of members:32
Våle herredsstyre 1945–1947   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 15
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
Total number of members:32
Våle herredsstyre 1937–1941*   
Party name (in Norwegian)Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 13
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
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 Våle Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

  • 1838–1839: C.B. Brodahl
  • 1839–1843: Simen Elias Crøger
  • 1843–1845: C.B. Brodahl
  • 1845–1847: Wincent Thurmann
  • 1847–1851: C. B. Brodahl
  • 1851–1853: Christen Torp
  • 1853–1861: Christen Hansen
  • 1861–1869: Nicolay Møller
  • 1869–1871: Rasmus P. Hals
  • 1871–1873: Abraham C. Revetal
  • 1873–1875: Ole Bærøe
  • 1875–1877: Mathias Hjelmtvedt
  • 1877–1879: Ole Bærøe
  • 1879–1883: Johan Jørgensen Hundsal (H)
  • 1883–1885: Abraham C. Revetal (V)
  • 1885–1889: Johan Jørgensen Hundsal (H)
  • 1889–1891: Abraham Hillestad (H)
  • 1892–1907: Johan Jørgensen Hundsal (H)
  • 1908–1925: Hans Kristian Kaldager (H)
  • 1926–1928: Jørgen Hundsal (Bp)
  • 1929–1931: Hans Kristian Kaldager (H)
  • 1932–1937: Jørgen Hundsal (Bp)
  • 1938–1940: Ole Martinsen (Bp)
  • 1941–1945: Trygve Aanestad (NS)
  • 1945–1955: Thorvald Hillestad (Sp)
  • 1956–1967: Isak Bjerknes (Sp)
  • 1968–1975: Ludvik Bettum (Sp)
  • 1976–1982: Odd Jonstang (Sp)
  • 1982–1987: Ragnar Gjerpe (H)
  • 1988–1991: Thorvald Hillestad (Sp)
  • 1992–1995: Marit Haugen (Sp)
  • 1996–1999: Kåre Solberg (KrF)
  • 1999–2001: Thorvald Hillestad (Sp)

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Kart over Norge" (in Norwegian). Kartverket.
  2. ↑ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 453–471. 1932.
  3. ↑ Thorsnæs, Geir; Lundbo, Sten; Axner Ims, Gunvald, eds. (15 May 2026). "Våle (tidligere kommune)". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Vabo, Signy Irene, ed. (4 February 2026). "formannskapslovene". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ↑ "Sammenslåing av kommuner, Ramnes og Våle kommuner, Vestfold". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Forskrift om sammenslåing av Tønsberg kommune og Re kommune til Tønsberg kommune, Vestfold". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges Kommunal- og moderniseringsdepartemente. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  10. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1907). Norske gaardnavne: Jarlsberg og Larviks amt (in Norwegian) (6 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 94–95.
  11. ↑ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
  12. ↑ Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
  13. ↑ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Re, Vestfold (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 23 February 1990. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  16. ↑ "Våle kommune, våpen". Digitalarkivet (in Norwegian). Arkivverket. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  17. ↑ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  18. ↑ "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  19. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
  20. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
  21. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
  22. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
  23. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
  24. ↑ Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
  25. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
  26. ↑ Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
  27. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  28. ↑ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  29. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  30. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  31. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  32. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  33. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  34. ↑ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  35. ↑ Rønningen, John (1985). Bygdehistorie for Våle fra ca 1540 til ca 1980 (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Norbok AS. ISBN 8299131006.
  36. ↑ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).