Flakstad is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of the island group Lofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ramberg. Other villages include Fredvang, Napp, Nusfjord, and Vareid.
Flakstad kommune | |
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Municipality | |
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Coordinates: 68°04′45″N 13°16′28″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Nordland |
District | Lofoten |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
• Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Disestablished | 1 Jan 1964 |
• Succeeded by | Moskenes Municipality |
Re-established | 1 Jan 1976 |
• Preceded by | Moskenes Municipality |
Administrative centre | Ramberg |
Government | |
• Mayor (2019) | Trond Kroken (Sp) |
Area | |
• Total | 178.44 km2 (68.90 sq mi) |
• Land | 169.12 km2 (65.30 sq mi) |
• Water | 9.32 km2 (3.60 sq mi) 5.2% |
• Rank | #311 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 1,216 |
• Rank | #317 in Norway |
• Density | 7.2/km2 (19/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | −12.1% |
Demonym | Flakstadfjerding[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-1859 |
Website | Official website |
The municipality is located in the Lofoten Islands and comprises the entire island of Flakstadøya and the northern part of the island of Moskenesøya. The European route E10 highway runs across the whole municipality.
The 178-square-kilometre (69 sq mi) municipality is the 311th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Flakstad is the 317th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,216. The municipality's population density is 7.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 12.1% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
The municipality of Flakstad was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1916, the southern part of the municipality (population: 1,306) was separated to form the new Moskenes Municipality. This left Flakstad with 1,667 residents.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Flakstad (population: 2,067) was merged into the neighboring municipality of Moskenes (population: 2,001), creating a new, larger municipality of Moskenes. This merger, however, only lasted for twelve years. On 1 January 1976, the merger was undone with Moskenes (population: 1,705) and Flakstad (population: 2,007) becoming separate municipalities once again.[5]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Flakstad farm (Norse Flakstaðir), since the first Flakstad Church was built there. Historically, the name was spelled "Flagstad". The first element could be a Norse nickname (flak meaning "reckless") or it could come from the word flag meaning "rock wall", possibly referring to the large cliff near the church site. The last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm".[6][7]
The coat of arms is from modern times (1989). The arms show a white fastening device used on boats on a blue background. The fastening device was chosen as a symbol for the community's seafaring history.[8]
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Flakstad. It is part of the Lofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Flakstad | Flakstad Church | Flakstad | 1780 |
The municipality's economy is dominated by fishing. The fishing fleet mainly consists of small boats. There are also several fish farm in Flakstad. There is some agriculture in Flakstad, but mostly cattle and sheep farming rather than growing crops.[7]
All municipalities in Norway, including Flakstad, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.[9] The municipality falls under the Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Flakstad is made up of 11 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste) | 1 | |
Lofoten List (yes to municipal mergers) (Lofotlista (ja til kommunesammenslåing)) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 11 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 11 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Flakstad District List (Flakstad distriktsliste) | 6 | |
Fredvang, Krystad and Skjelfjord municipal list (Fredvang, Krystad og Skjelfjord bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 8 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 7 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 9 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 8 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 6 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 5 | |
Fredvang and Krystad local list (Fredvang og Krystad bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 6 | |
Non-party common list for Fredvang-Krystad (Upolitisk fellesliste for Fredvang-Krystad) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Flakstad district list (Flakstad Distriktsliste) | 10 | |
Non-party common list for Fredvang-Krystad area (Upolitisk fellesliste for Fredvang, Krystad og omegn) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Flakstad Common List (Flakstad Samlingsliste) | 13 | |
Non-party Common List Fredvang-Krystad (Upolitisk Fellesliste Fredvang-Krystad) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 13 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 2 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 6 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 12 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 1 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 12 | |
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. |
The mayors of Flakstad (incomplete list):
Located near the southern end of the Lofoten archipelago, Flakstad comprises all of the island of Flakstadøya and the northern part of the island of Moskenesøya. The islands are connected by the Fredvang Bridges and the Kåkern Bridge. The large lake Solbjørnvatnet lies on the northern part of Moskenesøya in Flakstad.
Vestvågøy Municipality lies to the northeast on the island of Vestvågøya, the Vestfjorden lies to the southeast, the Moskenes Municipality lies to the southwest on the island of Moskenesøya, and the Norwegian Sea lies to the northwest.
Climate data for Ramberg, Flakstad 1961-90 | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
0.2 (32.4) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.9 (53.4) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
5.8 (42.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
4.9 (40.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 175 (6.9) |
144 (5.7) |
126 (5.0) |
95 (3.7) |
60 (2.4) |
61 (2.4) |
85 (3.3) |
91 (3.6) |
155 (6.1) |
218 (8.6) |
175 (6.9) |
195 (7.7) |
1,580 (62.2) |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[25] |
Nordland county, Norway | |||||||
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Towns and cities |
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Municipalities |