Osterøy is an island municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordhordland. The municipality encompasses most of the island of Osterøy. The administrative centre of Osterøy is the village of Lonevåg in the central part of the island. The largest settlement is the village of Valestrandfossen with 1,219 inhabitants as of 1 January 2016.[3]
Osterøy kommune | |
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Municipality | |
View of the village of Haus | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Vestland within Norway | |
![]() Osterøy within Vestland | |
Coordinates: 60°31′05″N 05°32′29″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Vestland |
District | Nordhordland |
Established | 1 Jan 1964 |
• Preceded by | Hamre, Hosanger, Haus, and part of Bruvik |
Administrative centre | Lonevåg |
Government | |
• Mayor (2019) | Lars Fjeldstad (Sp) |
Area | |
• Total | 255.12 km2 (98.50 sq mi) |
• Land | 243.70 km2 (94.09 sq mi) |
• Water | 11.42 km2 (4.41 sq mi) 4.5% |
• Rank | #284 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 8,131 |
• Rank | #129 in Norway |
• Density | 33.4/km2 (87/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Ostring[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-4630 |
Website | Official website |
Osterøy municipality and Vaksdal Municipality are both located on the island of Osterøy. Osterøy municipality covers most of the island with the mostly uninhabited northeastern part of the island belonging to Vaksdal municipality. Osterøy is located a short distance northeast of the city of Bergen. It is surrounded by the Osterfjorden, Sørfjorden, and Veafjorden. The 19th-century musician and composer Ole Bull had a summer home in Valestrandfossen in Osterøy. The historic Havrå farm is a cluster farm which represents the traditional way of living for farmers. Havrå is located on the southeastern part of the municipality.
The 255-square-kilometre (98 sq mi) municipality is the 284th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Osterøy is the 129th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 8,131. The municipality's population density is 33.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (87/sq mi) and its population has increased by 8.1% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
The municipality sits on the island of Osterøy, and it is surrounded by several fjords: Osterfjorden-Romarheimsfjorden, Sørfjorden, and Veafjorden. The highest mountain in the municipality is the 868-metre (2,848 ft) tall Høgafjellet on the municipal border with Vaksdal. The Lonevågen fjord cuts in the center of the island, with the village of Lonevåg sitting at the end of the fjord.
Osterøy contains six "urban settlements", as defined by Statistics Norway (with populations listed from 1 January 2016): Valestrandfossen (1,218 inhabitants), Lonevåg (875 inhabitants), Hausvik (655 inhabitants), Haugo (617 inhabitants), Fotlandsvåg (320 inhabitants), and Hamre (217 inhabitants).[3] Other rural settlements in Osterøy include Austbygdi, Bruvik, Gjerstad, and Hosanger.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1951 | 2,688 | — |
1960 | 2,513 | −6.5% |
1970 | 5,660 | +125.2% |
1980 | 6,579 | +16.2% |
1990 | 7,016 | +6.6% |
2000 | 7,006 | −0.1% |
2010 | 7,412 | +5.8% |
2020 | 8,098 | +9.3% |
Source: Statistics Norway |
The municipality of Osterøy was created on 1 January 1964 as part of a major municipal merger that was proposed by the Schei Committee. Osterøy was created from parts of four different municipalities that were all dissolved in the merger. The following areas were merged to form the new municipality of Osterøy:[6]
The municipality was named after the island on which it is located. The Old Norse form of the name was "Ostr". The last element "øy" which means "island" in Norwegian was added later. The meaning of the name is unknown. It is possible that it comes from the word "óstr" which means "east".[7][8]
The coat of arms for Osterøy municipality is a relatively new creation; it was granted on 20 December 1985. It shows three blue broad axes pointing downwards on a field of white, with two axes at the top and one beneath. Broad axes are used in the construction of timber houses, which has long traditions in the municipality. The designer was Egil Korsnes who based his design on the idea of Magnus Hardeland.[9]
The Church of Norway has five parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Osterøy. It is part of the Åsane prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Bruvik | Bruvik Church | Bruvik | 1867 |
Gjerstad | Gjerstad Church | Gjerstad | 1870 |
Hamre | Hamre Church | Hamre | 1622 |
Haus | Haus Church | Hausvik | 1874 |
Hosanger | Hosanger Church | Hosanger | 1796 |
All municipalities in Norway, including Osterøy, 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.[10] The municipality falls under the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Osterøy is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows:
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 7 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 6 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Cross-Party Common List (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 27 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Cross-Party Common List (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste) | 9 | |
Osterøy Youth List (Osterøy ungdomsliste) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Cross-Party Common List (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste) | 9 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Cross-Party Common List (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Cross-Party Common List (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 12 | |
Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 | |
New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 12 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 | |
Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 35 |
The mayors of Osterøy (incomplete list):
Osterøy is connected to the mainland by a ferry from Breistein to Valestrand, and by a bridge on the far southern end of the island. The ferry named "Ole Bull" is sailing every half-hour from Breistein and Valestrand from early morning to late in the evening. The Osterøy Bridge, finished in 1997, provides Osterøy with its only permanent road connection to the mainland in Bergen municipality. The bridge has a main span of 595 metres (1,952 ft), the third longest suspension bridge main span in Norway, for a total length of 917 metres (3,009 ft). Since 2015, the bridge has been toll-free. There are no road connections from Osterøy municipality to the Vaksdal municipality part of Osterøy island. That part of the island has the Kallestadsundet Bridge connecting it to the rest of Vaksdal municipality from the east.
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