Sola is a municipality and a Seaside resort in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Jæren. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Solakrossen. Other villages include Tananger, Hålandsmarka, Sørnes, and Stenebyen. Stavanger Airport is located in Sola, just a short distance from the large Stavanger/Sandnes metropolitan area.
Sola kommune | |
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Municipality | |
View of a beach in Sola | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Rogaland within Norway | |
![]() Sola within Rogaland | |
Coordinates: 58°52′48″N 05°37′43″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Rogaland |
District | Jæren |
Established | 1930 |
• Preceded by | Håland Municipality |
Administrative centre | Solakrossen |
Government | |
• Mayor (2019) | Tom Henning Slethei (FrP) |
Area | |
• Total | 69.04 km2 (26.66 sq mi) |
• Land | 68.82 km2 (26.57 sq mi) |
• Water | 0.22 km2 (0.08 sq mi) 0.3% |
• Rank | #342 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 27,568 |
• Rank | #41 in Norway |
• Density | 400.6/km2 (1,038/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Solabu[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-1124 |
Website | Official website |
The 69-square-kilometre (27 sq mi) municipality is the 342nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Sola is the 41st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 27,568. The municipality's population density is 400.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,038/sq mi) and its population has increased by 15.5% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
In the western part of Sola, there are 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of long, sandy beaches facing the North Sea. With usually ample supplies of wind and waves, the sandy beaches are a popular place for windsurfing.
The municipality of Sola was established in 1930 when the old municipality of Håland was split into Sola (south of the Hafrsfjorden) and Madla (north of the Hafrsfjorden). Initially, Sola had 3,372 residents.[5] On 1 January 2017, a small 350-decare (86-acre) area on the southwestern edge of the village of Solakrossen was transferred from Sandnes municipality to Sola.[6]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Sola farm (Old Norse: Sóli), since the first Sola Church was built there. The name is very old and the meaning is unknown, although it contains the Norse word sól which translates as Sun, therefore it could have some link to the sun. Historically, the name was also spelled Sole.[7]
The coat of arms was granted on 1982. The arms show two silver or white waves on a blue background. The arms symbolize all of the sandy beaches along the ocean in the municipality.[8]
The Church of Norway has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Sola. It is part of the Tungenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Ræge | Ræge Church | Ræge (north of Stenebyen) | 2009 |
Sola | Sola Church | Solakrossen | 2020 |
Sola Chapel | west of Solakrossen | 1955 | |
Sørnes | Sørnes Church | Sørnes | 1977 |
Tananger | Tananger Church | Tananger | 2002 |
Tananger Chapel | Tananger | 1879 |
The municipality of Sola lies on the west side of the Stavanger Peninsula, south of the Hafrsfjorden. The municipality sits just about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the centres of the cities of Stavanger and Sandnes. The island of Rott lies just off the western coast of Sola. The Fladholmen Lighthouse lies just off shore of the village of Tananger in northern Sola.[9]
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1951 | 5,025 | — |
1961 | 7,075 | +40.8% |
1971 | 9,898 | +39.9% |
1981 | 12,673 | +28.0% |
1991 | 15,982 | +26.1% |
2001 | 19,023 | +19.0% |
2011 | 23,350 | +22.7% |
2020 | 27,153 | +16.3% |
Source: Statistics Norway.[10] |
According to Snorre Sturlason the Battle of Hafrsfjord took place in the year AD 872, probably outside Ytraberget. Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway, is celebrated for having united Norway at this notable battle.
The stone crosses at Tjora date from about the year 1150. In early Christian times, these stone crosses were used as gathering points for religious ceremonies before churches were built. Sola Church Ruins (Sola ruinkirke) is the ruins of a Romanesque stone church dating from about the year 1120. The stone church probably replaced an older wooden church in the area. This wooden church was possibly the one that Erling Skjalgsson had built when he converted to Christianity at the end of the 10th century. Sola Church overlooked the Hafrsfjord and was in use until 1842.The artist Johan Bennetter (1822–1904) used the church as a studio and lived there with his family. During World War II, most of the church was demolished. It was later reconstructed, and the restoration was finished in 1995.[11][12]
Stavanger Airport, Sola was founded in 1937. At Sola airport, the first opposed landing by paratroopers took place as German Fallschirmjägers from 1st battalion of the 1st Regiment, 7th Flieger Division were dropped on the airfield. Sola Air Station became an important airfield for the Germans during World War II.
All municipalities in Norway, including Sola, 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.[13] The municipality falls under the Sør-Rogaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Sola is made up of 41 representatives that are elected to four year terms. Currently, the party breakdown is as follows:
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
People's Action No to More Road Tolls (Folkeaksjonen nei til mer bompenger) | 4 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 7 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 12 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 7 | |
Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 16 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Tananger List (Tanangerlisten) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 15 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Tananger List (Tanangerlisten) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 11 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Tananger List (Tanangerlisten) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 11 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 11 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Tananger List (Tanangerlisten) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 12 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Sola local list (Sola bygdelista) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 9 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
Sola local list (Sola bygdelista) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Sola local list (Sola bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Sola local list (Sola Bygdeliste) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 15 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 18 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 14 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 7 | |
New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 41 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 31 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 31 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 31 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 25 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 10 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 25 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 8 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 20 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 13 | |
Total number of members: | 20 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 7 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 20 |
Party Name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 7 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 20 | |
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. |
Museums in Sola include:
Rogaland county, Norway | |||||||
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