Åseral is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kyrkjebygda. Other villages in Åseral include Eikerapen, Kylland, Ljosland, and Åknes.
Åseral kommune
Aaseral (historic) | |
---|---|
Municipality | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms ![]() Agder within Norway | |
![]() Åseral within Agder | |
Coordinates: 58°42′07″N 07°23′37″E | |
Country | Norway |
County | Agder |
District | Sørlandet |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
• Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Kyrkjebygda |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020) | Inger Lise Lund Stulien (Ap) |
Area | |
• Total | 887.50 km2 (342.67 sq mi) |
• Land | 796.96 km2 (307.71 sq mi) |
• Water | 90.54 km2 (34.96 sq mi) 10.2% |
• Rank | #131 in Norway |
Population (2022) | |
• Total | 912 |
• Rank | #338 in Norway |
• Density | 1.1/km2 (3/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Åsdøl[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-4224 |
Website | Official website |
Åseral is an inland municipality, bordering Bygland municipality to the north and east, Evje og Hornnes to the east, Lyngdal to the south, Hægebostad to the southwest, and Kvinesdal in the west. Åseral is the headwaters of the river Mandalselva and the Mandalen valley.
The 888-square-kilometre (343 sq mi) municipality is the 131st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Åseral is the 338th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 912. The municipality's population density is 1.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.8/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0% over the previous 10-year period.[3][4]
For centuries, the large parish of Bjelland encompassed the northern half of the Mandalen valley. The northern annex of the parish was Aaserald which was in the neighboring county of Nedenes while the main part of the parish was in Lister og Mandal county. When the formannskapsdistrikt law went into effect on 1 January 1838, each parish was created as a municipality, however, since Bjelland covered areas in two counties, it had to be split into two municipalities. The northern annex became the municipality of Aaserald (later spelled Åseral) in Nedenes county and the rest became the municipality of Bjelland og Grindum in Lister og Mandal county. On 1 September 1880, the municipality of Åseral was transferred from Nedenes county to Lister og Mandal county. Its municipal boundaries have never changed.[5]
The Old Norse form of the name was Old Norse: Ásaráll. The first part of the word is probably the genitive case of áss (m.), meaning "mountain ridge". The last part, áll (m.) means "long strip", probably referring to the long and narrow lake Øre. Historically, the name was spelled Aaserald or Aaseral. Since the early 20th century it has been spelled Åseral.[6]
The coat of arms was granted on 20 January 1989. It shows a silver or white horseshoe opening downwards on a green background. The horseshoe was chosen to represent the historical importance of horses in the farming culture of Åseral as well as the symbol of good luck. The green background represents the importance of forestry.[7]
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Åseral. It is part of the Otredal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark. Until 2019, it was part of the old Mandal prosti.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Åseral | Åseral Church | Kyrkjebygda | 1822 |
Ljosland Chapel | Ljosland | 1959 | |
Åknes Chapel | Åknes | 1873 |
All municipalities in Norway, including Åseral, 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.[8] The municipality falls under the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Åseral is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. Currently, the party breakdown is as follows:
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 | |
Åseral local list (Åseral bygdeliste) | 9 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Åseral local list (Åseral bygdeliste) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Non-party local list (Upolitisk Bygdeliste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 5 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 5 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party Name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 1 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 10 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 16 | |
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. |
Åseral is in the central, inland part of Southern Norway. It is in the Setesdalsheiene mountains and adjacent to the Setesdal valley to the northeast. Åseral has many lakes, some of which are dammed for purposes of hydroelectric power. Some of the lakes include Nåvatnet, Juvatn, Øre and Gyvatn. The river Mandalselva and the Mandalen valley both begin in Åseral.
Climate data for Åseral 1991-2020 (268 m) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.4 (29.5) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
0.4 (32.7) |
4.6 (40.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
13.1 (55.6) |
15.4 (59.7) |
14 (57) |
10.7 (51.3) |
5.9 (42.6) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
5.9 (42.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 215 (8.5) |
140 (5.5) |
121 (4.8) |
86 (3.4) |
100 (3.9) |
99 (3.9) |
115 (4.5) |
154 (6.1) |
172 (6.8) |
215 (8.5) |
222 (8.7) |
213 (8.4) |
1,852 (73) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 15.7 | 10.7 | 12.6 | 9.4 | 11.4 | 10.6 | 11.0 | 12.4 | 14.2 | 15.7 | 16.4 | 15.2 | 155.3 |
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[27] |
Åseral is a popular winter tourist destination with three ski resorts in the villages of Bortelid, Ljosland, and Eikerapen. Eikerapen is also the site of the annual Eikerapen Roots Festival, an international music festival attracting thousands of people from all over Europe.
Agder county, Norway | |||
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