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Bjarkøy Municipality Bjarkøy kommune Bjarkedjo suohkan (Northern Sami)
Former municipality
Bjarkø herred  (historic name) Sand herred  (historic name)
FlagCoat of arms
Troms within Norway
Bjarkøy within Troms
Coordinates: 68°59′55″N 16°29′53″E / 68.99861°N 16.49806°E / 68.99861; 16.49806
Country	Norway
County	Troms
District	Central Hålogaland
Established	1 Jan 1838
• Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished	1 Jan 2013
• Succeeded by	Harstad Municipality
Administrative centre	Nergården
Government
• Mayor (2011-2012)	Jorunn Berg (LL)
Area
• Total	73.61 km (28.42 sq mi)
• Land	73.44 km (28.36 sq mi)
• Water	0.17 km (0.07 sq mi)  0.2%
• Rank	#399 in Norway
Highest elevation	987 m (3,238 ft)
Population
• Total	455
• Rank	#427 in Norway
• Density	6.2/km (16/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−17.9%
Demonym	Bjarkøyværing
Official language
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1915
Data from Statistics Norway

Bjarkøy is a former municipality in Troms county, Norway. The 73.6-square-kilometre (28.4 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until it was merged with Harstad Municipality on 1 January 2013. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Nergården on the island of Bjarkøya. The island municipality was spread across several islands: Bjarkøya, Sandsøya, Grytøya (northern half), Krøttøya, and many smaller ones. Originally, the municipality also included the southwestern tip of the large island of Senja.

Prior to its dissolution in 2013, the 73.6-square-kilometre (28.4 sq mi) municipality was the 399th largest by area out of the 429 municipalities in Norway. Bjarkøy Municipality was the 427th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 455, making it the 3rd smallest in the country. The municipality's population density was 6.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (16/sq mi) and its population had decreased by 17.9% over the previous 10-year period.

One of the reasons why Bjarkøy merged with Harstad Municipality in 2013 was due to the promised funding of the Bjarkøy Fixed Link project. It would link the main islands of Bjarkøy together with a bridge and undersea road tunnel enabling residents to drive further which would drastically shorten the ferry ride to the mainland in Harstad.

General information

The prestegjeld (church parish) of Sand was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The name was later changed to "Bjarkøy". During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the southernmost part of the island of Senja (the Senjehesten peninsula) and the Lemmingsvær island (total population of the two locations: 480) was transferred from Bjarkøy to Tranøy Municipality. On 1 January 2013, Bjarkøy Municipality was merged with Harstad Municipality to the south, forming a new, larger Harstad Municipality.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) was originally named "Sand" after the old Sand farm (Old Norse: Sand) on the island of Sandsøya, since the first Bjarkøy Church was built there. The name comes from the word is sandr which means "sand" or "sandbank". In 1887, the church was moved to the island of Bjarkøya, so the municipal name was changed to Bjarkø. This new name comes from the island of Bjarkøya (Old Norse: Bjarkarey). The first element is the genitive case of bjǫrk which means "birch". The last element is ey which means "island". (The name of the island, since it is an old trading place, is perhaps inspired by the name of the old and well-known town of Birka in Sweden, which has the same meaning). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Bjarkø. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Bjarkøy, to give the name a more Norwegian and less Danish spelling due to Norwegian language reforms.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 11 April 1986. The official blazon is "Azure, a demi-griffin passant Or" (Norwegian: I blått en halv gull griff). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a demi-griffin (upper half showing, no legs). The griffin has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. Bjarkøy wanted to have its coat of arms to be the same as those used by the medieval Bjarkøy noble family, however, the old 13th century family arms were already in use by Troms county. So a variation was adopted - a demi-griffin was used instead. This family was one of the most influential families in the northern part of Norway during medieval times. They used a griffin for the arms of the family starting in the late 13th century. The arms were designed by Øystein H. Skaugvolldal. The arms of Bjarkøy were retired after the merger in 2013 since Harstad retained its old coat of arms after the merger.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Bjarkøy Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Trondenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

History

This is old Viking territory, and it was a chieftain seat during the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. Among the more famous chieftains you find Thorir Hund, who killed Norway's Patron Saint, Saint Olav in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. In 1323, the chieftain seat was raided and burned by Karelian and Novgorod warriors.

Geography

The municipality of Bjarkøy was located entirely on islands. The largest island, Grytøya, was shared with the municipality of Harstad. Other islands included Bjarkøya, Sandsøya, Helløya, Flatøya, and Meløyvær. The Andfjorden flowed along the northern and western side of the municipality and the Vågsfjorden flowed on the eastern and southern sides of the municipality. The highest point in the municipality is the 987-metre (3,238 ft) tall mountain Skjellesvikgalten on the island of Grytøya.

Climate

Government

While it existed, Bjarkøy 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 is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Bjarkøy was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Bjarkøy was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position (incomplete list):

• 1873: Martinus Knutsen
• 1887: Ditlef W. Lund
• 1904-1907: G. Lund
• 1917-1918: Jens L. Jensen
• 1918-1919: D.B. Tollefsen
• 1922-1925: T.O. Nordvik
• 1926-1931: S. Kildal
• 1932-1941: Ole Slagstad
• 1941-1945: Ingvald Høve (NS)
• 1945-1945: Ole Slagstad
• 1945-1947: Peder J. Bjarke
• 1948-1951: Ditlef Eriksen (Ap)
• 1952-1955: Peder J. Bjarke
• 1955-1959: Ditlef Eriksen (Ap)
• 1960-1967: Arnljot Eidnes (LL)
• 1967-1979: Martin Gideonsen (Ap)
• 1979-1983: Kåre Edg Pettersen (LL)
• 1983-1991: Brynjulf Lauritzen (Ap)
• 1991-1995: Arne Ludolf Petter Kaspersen (Ap)
• 1995-1999: Markus Johan Sakariassen (LL)
• 1999-1999: Harald-Arne Bjarke (LL)
• 1999-2001: Geir Ove Ystmark (V)
• 2001-2003: Trond Markussen (LL)
• 2003-2007: Jorunn Berg (LL)
• 2007-2011: Eddmar Osvoll (LL)
• 2011-2012: Jorunn Berg (LL)

Media gallery

• Boathouse located on Krøttøy
• Skerry in shallow water, located just outside Krøttøy

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway

References

1. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
2. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
3. Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
6. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
7. Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (14 February 2018). "Bjarkøy". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1911). Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt (in Norwegian) (17 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 30.
9. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 24. 1908.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
11. "Bjarkøy, Troms (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
12. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 11 April 1986. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
13. Tøhaug, Pia (1 February 2013). "Harstad beholder bølgesymbolet". NRK Troms (in Norwegian). Retrieved 29 July 2018.
14. "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
15. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
16. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
17. ^ "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
33. "Tromsø Amtsformandskabs Forhandlinger". Tromsøposten (in Norwegian). 23 July 1873. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
34. "Tromsø amtsformandskab". Nordposten (in Norwegian). 15 July 1887. p. 1. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
35. "Kommunekassererpost". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 26 May 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
36. ^ "Fra Bjarkøy". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 15 October 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
37. "Fra Bjarkøy". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 11 December 1922. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
38. "Bjarkøy herredsstyre". Nordlys (in Norwegian). 31 December 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
39. ^ "Bruk 1, Nordsand". Sandsøya.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14 April 2024.
40. "En serie landssviksaker mot NS-ordførere innledet ved Trondenes tingrett". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 8 October 1945. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
41. "I Bjarkøy". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 4 January 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
42. "Bjarkøy nye herredsstyre". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 31 December 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
43. "Peder J. Bjarke ny ordfører i Bjarkøy". Folkeviljen (in Norwegian). 1 December 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
44. "Arbeiderpartimannen Ditlef Eriksen ny ordfører i Bjarkøy". Folkeviljen (in Norwegian). 22 December 1955. p. 4. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
45. "Arnljot Eidnes ny ordfører i Bjarkøy". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 30 December 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
46. "Bjarke ny ordfører i Bjarkøy". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). 18 February 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
47. ^ Ulrichsen, Steinar (16 February 2001). "Overtar etter Ystmark". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). pp. 14–15. Retrieved 13 April 2024.

• Definitions from Wiktionary
• Media from Commons
• Travel guides from Wikivoyage
• Data from Wikidata

v t e Troms county, Norway
Main article: Troms Capital: Tromsø County government: Troms County Municipality County lists: County Governors Villages Churches
	Towns and cities	Tromsø (1794) Harstad (1904) Finnsnes (2000) Bardufoss (2021)
	Municipalities	Nord-Troms Balsfjord Gáivuotna-Kåfjord-Kaivuono Karlsøy Kvænangen Lyngen Nordreisa-Ráisa-Raisi Skjervøy Storfjord-Omasvuotna-Omasvuono Tromsø Midt-Troms Bardu Dyrøy Loabák-Lavangen Målselv Salangen Senja Sørreisa Sør-Troms Dielddanuorri-Tjeldsund Gratangen Harstad-Hárstták Ibestad Kvæfjord
	Former Municipalities in Troms Andørja (1926-1964) Astafjord (1926-1964) Berg (1838-2020) Bjarkøy (1838-2013) Helgøy (1886-1964) Hillesøy (1855-1964) Lenvik (1838-2020) Malangen (1871-1964) Sandtorg (1926-1964) Skånland (1926-2020) Torsken (1902-2020) Tranøy (1838-2020) Tromsøysund (1838-1964) Trondenes (1838-1964) Ullsfjord (1902-1964) Øverbygd (1925-1964)

• Bjarkøy
• Former municipalities of Norway
• Populated places of Arctic Norway
• 1838 establishments in Norway
• 2013 disestablishments in Norway
• Populated places established in 1838
• Populated places disestablished in 2013