Misplaced Pages

Meråker Municipality Meråker kommune
Municipality
Meraaker herred  (historic name) Meraker herred  (historic name)
View of the Meråker valley
FlagCoat of arms
Trøndelag within Norway
Meråker within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 63°26′17″N 11°50′58″E / 63.43806°N 11.84944°E / 63.43806; 11.84944
Country	Norway
County	Trøndelag
District	Stjørdalen
Established	1 Jan 1874
• Preceded by	Øvre Stjørdalen Municipality
Administrative centre	Midtbygda
Government
• Mayor (2023)	Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)
Area
• Total	1,273.94 km (491.87 sq mi)
• Land	1,188.06 km (458.71 sq mi)
• Water	85.88 km (33.16 sq mi)  6.7%
• Rank	#80 in Norway
Highest elevation	1,441.36 m (4,728.87 ft)
Population
• Total	2,454
• Rank	#259 in Norway
• Density	1.9/km (5/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−3.9%
Demonym	Meråkerbygg
Official language
• Norwegian form	Bokmål
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5034
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

Meråker is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Midtbygda which is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Storlien in Sweden and 46 kilometres (29 mi) east of the town of Stjørdalshalsen in neighboring Stjørdal Municipality. Other villages in the municipality include Gudåa, Kopperå, and Stordalsvollen.

The 1,274-square-kilometre (492 sq mi) municipality is the 80th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Meråker is the 259th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,454. The municipality's population density is 1.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (4.9/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.9% over the previous 10-year period.

The municipality markets itself as a recreational area. The main areas of employment are in industry and agriculture. The municipality is noted for its characteristic dialect.

General information

The municipality of Meråker was established on 1 January 1874 when the old Øvre Stjørdalen Municipality was divided into two: Hegra Municipality (population: 3,409) in the east and Meråker Municipality (population: 1,861) in the west. The municipal borders have not changed since then. On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Meråker farm (spelled "Mørakre" around 1430) since the first Meråker Church was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain (maybe merr which means "mare" or mýrr which means "bog" or "marsh"). The last element is akr which means "field" or "acre". Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Meraker. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Meraaker. On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Meraaker with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Meråker, using the letter å was instead.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 28 September 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, a cart argent" (Norwegian: I rødt en sølv vogn). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a mining cart. The mining cart has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize the fact that mining has traditionally played a major role in the area and has been of great economic importance for Meråker. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Meråker Municipality. It is part of the Stjørdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

History

Meråker Smelter

In 1898, a carbide factory was opened at Kopperå, later this factor was rebuilt as a silicon smelter. The smelter was in operation until June 2006. Its main product was microsilica which is used as an additive to cement.

Geography

Meråker is a landlocked municipality in the central part of Trøndelag county. To the north is Verdal Municipality, to the west is Stjørdal Municipality, to the south is Selbu Municipality and Tydal Municipality, and to the east is Åre Municipality in Sweden.

There are three major lakes in Meråker: Feren, Fjergen, and Funnsjøen. The river Stjørdalselva runs through the municipality towards the Trondheimsfjord. The river Rotla begins in the southern part of Meråker. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,441.36-metre (4,728.9 ft) tall mountain Fongen, a tripoint on the border of Meråker Municipality, Selbu Municipality, and Tydal Municipality.

Government

Meråker Municipality is 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 is under the jurisdiction of the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Meråker is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors

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

• 1874–1877: Christian Erlandsen
• 1878–1885: John Johnsen
• 1886–1887: Iver Lie
• 1888–1893: Fredrik Rø (V)
• 1894–1897: O. Hugdahl
• 1898–1907: Fredrik Rø (V)
• 1908–1910: Carl Olaf Iversen (H)
• 1911–1913: Olav Stubban (Ap)
• 1914–1916: Ole E. Wollan (Ap)
• 1917–1922: Peder J. Myrmo (Ap)
• 1923–1925: Arne Bergsaas (Ap)
• 1926–1937: Kristian Rothaug (Ap)
• 1938–1939: Joar Eimhjellen (Ap)
• 1939–1941: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
• 1942-1942: Arild Solberg (NS)
• 1943–1945: Alf Hembre (NS)
• 1945–1966: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
• 1967–1973: Johnny Stenberg (Ap)
• 1973-1995: Svein Brækken (Ap)
• 1995-2015: Bård Langsåvold (Ap)
• 2015-2019: Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)
• 2019–2023: Kjersti Kjenes (LL)
• 2023-present: Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)

Transportation

The European route E14 highway runs east to west through the municipality connecting to Trondheim Airport, Værnes about 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the west. The Meråker Line railway follows the E14 through the municipality also, with stops at Kopperå Station, Meråker Station, and Gudå Station.

Media

The newspaper Meråkerposten has been published in Meråker since 1982.

Notable people

• Anton Johnson Fridrichsen (1888 in Meråker – 1953), a Swedish theologian
• Helge Ingstad (1899 in Meråker - 2001), an author, explorer, and archeologist
• Arne Braa Saatvedt (1922 in Meråker – 1945), a Norwegian police official and member of the Nasjonal Samling; executed in 1945
• Bård Langsåvold (born 1952), a Norwegian politician and Mayor of Meråker from 1995-2015
• Dag Lyseid (1954–2012), a footballer and politician and deputy Mayor of Meråker from 1999-2008
• Vebjørn Selbekk (born 1969), a newspaper editor and author who was brought up in Meråker

Sport

• Magnar Lundemo (1938 in Meråker - 1987), a cross country skier and track and field athlete who competed at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics
• Frode Estil (born 1972), a retired cross country skier who lives in Meråker
• Kine Beate Bjørnås (born 1980), a retired cross country skier
• Simen Raaen Sandmæl (born 1990 in Meråker), a Norwegian footballer with over 130 club caps

Media gallery

• Meråker, Norway
• Meråker smelteverk Kopperå
• Elven Kopperåa i Kopperå, Meråker
• Grønbergdammen in Meråker

References

1. ^ "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
2. "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
3. "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
4. Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
6. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
7. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 2.
9. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
10. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
11. Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
12. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
13. "Meråker, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
14. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
15. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
16. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Trøndelag Trööndelage". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
18. ^ "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
19. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
24. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
35. Krogstad, Bjørn R. (1987). Bygdebok for Meråker (in Norwegian). Vol. 2. Meråker kommune.
36. Straume, Kaurin (1973). Meråker kommune 100 år 1874–1974 (in Norwegian). Meråker kommune. p. 7.
37. "Meråker: Senterpartiet får ordføreren". NRK (in Norwegian). 13 September 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
38. Smith-Meyer, Trond, ed. (1 December 2016). "Meråkerposten". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

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

v t e Trøndelag county, Norway
Main article: Trøndelag Capital: Steinkjer County government: Trøndelag County Municipality County lists: County Governors Villages Churches
	Towns and cities	Trondheim (997) Røros (1683) Namsos (1845) Steinkjer (1857) Levanger (1836-1961, 1997) Stjørdalshalsen (1997) Verdalsøra (1998) Kolvereid (2002) Brekstad (2005) Orkanger (2014) Rørvik (2020)
	Municipalities	Namdalen Flatanger Grong Høylandet Leka Lierne Namsos Namsskogan Nærøysund Overhalla Røyrvik Innherred Frosta Inderøy Levanger Snåsa Steinkjer Verdal Fosen Frøya Heim Hitra Indre Fosen Osen Ørland Åfjord Gauldalen/Trondheim Holtålen Malvik Melhus Midtre Gauldal Røros Trondheim Orkdalen Oppdal Orkland Rennebu Rindal Skaun Stjørdalen/Neadalen Meråker Selbu Stjørdal Tydal
	Former Municipalities in Trøndelag Trøndelag   Agdenes (1896-2020) Bjugn (1853-2020) Fosnes (1838-2020) Hemne (1838-2020) Klæbu (1838-2020) Meldal (1838-2020) Namdalseid (1838-2020) Nærøy (1838-2020) Orkdal (1838-2020) Roan (1892-2020) Snillfjord (1924-2020) Verran (1901-2020) Vikna (1869-2020) Nord-Trøndelag   Beitstad (1838-1964) Egge (1869-1964) Foldereid (1886-1964) Frol (1856-1962) Gravvik (1909-1964) Harran (1823-1964) Hegra (1874-1962) Klinga (1891-1964) Kolvereid (1838-1964) Kvam (1909-1964) Leksvik (1838-2018) Lånke (1902-1962) Malm (1913-1964) Mosvik og Verran (1867-1901) Mosvik (1901-2012) Nedre Stjørdalen (1850-1902) Nordli (1915-1964) Ogndal (1885-1964) Otterøy (1913-1964) Røra (1907-1962) Sandvollan (1907-1962) Skatval (1902-1962) Skogn (1838-1962) Sparbu (1838-1964) Stjørdalen (1838-1850) Stod (1838-1964) Sørli (1915-1964) Vemundvik (1838-1964) Ytterøy (1838-1964) Øvre Stjørdalen (1850-1874) Åsen (1838-1962) Sør-Trøndelag   Bjørnør (1838-1892) Brekken (1926-1964) Budal (1879-1964) Buvik (1855-1965) Byneset (1838-1964) Børsa (1838-1965) Fillan (1886-1964) Flå (1880-1964) Geitastrand (1905-1963) Glåmos (1926-1964) Haltdalen (1838-1972) Heim (1911-1964) Horg (1841-1964) Hølonda (1865-1964) Jøssund (1896-1964) Kvenvær (1913-1964) Leinstrand (1838-1964) Lensvik (1905-1964) Nes (1899-1964) Nord-Frøya (1906-1964) Orkanger (1920-1963) Orkland (1920-1963) Rissa (1860-2018) Røros landsogn (1926-1964) Sandstad (1914-1964) Singsås (1841-1964) Soknedal (1841-1964) Stadsbygd (1838-1964) Stjørna (1899-1964) Stoksund (1892-1964) Strinda (1838-1964) Støren (1838-1964) Sør-Frøya (1906-1964) Tiller (1899-1964) Vinje (1924-1964) Ålen (1855-1972) Note: The former counties of Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag were merged to form Trøndelag county on 1 January 2018.

• Meråker
• Municipalities of Trøndelag
• 1874 establishments in Norway
• Populated places established in 1874