Øystre Slidre

Øystre Slidre is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Heggenes. Other villages in the municipality include Hegge, Rogne, Volbu, Moane, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen.

Øystre Slidre Municipality Øystre Slidre kommune
Municipality
Østre Slidre herred  (historic name)
Buahaugen in Øystre Slidre
Flag Coat of arms
Innlandet within Norway
Øystre Slidre within Innlandet
Coordinates: 61°14′11″N 9°8′37″E
Country	Norway
County	Innlandet
District	Valdres
Established	1849
• Preceded by	Slidre Municipality
Administrative centre	Heggenes
Government
• Mayor (2023)	Bjarne Budal (Ap)
Area
• Total	969.24 km2 (374.23 sq mi)
• Land	885.52 km2 (341.90 sq mi)
• Water	83.72 km2 (32.32 sq mi)  8.6%
• Rank	#120 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	3,291
• Rank	#221 in Norway
• Density	3.7/km2 (10/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	+2.9%
Demonym	Øystreslidring[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Nynorsk
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-3453[3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 969-square-kilometre (374 sq mi) municipality is the 120th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Øystre Slidre is the 221st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,291. The municipality's population density is 3.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (9.6/sq mi) and its population has increased by 2.9% over the previous 10-year period.^[4][5]

General information

At Røyne, looking towards Hegge

Beitostølen, view towards town centre

The municipality of Øystre Slidre was established in 1849 when the old municipality of Slidre (created in 1838) was divided into Øystre Slidre (population: 2,406) and Vestre Slidre (population: 3,130). On 1 January 1882, a small area of Vang Municipality (population: 31) was transferred to the neighboring Øystre Slidre Municipality. On 1 January 1899, a small unpopulated area of Øystre Slidre was transferred to Vestre Slidre.^[6] On 1 January 2021, the Skjelgrenda area of Vestre Slidre was transferred to Øystre Slidre.^[7]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse: Slíðrar) since the old Slidredomen church was built there. The name is probably derived from the word slíðr which means "sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). In 1849, the municipality (and parish) was divided into two separate municipalities. The word østre (meaning "eastern") was added to the beginning of the name. Thus, the meaning of the name Østre Slidre is "(the) eastern (part of) Slidre".^[8] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Østre Slidre. On 11 September 1925, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Øystre Slidre, switching to a local dialect spelling for the same word.^[9]

See also: Vestre Slidre § Name

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 March 1989. The official blazon is "Plumetty azure and argent" (Norwegian: Dekt av blå og sølv skjell). This means the arms have a field (background) that is covered with a plumetty pattern with alternating tinctures of blue and argent (which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used). The arms are designed to look like tiles made of slate. This recognizes that the slate industry was a formerly important industry in the area. Slate roofing was very common in Valdres. The arms were designed by Odd Karlberg. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

Churches

The Church of Norway has four parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Gausdal. It is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Øystre Slidre

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Hegge	Hegge Stave Church	Hegge	1216
Lidar	Lidar Church	Skammestein	1932
Rogne	Rogne Church	Rogne	1857
Volbu	Volbu Church	Volbu	1820

History

Båtskaret ("The boat pass") is a narrow pass along the mountain Bitihorn where in medieval times people from Øystre Slidre dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstre with a lot of fine trout. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdalen, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore, they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.^[14]

Hegge Stave Church was originally constructed around the year 1216 in the village of Hegge. It has been extensively rebuilt and is mostly post-reformation. It contains a fine altarpiece (reredos) carved by Eistein Kjørn from Heidal between 1781 and 1782.^[14]

Geography

Bitihorn and Båtskaret (the boat pass)

Øystre Slidre shares borders with the municipalities of Nord-Aurdal and Vestre Slidre in the south, Vang in the west, Gausdal, Sør-Fron, and Nord-Fron to the east, and up to the Valdresflya plateau at the border of Vågå in the north. Øystre Slidre is part of the traditional district of Valdres in central, southern Norway, situated between the valleys of Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal. Øystre Slidre measures about 45.1 kilometres (28.0 mi) on a north–south axis and 39.8 kilometres (24.7 mi) on an east–west axis.

The highest point is Øystre Rasletind at a height of 2,010 metres (6,590 ft) above sea level. About 73% of the land is over 900 metres (3,000 ft) in elevation. More than 10% of the land is over 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level. Some of the notable mountains in the municipality include Gråhøi, Kalvemellen, Kvernhøi, Rabalsmellen, Raslet, Rundemellen, Skaget, and Skarvemellen. The lowest points lie at 410 metres (1,350 ft) above sea level. Lakes and rivers cover 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) of the area. The largest lakes are Vinstre, Yddin, Vangsjøen, Javnin, Olevatn, Nedre Heimdalsvatn, Øyangen, and Sandvatnet/Kaldfjorden/Øyvatnet.^[13]

Government

Øystre Slidre 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.^[15] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Øystre Slidre is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2023–2027 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2019–2023 ^[17]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	11
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2015–2019 ^[18][19]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2011–2015 ^[20]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2007–2011 ^[19]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 2003–2007 ^[19]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1999–2003 ^[19][21]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[22]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[23]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Framstegspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[24]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[25]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[26]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[27]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[28]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	10
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	11
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[29]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[30]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	9
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1959–1963 ^[31]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høgre)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	12
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1955–1959 ^[32]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	8
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		21

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1951–1955 ^[33]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	7
Total number of members:		20

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1947–1951 ^[34]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	10
Total number of members:		20

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1945–1947 ^[35]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	7
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister)	3
Total number of members:		20

Øystre Slidre heradsstyre 1937–1941* ^[36]  

Party name (in Nynorsk)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet)	5
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	8
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.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Øystre Slidre (incomplete list):

• 1945-1947: Gullik K. Hovi (V)
• 1948-1955: Haldor Hegge (V)
• 1956-1959: Knut Bjørnstad (Sp)
• 1960-1963: Haldor Hegge (V)
• 1964-1975: Knut Bjørnstad (Sp)
• 1976-1979: Nils T. Windingstad (Sp)
• 1980-1991: Knut Bergo (V)
• 1992–1997: Terje Stenseng (Sp)
• 1997–1999: Ola Fjelltun (Sp)
• 1999–2003: Ove Skaret (Ap)
• 2003-2011: Gro Lundby (Ap)
• 2011-2019: Kjell Berge Melbybråten (Ap)
• 2019-2023: Odd Erik Holden (Sp)
• 2023-present: Bjarne Budal (Ap)^[37]

Economy

Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Øystre Slidre by country of origin in 2017^[38]

Ancestry	Number
Lithuania	49
Poland	47
Syria	39

Because of the rugged landscape, farming is only possible on a small scale, but this is still one of the main sources of income. There are only about 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of agricultural land in the municipality. About 85% of farmers in the municipality use the high mountain pastures in the summer time.^[13]

The winter sports resort of Beitostølen, host to World Cup events in biathlon and cross-country skiing, is located here. It is the biggest tourist area in the municipality, and provides a large fraction of the municipality's income.

Notable people

• Olav Beito (1901–1989), a linguist and academic
• Ole Haldorsen Bjelbøle (1879–??), a farmer and politician^[39]
• Torger Hovi (1905–1980), a politician and deputy mayor of Øystre Slidre from 1959–1961
• Torleiv Bolstad (1915–1979), a Norwegian musician and Hardanger fiddle player

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 (2021). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå (2021). "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. ISBN 9788253746845.
7. Kommunal- og moderniseringsministeren (13 May 2020). "Vedtak om grensejustering mellom Vestre Slidre og Øystre Slidre kommuner" (PDF). Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15 August 2022.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 285.
9. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1925. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 477. 1925.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
11. "Oystre Slidre, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
12. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 17 March 1989. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
13. "Om Øystre Slidre" (in Norwegian). Øystre Slidre kommune. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
14. Stagg, Frank Noel (1956). East Norway and its Frontier. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.
15. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
16. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
17. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
18. "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
19. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
20. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
21. Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
22. Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
23. Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
24. Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
25. Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
26. Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
27. Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
28. Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
29. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
30. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
35. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
36. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
37. "Ap tar over i Øystre Slidre". NRK (in Norwegian). 20 September 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
38. "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
39. "Ole Haldorsen Bjelbøle" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Social Science Data Services (NSD). Retrieved 25 July 2013.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Official website (in Norwegian)
• Beitostølen Resort (in Norwegian)