Flatanger

Flatanger is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is Lauvsnes. Other villages include Jøssund, Hasvåg, and Vik.

Flatanger Municipality Flatanger kommune
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Trøndelag within Norway
Flatanger within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 64°25′11″N 10°54′28″E
Country	Norway
County	Trøndelag
District	Namdalen
Established	1 Jan 1871
• Preceded by	Fosnes Municipality
Administrative centre	Lauvsnes
Government
• Mayor (2011)	Olav Jørgen Bjørkås (Sp)
Area
• Total	458.72 km2 (177.11 sq mi)
• Land	433.53 km2 (167.39 sq mi)
• Water	25.18 km2 (9.72 sq mi)  5.5%
• Rank	#217 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	1,108
• Rank	#326 in Norway
• Density	2.6/km2 (7/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−4.3%
Demonym	Flatangring[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-5049[3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 459-square-kilometre (177 sq mi) municipality is the 217th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Flatanger is the 326th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,108. The municipality's population density is 2.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (6.7/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 4.3% over the previous 10-year period.^[4][5]

Flatanger is also known for having some of the most difficult sport climbing routes in the world.

General

View of a small fjord in Flatanger

Flatanger was established as a municipality in the old Nord-Trøndelag county on 1 January 1871 when it was separated from the large municipality of Fosnes. Initially, Flatanger had 1,472 residents. It is one of the few municipalities in Norway whose boundaries have not changed since it was established.^[6] In 2018, it became part of the new Trøndelag county.

Name

The municipality is likely named after one of the local fjords (Old Norse: Flat(r)angr), but it is not known exactly which one. The first element is flatr which means "flat" or "shallow". The last element is angr which means "fjord or inlet".^[7][8]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 October 1990. The official blazon is "Vert, three chevronels embowed argent" (Norwegian: I grønt tre innbøyde sølv sparrer). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is three chevrons with a slight curve to them. The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The green color was chosen to represent the agriculture industry in the municipality. The design was chosen to represent the bow of a boat, seen from the front, since boats have a great historical significance in this coastal fishing community. The arms were designed by Even Jarl Skoglund.^[9][10][11]

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Flatanger. It is part of the Namdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Flatanger

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Flatanger	Vik Church	Vik	1873
	Løvøy Church	Lauvøya	1871

Geography

The municipality consists mostly of mainland, but also includes almost 1,400 islands of various sizes. Some of the major islands include Bjørøya, Lauvøya, Villa, Halmøya, and Kvernøya. Ellingråsa Lighthouse is located on the island of Bjørøya and Villa Lighthouse is on Villa. These islands all lie on the south side of the Folda firth. The Namsenfjorden forms part of the northern boundary of the municipality.

Government

Flatanger 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.^[12] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Politics

In the 2007 municipal elections, Flatanger had the highest vote for the Venstre party in all of Norway, at 42.9 per cent.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Flatanger is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Flatanger kommunestyre 2023–2027 ^[13]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
Total number of members:		15

Flatanger kommunestyre 2019–2023 ^[14]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
Total number of members:		15

Flatanger kommunestyre 2015–2019 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		15

Flatanger kommunestyre 2011–2015 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		15

Flatanger kommunestyre 2007–2011 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	8
	Joint list of the Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	3
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 2003–2007 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	5
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1999–2003 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[17]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	5
	Flatanger Non-party Election List (Flatanger Upolitiske Valgliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Flatanger non-party election list (Flatanger upolitiske valgliste)	4
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[21]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Flatanger non-party election list (Flatanger upolitiske valgliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Non-party common list (Upolitisk Fellesliste)	5
	Non-party election list (Upolitisk Valgliste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[23]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger herredsstyre 1959–1963 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger herredsstyre 1955–1959 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		17

Flatanger herredsstyre 1951–1955 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Flatanger herredsstyre 1947–1951 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		16

Flatanger herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[30]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Flatanger herredsstyre 1937–1941* ^[31]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	7
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.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Flatanger:^[32][33]

• 1871–1877: Olaus Vedege
• 1878–1879: Andreas Saxegård
• 1880–1883: Bernt H. Solem
• 1884–1885: Peder Musum
• 1886–1887: Ole Martin Løfsnes
• 1888–1893: Albert Opland (V)
• 1894–1898: Odin Aune (V)
• 1899–1901: Albert Opland (V)
• 1902–1916: Odin Aune (V)
• 1917–1928: Carl Sitter (V)
• 1929–1934: Anton Høstland (Bp)
• 1935–1937: Sigurd Halmøy (KrF)
• 1938–1940: Øistein Aarseth (V)
• 1941–1945: Lauritz Sved
• 1945–1947: Øistein Aarseth (V)
• 1948–1951: Anton Høstland (Bp)
• 1952–1953: Sverre Hustad (Ap)
• 1954–1955: Ingolf Lindseth
• 1956–1961: Carl Gulbrandsen (LL)
• 1962–1967: Birger Skotnes (LL)
• 1968–1969: Aage Aagård (Sp)
• 1970–1973: Otmar Lauvsnes (Sp)
• 1973–1979: Aage Aagård (Sp)
• 1980–1987: Øyvind Mårvik (LL)
• 1988–1995: Ronald Geving (Sp)
• 1995–1999: Per Bårdsen (Ap)
• 1999–2003: Trond Strøm (Sp)
• 2003–2011: Reidar Lindseth (V)
• 2011–present: Olav Jørgen Bjørkås (Sp)

Attractions

Rock climbing

Flatanger is home to some of the world's hardest sport climbs that are located in the nearby Hanshelleren Cave. In 2012, Adam Ondra completed the redpoint of Change [fr], which became the first-ever rock climbing route in history to be graded at 9b+ (5.15c). In 2017, Ondra completed the redpoint of Silence, which then became the first-ever to be graded at 9c (5.15d). The cave has attracted many of the world's strongest sport climbers.^[34][35]

• 
  Hanshelleren Cave, home to the world's hardest sport climbs
• 
  Adam Ondra on Silence 9c (5.15d)
• 
  Moritz Welt on Odin's Eye 8c+ (5.14c)
• 
  Daniel Woods on Thor's Hammer 9a+ (5.15a)

Notable people

• Ole Konrad Ribsskog (1865 in Flatanger – 1941), a Norwegian teacher and politician, Mayor of Trondhjem
• Toralf Sandø (1899 in Flatanger – 1970), a Norwegian film director and actor ^[36]
• Julie Dahle Aagård (born 1978 in Flatanger), a Norwegian Jazz singer, sister of Tora Dahle Aagård
• Tora Dahle Aagård (born 1994 in Flatanger), a Norwegian guitarist, singer and songwriter, sister of Julie Dahle Aagård
• Brede Moe (born 1991 in Flatanger), a Norwegian footballer with 180 club caps

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. Store norske leksikon. "Flatanger" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 18 August 2011.
8. Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 344.
9. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
10. "Flatanger, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
11. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
12. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
13. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Trøndelag Trööndelage". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
14. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
15. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
16. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
32. Hylland, Julian (1962). Flatangerboka (in Norwegian). Flatanger kommune. pp. 132–136.
33. Ekker, Johannes (1951). Soga åt Otterøy heradstyre: (Otterøyutgaven) : Otterøy, Fosnes og Flatanger 1838-1870, Otterøy og Fosnes 1871-1912, Otterøy 1913-1940 (in Norwegian). Trondheim: Aktietrykkeriet.
34. "Adam Ondra climbs world's first 9c at Flatanger in Norway". 4 September 2017.
35. "Facebook photo". Facebook. 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
36. Toralf Sandø at IMDb. Retrieved 08 October 2020.

External links

• Media related to Flatanger at Wikimedia Commons
• Trøndelag travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)