Etnedal

Etnedal 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 Bruflat.^[4]

Etnedal Municipality Etnedal kommune
Municipality
Etnedalen herred  (historic name)
View of the lake Hafsenn
Flag Coat of arms
Innlandet within Norway
Etnedal within Innlandet
Coordinates: 60°58′2″N 9°39′13″E
Country	Norway
County	Innlandet
District	Valdres
Established	1 Jan 1894
• Preceded by	Nord-Aurdal and Sør-Aurdal
Administrative centre	Bruflat
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Linda Mæhlum Robøle (Sp)
Area
• Total	459.15 km2 (177.28 sq mi)
• Land	442.75 km2 (170.95 sq mi)
• Water	16.39 km2 (6.33 sq mi)  3.6%
• Rank	#216 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	1,239
• Rank	#315 in Norway
• Density	2.8/km2 (7/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	−11.4%
Demonym	Etnedøl[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-3450[3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 459-square-kilometre (177 sq mi) municipality is the 216th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Etnedal is the 315th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,239. The municipality's population density is 2.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 11.4% over the previous 10-year period.^[5][6]

General information

Bruflat church

Lunde bridge - the inspiration for the municipal arms

Etnedal was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1894 by merging the eastern valley area of Nordre Etnedal (population: 362) from the neighboring Nordre Aurdal municipality and the Søndre Etnedal area (population: 1,331) from the neighboring municipality of Søndre Aurdal. On 1 January 1979, there was a border adjustment in an unpopulated area where part of Etnedal was transferred to Nord-Aurdal and another part of Nord-Aurdal that was transferred to Etnedal.^[7][4]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Etnedalen valley (Old Norse: Etnardalr) since it was a central geographic feature of the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of local Etna river Etn. The meaning of the river name is uncertain but it is possibly derived from etja which means to "push forward" or from eta which means to "eat". The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale".^[8] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Etnedalen. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Etnedal, removing the definite form ending -en.^[9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 14 July 1989. The official blazon is "Azure, an arched bridge Or" (Norwegian: På blå grunn ei gull kvelvingsbru). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is an arched bridge. The bridge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The arms were designed to symbolize the old Lunde bridge (Lundebru) which is one of the best preserved stone bridges in Norway. The bridge is now a national monument. It is also Northern Europe's largest dry stone-arch bridge. The bridge was built in 1829 on the Old King's Road connecting the cities of Oslo and Bergen. A portion of the king's road was refurbished and turned into a footpath in 1992 and is now a natural and cultural walking path. The arms were designed by Ivar Aars. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^{[10][11][12][13]}

Churches

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

Churches in Etnedal

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Etnedal	Bruflat Church	Bruflat	1750
Nord-Etnedal	Nord-Etnedal Church	Brøtahaugen	1866

Geography

Etnedal is part of the traditional district of Valdres in central, southern Norway, situated between the Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal valleys. Valdres also includes the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, and Vang. Etnedal is bordered to the east by Nordre Land Municipality, to the south by Sør-Aurdal Municipality, and on the west and north by Nord-Aurdal Municipality.

The river Etna flows through the municipality, then into Nordre Land municipality and then down into Randsfjorden. The mountain Spåtind lies in the northern part of the municipality.

Government

Etnedal 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.^[14] 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 Etnedal 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.

Etnedal kommunestyre 2023–2027 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
Total number of members:		15

Etnedal kommunestyre 2019–2023 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		15

Etnedal kommunestyre 2015–2019 ^[17][18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		15

Etnedal kommunestyre 2011–2015 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		15

Etnedal kommunestyre 2007–2011 ^[18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	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:		15

Etnedal kommunestyre 2003–2007 ^[18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1999–2003 ^[18][20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Etnedal independent local list (Etnedal uavhengig bygdeliste)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[21]  

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

Etnedal kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[23]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal herredsstyre 1959–1963 ^[30]  

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

Etnedal herredsstyre 1955–1959 ^[31]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	3
Total number of members:		17

Etnedal herredsstyre 1951–1955 ^[32]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	4
Total number of members:		16

Etnedal herredsstyre 1947–1951 ^[33]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	5
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Etnedal herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[34]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Etnedal herredsstyre 1937–1940* ^[35]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	4
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	6
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 Etnedal:^[36][37]

• 1894–1900: Arild Huitfeldt Siewers
• 1900–1901: Nils Hagaseth
• 1901–1904: Erik Thon
• 1904–1907: Aslak E. Bruflat
• 1907–1913: Engebret Espelien
• 1913–1919: Nils Nielsen
• 1919–1922: Carl Christian Wishman
• 1922–1925: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
• 1925–1928: Martin Lundstein (V)
• 1928–1931: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
• 1931–1934: Engebret Haug
• 1934–1937: Ole E. Bruflat (V)
• 1937–1940: Torleiv Hodne (Ap)
• 1940–1945: (Vacant due to the war)
• 1946–1959: Iver K. Haug (V)
• 1960–1967: Nicolai Hestekind (H)
• 1968–1974: Ole Fløgum (Ap)
• 1975-1975: Kristian Midthus (Sp)
• 1976–1979: Alfred Steinset (KrF)
• 1980–1983: Knut Engelien (Sp)
• 1984–1999: Odd Byfuglien (Sp)
• 1999–2014: Jan Arild Berg (Sp)
• 2014–2019: Toril Grønbrekk (Ap)
• 2019–present: Linda Mæhlum Robøle (Sp)

Economy

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

Ancestry	Number
Syria	27
Eritrea	22
Netherlands	18

Occupations in the municipality include animal husbandry and logging, but there is also some industry and tourism.

Notable people

• Sigurd Lybeck (1895 in Etnedal – 1975), a Norwegian writer, featured Jens von Bustenskjold
• Iacob Dybwad Sømme (1898 in Etnedal – 1944), a Norwegian ichthyologist and resistance member
• Ingjerd Thon Hagaseth (born 1967), a Norwegian politician and deputy mayor of Etnedal
• Ingebjørg Saglien Bråten (born 1999 in Etnedal), a Norwegian ski jumper

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. Svendsen, Trond Olav, ed. (10 August 2022). "Etnedal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
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 (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 242.
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. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
11. "Etnedal, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
12. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 September 1989. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
13. "Kommunevåpenet-bru i blått" (in Norwegian). Etnedal kommune. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
14. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
15. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
16. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
17. "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
18. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
19. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
20. Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
21. Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
22. Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
23. Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
24. Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
25. Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
26. Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
27. Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
28. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
29. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
35. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
36. Hvattum, Harald (1989). Gard og bygd i Etnedal (in Norwegian). Leira, Norge: Valdres bygdeboks forl. pp. 113–114. ISBN 8299200911.
37. Hvattum, Harald (1993). Etnedal kommune 1894-1994 (in Norwegian). Etnedal: Kommunen. p. 149. ISBN 8299200954.
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 29 June 2015.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Innlandet travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Etnedal Municipality (in Norwegian)