Gjemnes

This article is about the municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. For the village, see Gjemnes (village).

Gjemnes is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway on the Romsdal peninsula. It is part of the Nordmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Batnfjordsøra, which lies along the Batnfjorden and it is a former steamship landing place. Other villages in Gjemnes include Torvikbukt, Flemma, Angvika, Gjemnes, Øre, and Osmarka.

Gjemnes Municipality Gjemnes kommune
Municipality
View of Torvikbukt
Flag Coat of arms
Møre og Romsdal within Norway
Gjemnes within Møre og Romsdal
Coordinates: 62°54′59″N 07°55′09″E
Country	Norway
County	Møre og Romsdal
District	Nordmøre
Established	1 Jan 1893
• Preceded by	Kvernes, Frei, and Øre
Administrative centre	Batnfjordsøra
Government
• Mayor (2015)	Knut Sjømæling (Sp)
Area
• Total	381.62 km2 (147.34 sq mi)
• Land	371.08 km2 (143.27 sq mi)
• Water	10.55 km2 (4.07 sq mi)  2.8%
• Rank	#243 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	2,669
• Rank	#243 in Norway
• Density	7.2/km2 (19/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	+4.4%
Demonym	Gjemnesing[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1557[3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 382-square-kilometre (147 sq mi) municipality is the 243rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Gjemnes is the 243rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,669. The municipality's population density is 7.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.4% over the previous 10-year period.^[4][5]

General information

The municipality of Gjemnes was established on 1 September 1893 when the southern part of Kvernes Municipality (population: 477), the northern part of Øre Municipality (population: 226), and the southwestern part of Frei Municipality (population: 231) were merged. The initial population of the municipality was 934. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, Øre Municipality (population: 1,565) and all of Tingvoll Municipality located west of the Tingvollfjorden (population: 778) were merged with Gjemnes Municipality (population: 697) to form a new, larger municipality of Gjemnes.^[6]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Gjemnes farm (Old Norse: Gímnes) since it was the site of Gjemnes Church. The first element is somewhat uncertain. It may come from an old river name (Gíma). The river name may be derived from the word gíma which means "opening" or "mouth". The last element is nes which means "headland".^[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 4 November 1983. The official blazon is "Vert, a deer head cabossed Or" (Norwegian: I grønt et gull hjortehode, sett forfra). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is the head and antlers of a red deer. The charge 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 green color in the field symbolizes the importance of the agricultural history of the community. The deer head was chosen since these deer are quite common in the municipality. The deer antlers have twelve points on them, representing the twelve districts of Gjemnes. The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth who based it off an original idea by Birger A. Eikrem. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[8][9][10]

See also: the coats of arms of Hitra, Hjartdal, and Voss

Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Gjemnes. It is part of the Indre Nordmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

Churches in Gjemnes

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Gjemnes	Gjemnes Church	Gjemnes	1893
Øre	Øre Church	Øre	1865
	Osmarka Chapel	Heggem	1910

Geography

Storlandet and the mountain Harstadfjellet

The municipality lies along the Kvernesfjorden, Batnfjorden, Freifjorden, and Tingvollfjorden. The mountain Reinsfjellet (highest in the municipality) lies near Torvikbukt. The municipality also includes the island of Bergsøya which is located at the junction of the fjords near the village of Gjemnes.

Gjemnes is surrounded by Kristiansund Municipality and Averøy Municipality to the north; Eide, Fræna, and Molde municipalities to the west; Nesset Municipality to the south; and Tingvoll Municipality to the east.

Government

Gjemnes 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.^[11] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Møre og Romsdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Gjemnes 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.

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2023–2027 ^[12]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2019–2023 ^[13]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2015–2019 ^[14]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2011–2015 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2007–2011 ^[14]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 2003–2007 ^[14]  

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

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1999–2003 ^[14]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		21

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[17]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
Total number of members:		21

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Gjemnes common list (Gjemnes samlingsliste)	3
Total number of members:		21

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Gjemnes common list (Gjemnes samlingsliste)	5
Total number of members:		19

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[21]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Gjemnes common list (Gjemnes samlingsliste)	6
Total number of members:		19

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	9
Total number of members:		19

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[23]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	8
Total number of members:		25

Gjemnes kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		13

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1959–1963 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	6
Total number of members:		13

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1955–1959 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		13

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1951–1955 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		12

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1947–1951 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	4
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		12

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		12

Gjemnes herredsstyre 1937–1941* ^[30]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	6
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	3
Total number of members:		12
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 Gjemnes (incomplete list):

• 1898-1910: Kristoffer Høgset (V)
• 1913-1922: Kristoffer Høgset (Bp)
• 1972-1991: Ole Øverland (Sp)
• 1999-2007: Odd Steinar Bjerkeset (KrF)
• 2007-2011: Knut Sjømæling (Sp)
• 2011-2015: Odd Steinar Bjerkeset (KrF)
• 2015–present: Knut Sjømæling (Sp)

Transport

European Route E39 runs through the municipality and over the Gjemnessund Bridge and Bergsøysund Bridge connecting Gjemnes to Tingvoll Municipality. The Freifjord Tunnel (part of Norwegian National Road 70) runs from Bergsøya to the nearby island of Frei (and ultimately Kristiansund).

Gjemnes and the Gjemnessundbrua

Notable people

• Anton Berge (1892–1951) – a Norwegian agronomist and local politician
• Heine Gikling Bruseth (b. 2004) – professional footballer
• John Neergaard (1795–1885) – a Norwegian farmer and bailiff (lensmann) in Gjemnes 1836 to 1854

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. ISBN 9788253746845.
7. Rygh, Oluf (1908). Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt (in Norwegian) (13 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 354.
8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
9. "Gjemnes, Møre og Romsdal (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
10. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 7 January 1984. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
11. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
12. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Møre og Romsdal". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
13. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Møre og Romsdal". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
14. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
15. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Møre og Romsdal". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
16. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
17. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
21. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
22. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
23. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
25. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

External links

• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Official website (in Norwegian)
• Media related to Gjemnes at Wikimedia Commons
• Møre og Romsdal travel guide from Wikivoyage