Skudeneshavn

Skudeneshavn^ⓘ (also known as Skudeneshamn or simply Skudenes) is a town in Karmøy municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located on the southernmost tip of the island of Karmøy at the entrance to the Boknafjorden and Karmsundet strait. The town is part of the traditional district of Haugaland. The town was an independent municipality due to its status as a ladested from 1858 until 1965.^[6]

Skudeneshavn Skudeneshamn
Town
Skudeneshavn in July 1951
Skudeneshavn Location of the town Show map of Rogaland Skudeneshavn Skudeneshavn (Norway) Show map of Norway
Coordinates: 59.1501°N 5.2566°E / 59.1501; 5.2566
Country	Norway
Region	Western Norway
County	Rogaland
District	Haugaland
Municipality	Karmøy Municipality
Established as
Ladested	10 Feb 1858
Area [1]
• Total	2.54 km2 (0.98 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	3 m (10 ft)
Population  (2020)[1]
• Total	3,334
• Density	1,313/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Skudnesbu,[3] skudenesbu[4]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code	4280 Skudeneshavn
Former municipality
Skudeneshavn ladested
Rogaland within Norway
Skudeneshavn within Rogaland
Country	Norway
County	Rogaland
District	Haugaland
Established	10 Feb 1858
• Preceded by	Skudenes Municipality
Disestablished	1 Jan 1965
• Succeeded by	Karmøy Municipality
Administrative centre	Skudeneshavn
Area  (upon dissolution)
• Total	0.5 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Population  (1965)
• Total	1,275
• Density	2,600/km2 (6,600/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	NO-1104[5]
Data from Statistics Norway

The 2.54-square-kilometre (630-acre) town has a population (2019) of 3,334 and a population density of 1,313 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,400/sq mi).^[1] This makes Skudeneshavn one of the smallest towns in Norway (Kolvereid, with 1,470 inhabitants is the smallest). In 1990, it won second prize in NORTRA's competition for Norway's Best Preserved Small Town.^[7]

History

The village of Skudeneshavn was declared to be a ladested (port town) on 10 February 1858. Since towns were not allowed to be part of a rural municipality, Skudeneshavn was removed from the municipality of Skudenes, and it was established as its own urban municipality. Initially, Skudeneshavn municipality had 1,209 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the town-municipality of Skudeneshavn was merged into the newly formed municipality of Karmøy (along with Skudenes, Avaldsnes, Stangaland, Kopervik, and Torvastad). Prior to the merger, Skudeneshavn had 1,275 residents. At the time of the merger, Skudeneshavn lost its status as a town (ladested). In 1996, after the law on towns had been changed, the municipality of Karmøy declared Skudeneshavn to be a town once again.^[8]

Name

The town (originally the municipality and parish) is named after the Skudenes peninsula (Old Norse: Skútunes) at the south end of the island of Karmøy. The first element is the genitive case of skúta which means "rock wall that is sticking out", referring to the rocky islets and skerries that lie just off the shore of the peninsula. The second element is nes which means "headland". The last element is havn which means "harbor" or "port".^[9]

Municipal self-government (1858-1964)

From 1858 through 1964, Skudeneshavn was a self-governing municipality. While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.^[10]

Municipal council

The municipal council (Bystyre) of Skudeneshavn was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1964 ^[11]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	7
Total number of members:		21

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1960–1963 ^[12]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	7
Total number of members:		21

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1956–1959 ^[13]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	7
Total number of members:		21

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1952–1955 ^[14]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	6
Total number of members:		20

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1948–1951 ^[15]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	9
Total number of members:		20

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1945–1947 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	7
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	2
Total number of members:		20

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1938–1941* ^[17]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	14
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.

Skudeneshavn bystyre 1935–1937 ^[18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	8
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	5
Total number of members:		20

Attractions

Skudeneshavn's old town (Gamle Skudeneshavn), consisting of 225 wooden houses/boathouses, is regarded as one of the best preserved in Europe. In 2004, it was voted Norway's "Summer Town" by listeners to NRK Radio's Reiseradioen programme.^[19]

Each year the "Skudeneshavn International Literature and Culture festival" (Norwegian: Skudeneshavn Internasjonale Litteratur- og Kulturfestival) (SILK festival) is held on the first weekend of November.

Skudefestival

Every year, Skudeneshavn hosts a "boating" festival known as Skudefestivalen. It usually runs for four days (Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun) at the end of June or beginning of July (it is a 'moveable' date). The festival is the largest gathering of coastal culture in Western Norway, with boats of all categories - old wooden boats, vintage boats, modern boats, sailing boats, tall ships - the town is full of life around the harbour - both on land and on water. Markets stalls are set up in the Town Square. Craftsmen demonstrate handcrafts from olden days connected to sea and shipping. Boat builders, ship models, old engines. An art exhibition in Søragadå - the main and narrow street in "Old Skudeneshavn" is held with a new festival artist chosen every year. Visitors can see the exhibitions in "Bytunet" in the old part of town. Entertainment is provided in the daytime - and in the evenings in the festival tent featuring national and international artists and in the many sea houses Celtic music, blues and middle-of the road pop. Travelling amusement rides and arcades usually time their visits to coincide with this popular festival, providing extra enjoyment for younger children and teenagers. Every year about 35,000 people visit the festival and it gathers more than 600 boats. The festival in 2017 was between 29 June - 2 July and is the 24th festival. The festival in 2018 is between 5 and 8 July.^[20]

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway

References

1. Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 2019). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
2. "Skudeneshavn, Karmøy (Rogaland)". yr.no. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
3. "Innbyggjarnamn - Språkrådet" (in Norwegian). Language Council of Norway. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
4. Vårvik, Bjørn Inge (11 September 2020). "Skudenesbu kan havne på Stortinget - SkudenesNytt.no" (in Norwegian). SkudenesNytt. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
5. Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
6. Store norske leksikon. "Skudeneshavn – tidligere kommune" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2 November 2015.
7. "Gamle Skudeneshavn" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 28 May 2007.
8. Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
9. Rygh, Oluf (1915). Norske gaardnavne: Stavanger amt (in Norwegian) (10 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 383.
10. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
11. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
12. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
13. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
14. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
15. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
16. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
17. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
18. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1935. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
19. "Old Skudeneshavn - fishing village of Karmøy". The Karmøy Museums. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
20. "Boating Festival". Archived from the original on 7 January 2008.

External links

• Skudeneshavn.com Archived 17 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine