Vegårshei

Vegårshei is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Myra. Other villages in Vegårshei include Mo and Ubergsmoen.^[4]

Vegårshei Municipality Vegårshei kommune
Municipality
Vegaardsheien herred  (historic name)
View of the lake Vegår
Flag Coat of arms
Agder within Norway
Vegårshei within Agder
Coordinates: 58°46′32″N 08°49′56″E
Country	Norway
County	Agder
District	Sørlandet
Established	1 Jan 1838
• Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centre	Myra
Government
• Mayor (2019)	Kjetil Torp (KrF)
Area
• Total	355.67 km2 (137.32 sq mi)
• Land	321.76 km2 (124.23 sq mi)
• Water	33.89 km2 (13.09 sq mi)  9.5%
• Rank	#249 in Norway
Population  (2023)
• Total	2,143
• Rank	#272 in Norway
• Density	6.7/km2 (17/sq mi)
• Change (10 years)	+7.9%
Demonym	Vegårsheiing[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Neutral
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-4212[3]
Website	Official website
Data from Statistics Norway

The 356-square-kilometre (137 sq mi) municipality is the 249th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vegårshei is the 272nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,143. The municipality's population density is 6.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (17/sq mi) and its population has increased by 7.9% over the previous 10-year period.^[5][6]

History

Farm area in Færsnes

Haukenes area

Vegårshei Church

The parish of Vegaardsheien was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The borders of the municipality have not changed since that time.^[7]

The population was at its largest in 1930, population 2161.^[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old name for the area (Old Norse: Vigisheiðr) since the first Vegårshei Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the lake Vegår. The meaning of the lake name is uncertain. One theory is that it comes from the word vé which means "pagan sanctuary". Another theory is that it comes from the verb vígja which means "to consecrate" or "to dedicate". The last element is heiðr which means "heath" or "moor". Historically, the name was spelled as Wegaardsheien or Vegaardsheien, and sometimes it was abbreviated as simply Heien.^[4][9] On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Vegaarshei.^[10] On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Vegaarshei with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Vegårshei, using the letter å instead.^[11][12]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 30 April 1987. The official blazon is "Gules, a fox sejant argent" (Norwegian: I rødt en sittende sølv rev). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a fox. The fox 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 fox was chosen as a representative of the local wildlife and also for the fox farming in the municipality. The arms were designed by Daniel Rike. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[13][14][15]

Culture

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vegårshei. It is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Vegårshei

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Vegårshei	Vegårshei Church	Myra	1808

Geography

Vegårshei is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Nissedal (in Telemark county) and Gjerstad, on the east by Risør, on the south by Tvedestrand, and on the west by Åmli. The lake Vegår dominates the northern part of the hilly and forested municipality.

Government

Vegårshei 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.^[16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vegårshei 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.

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2023–2027 ^[17]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2019–2023 ^[18]  

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

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2015–2019 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	6
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2011–2015 ^[20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2007–2011 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 2003–2007 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1999–2003 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	6
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	5
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[21]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
Total number of members:		21

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[23]  

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

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	2
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	4
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), Liberal Party (Venstre), and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	6
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Centre Party (Senterpartiet), Liberal Party (Venstre), and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	7
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1959–1963 ^[30]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1955–1959 ^[31]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	8
Total number of members:		17

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1951–1955 ^[32]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	7
Total number of members:		16

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1947–1951 ^[33]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	5
Total number of members:		16

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[34]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		16

Vegårshei herredsstyre 1937–1941* ^[35]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	5
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	4
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 Vegårshei (incomplete list):

• 1907-1919: Torjus Værland (V)
• 2003-2011: Maya Twedt Berli (Ap)
• 2011-2015: Kjetil Torp (KrF)
• 2015-2019: Kirsten Helen Myren (Sp)
• 2019-present: Kjetil Torp (KrF)

Economy

As of 2019, public administration and the service sector, are most important in regard to employment; the retail industry and entities that have hotel services and those that serve food and beverages, constitute 11% of employment; agriculture and forestry accounts for 9% of employment; manufacturing accounts for 7% of employment—21% including those employed in construction and those employed in the energy sector and [water supply]vannforsyning/ [garbage collection or] renovasjon.^[8] Of the inhabitants that are employed, 55% have employment outside the municipal borders.^[8]

It is well-suited for hunting and fishing for residents and tourists alike.

Transportation

The Sørlandsbanen railway line runs through the municipality, stopping at Vegårshei Station, just north of the village of Myra. There are several Norwegian county roads that cross the municipality, connecting it to its neighbors. Some of the roads include Norwegian County Road 414, Norwegian County Road 415, Norwegian County Road 416, and Norwegian County Road 417.

Notable people

• Lars Vegard (1880 in Vegårshei – 1963), a physicist and researcher of the aurora borealis
• Ole Colbjørnsen (1897in Vegårshei – 1973), a journalist, economist, and politician
• Tjostolv Moland (1981 in Vegårshei – 2013 in Kinshasa), a former Norwegian army officer and security contractor

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. Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (5 April 2016). "Vegårshei". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
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. "Vegårshei – Store norske leksikon". Snl.no. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
9. Rygh, Oluf (1905). Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt (in Norwegian) (8 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 1.
10. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
11. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
12. Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
13. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
14. "Vegårshei, Aust-Agder (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
15. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 30 April 1987. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
16. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
17. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
18. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
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 – Aust-Agder". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
24. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
25. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
26. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
27. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
28. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
29. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
34. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
35. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 12 December 2020.

External links

• Media related to Vegårshei at Wikimedia Commons
• Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
• Aust-Agder travel guide from Wikivoyage