Astafjord Municipality

General information

Historically, Astafjord was a prestegjeld that encompassed a large part of southern Troms county, including the present-day municipalities of Bardu, Gratangen, Ibestad, Lavangen, Salangen, and most of Tjeldsund. When municipalities were created in Norway in 1838, the old parish was created as Ibestad Municipality (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

Astafjord Municipality was established on 1 July 1926 when the large Ibestad Municipality was separated into four municipalities: Ibestad Municipality (population: 1,768), Andørja Municipality (population: 1,420), Astafjord Municipality (population: 1,018), and Gratangen Municipality (population: 1,967). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Astafjord (population: 1,120) was merged with the part of Skånland Municipality on the mainland (population: 2,246) to create a new larger Skånland Municipality (the rest of the old Skånland on the island of Rolla joined Ibestad Municipality).

Name

The municipality was named after the Astafjorden strait which was named after the old Ånstad farm (). The first element of the old name comes from the male name Arna or "Arne", the second element means "home" or "farm", and the last element is identical with the word for "fjord". Thus, the name literally means the "fjord by Arne's farm".

Churches

The Church of Norway did not have any churches within Astafjord Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Skånland Church prestegjeld within the Trondenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Geography

The highest point in the municipality is the 1305.9 m tall mountain Skittendalstinden.

Government

While it existed, Astafjord Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Astafjord Municipality was made up of 15 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party. |}} |}} |}} |}} |}} |}}

Mayors

The mayor () of Astafjord Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:

• 1926–1929: Martin Rasmussen
• 1929–1932: Viggo Tande
• 1933–1942: Hartvik Nilsen
• 1945–1945: Viggo Tande
• 1945–1945: Peder Dyrstad
• 1946–1963: Peder Ellefsen

References

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References

1. (1932). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
2. (2024-01-16). "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune". [[Kartverket]].
3. (2018-04-04). "Astafjord". [[Kunnskapsforlaget]].
4. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)".
5. Statistisk sentralbyrå. (1951-01-01). "Norges Sivile, Geistlige, Rettslige og Militære Inndeling 1. Januar 1951". H. Aschehoug & Co..
6. Jukvam, Dag. (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen". [[Statistics Norway.
7. Rygh, Oluf. (1911). "Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt". W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
8. {{Cite SNL. kommunestyre. kommunestyre. 2024-12-31. Hansen. Tore. 2024-11-25
9. (1960). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
10. (1957). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
11. (1952). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
12. (1948). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
13. (1947). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
14. (1938). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
15. (2010-04-20). "Ordførere i Gamle Astafjord".