{{short description|Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Avaldsnes |herred = yes |former = yes |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |official_name = |image_skyline = Avaldsnes kirke.jpg |image_caption = View of northern Avaldsnes |idnumber = 1147 |county = Rogaland |district = [[Haugaland]] |capital = [[Avaldsnes]] |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |disestablished = 1 Jan 1965 |succeeded = [[Karmøy Municipality]] |demonym = Avaldsnesbu |language = [[Norwegian language|Neutral]]<ref name="lang">{{Cite journal |year=1932 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015110481043_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |pages=453-471}}</ref> |coatofarms = |flag = |mayor = Sverre K. Andersen |mayor_party = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]] |mayor_as_of = 1963–1964 |elevation_max_m = 249 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |title=Kart over Norge |url=https://norgeskart.no/#!?project=norgeskart&layers=1001&zoom=13&markerLat=6628055.828650171&markerLon=-46238.76217882696&lat=6628055.83&lon=-46238.76&p=searchOptionsPanel&sok=krokavassn |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 396 |area_total_km2 = 125.9 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 1964 |population_rank = 191 |population_total = 5069 |population_density_km2 = 40.3 |population_increase = 16.6 |coordinates = {{coord|59|21|16|N|05|16|37|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Avaldsnes''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|125.9|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now divided between [[Karmøy Municipality]] and [[Tysvær Municipality]] in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Haugaland]]. The [[administrative centre]] was the village of [[Avaldsnes]] on the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]]. The area was an ancient centre of power on the west coast of Norway and is the site of one of Norway's more important areas of cultural history. The municipality encompassed the area surrounding the [[Førresfjorden]] and the area surrounding the central part of the [[Karmsundet]] strait, plus the central part of the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]].<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Avaldsnes_-_tidligere_kommune|Avaldsnes (tidligere kommune)|2026-02-21|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-27}}</ref>
Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the {{convert|125.9|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 396th largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Avaldsnes Municipality was the 191st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about {{formatnum:5069}}. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|40.3|PD/km2}} and its population had increased by 16.6% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=no}}</ref><ref name="SS1951">{{Cite book |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_049.pdf |title=Norges Sivile, Geistlige, Rettslige og Militære Inndeling 1. Januar 1951 |date=1951-01-01 |publisher=H. Aschehoug & Co. |series=Norges Offisielle Statistikk |location=Oslo, Norge |language=no |format=PDF |authorlink=Statistics Norway}}</ref>
==General information== [[File:Dahl.I.C.1820.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Painting of Avaldsnes {{credit|[[Johan Christian Dahl]]}}]] [[File:No-nb digibok 2014091028002 0029 1.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Painting of Avaldsnes{{credit|[[Peter Frederik Wergmann]]}}]] [[File:Nordvegen Historiesenter, Avaldsnes.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Nordvegen History Center in Avaldsnes]] The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Avaldsnæs'' was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 16 August 1866, the local village of [[Kopervik]] was declared to be a [[List of towns and cities in Norway|town]]. Towns could not be part of another municipality, so the village of Kopervik (population: 737) was separated from Avaldsnes Municipality to become the new [[Kopervik Municipality]]. This division left Avaldsnes Municipality with 4,735 inhabitants.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no |isbn=9788253746845}}</ref>
On 1 January 1909, Avaldsnes Municipality was divided into two parts. The rural areas on the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]] surrounding the small town of [[Kopervik]] (population: 1,001) to form the new [[Stangaland Municipality|Kopervik herred]] (later called ''Stangaland Municipality''). The rest of Avaldsnes (population: 3,213) remained as smaller Avaldsnes Municipality.<ref name="Dag" />
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1965, Avaldsnes Municipality was dissolved and its lands were transferred to neighboring municipalities as follows:<ref name="Dag" /> {{flowlist}} *the areas of Avaldsnes located west of the [[Førresfjorden]] (population: 4,153) was merged with [[Skudenes Municipality]], [[Torvastad Municipality]], [[Åkra Municipality]], and with the towns of [[Kopervik]] and [[Skudeneshavn]] to form the new [[Karmøy Municipality]] *the areas of Avaldsnes located east of the Førresfjorden, including the districts of [[Førre]], Gismarvik, and Stegaberg, (population: 994) were merged into the neighboring [[Tysvær Municipality]] {{endflowlist}}
===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Avaldsnes]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Ǫgvaldsnes}}) since the historic [[Avaldsnes Church]] was built there. The first element comes from the old male name {{lang|non|Ǫgvaldr}} or {{lang|non|Ágvaldr}} (or the more modern [[Faroese language|Faroese]] version {{wikt-lang|fo|Øgvaldur}}). The last element comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|nes}} which means "[[headland]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Stavanger amt |date=1915 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=10 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=397 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>
===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Avaldsnes Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Avaldsnes [[prestegjeld]] and the [[Karmsund prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]].<ref name="SS1951" />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Avaldsnes Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="1"|Avaldsnes||[[Avaldsnes Church]]||[[Avaldsnes]]||{{circa|1250}} |- |rowspan="1"|Førdesfjorden||[[Førre Church]]||[[Førre]]||1893 |}
==Geography== The municipality encompassed the area surrounding the [[Førresfjorden]] and the area surrounding the central part of the [[Karmsundet]] strait, plus the central part of the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]]. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|249|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Krokavassnuten, located on the mainland just west of the village of [[Førre]].<ref name="elev" />
[[Haugesund Municipality]] was located to the north, [[Skjold Municipality]] was located to the northeast, [[Tysvær Municipality]] was located to the east, [[Bokn Municipality]] was located to the southeast, [[Stangaland Municipality]] and the town of [[Kopervik]] were located to the south, [[Utsira Municipality]] was located to the west, and [[Torvastad Municipality]] was located to the northwest.
==Government== While it existed, Avaldsnes Municipality was responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality was governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] was [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite SNL|kommunestyre|kommunestyre|2024-12-31|Hansen|Tore|2024-11-25|editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref> The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [[Karmsund District Court]] and the [[Gulating Court of Appeal]].
===Municipal council=== The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Herredsstyre)}} of Avaldsnes Municipality was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]]. {{div col}} {{Kommunestyre table
|name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1963 |end = 1965 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Venstre = 2 |Local_Lists = 5 |note = On 1 January 1965, Avaldsnes Municipality was divided between [[Karmøy Municipality]] and [[Tysvær Municipality]]. |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Venstre = 3 |Local_Lists = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 9 |Local_Lists = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |KrF/V = 4 |H/Sp = 2 |Local_Lists = 8 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3 |Local_Lists = 7 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Venstre = 2 |Local_Lists = 9 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Avaldsnes |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-07-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Høyre = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 6 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Local_Lists = 5 |}} {{div col end}}
===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Avaldsnes Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:<ref>{{cite book |last=Grude |first=Joakim |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016102648082 |title=Amtsformandskabet i Stavanger Amt 1838-1887 |publisher=Dreyers Boktrykkeri |year=1887 |location=Stavanger |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Grude |first=Joakim |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021052848654 |title=Amtsformandskabet i Stavanger Amt 1838-1918|publisher=Dreyers Grafiske Ansalt |year=1919|location=Stavanger |language=no}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1838–1839: Niels Baardsen Scheye<ref>{{Cite news |date=1838-08-19 |title=Amtsformandskabs-Forhandlinger Stavanger Amt |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_dennorskerigstidende_null_null_18380819_24_137_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Den Norske Rigstidende |page=1 |language=no}}</ref> *1840–1843: Rev. Johan Lyder Brun<ref>{{Cite news |date=1841-07-26 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskabs Forhandlinger |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18410726_1_59_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=5 |language=no}}</ref> *1844–1851: Henrik Eriksen Thuestad<ref>{{Cite news |date=1844-06-17 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskabs Forhandlinger for Aaret 1844 |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18440617_4_48_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=5 |language=no}}</ref> *1852–1853: Simon Gudmundsen Stave<ref>{{Cite news |date=1852-05-01 |title=Ordførere i 1852 |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18520501_12_35_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1854–1855: Christian Bertelsen<ref>{{Cite news |date=1854-07-17 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskabs Forhandlinger |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18540717_14_57_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=1 |language=no}}</ref> *1856–1857: Colben Eliassen Hinderager *1858–1861: Simon Gudmundsen Stave *1862–1863: Helge Knudsen Sørvaag *1864–1875: Simon Gudmundsen Stave<ref>{{Cite news |date=1866-06-04 |title=Amtsformandskabet begyndte sine forhandlinger idag |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18660604_26_45_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1876–1879: Colben Eliassen Hinderager<ref>{{Cite news |date=1878-06-24 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskab |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18780624_38_143_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=1 |language=no}}</ref> *1880–1882: Simon Gudmundsen Stave<ref>{{Cite news |date=1880-06-30 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskab |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerenattenfemtito_null_null_18800630_29_4697_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavangeren |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1883–1888: Torkel Lindeland<ref>{{Cite news |date=1886-06-29 |title=Amtsformandskabet for Stavanger Amt|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18860629_46_148_1|access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis|page=2|language=no}}</ref> *1888–1891: Erik H. Thuestad<ref>{{Cite news |date=1890-06-20 |title=Amtsformandskabet |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerenattenfemtito_null_null_18900620_39_7733_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavangeren |page=1|language=no}}</ref> *1892–1893: Josef J. Vaage *1894–1897: Lauritz P. Sund<ref>{{Cite news |date=1894-06-22 |title=Amtsformandskabet |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeravisattenaattini_null_null_18940622_7_141_1|access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Avis |page=2|language=no}}</ref> *1898–1916: Erik H. Thuestad *1917–1922: Peder Johan Skeie *1923–1925: Odd Aarsand<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19230102_13_1_1|title=Ordførervalg i Avaldsnes|date=1923-01-02|newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad|page=4}}</ref> *1925–1928: Johannes Kolnes<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerennittenseksten_null_null_19251231_9_305_1|title=Til ordfører i Avaldsnes|date=1925-12-31|newspaper=Stavangeren |page=2}}</ref> *1928–1932: Aadne Utvik<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerennittenseksten_null_null_19281231_12_302_1|title=I Avaldsnes|date=1928-12-31|newspaper=Stavangeren |page=9}}</ref> *1932–1941: Peder Johan Skeie<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19320104_40_2_1|title=Det siste ordførervalg i Rogaland|date=1932-01-04|newspaper=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]]|page=2}}</ref> *1942–1944: Magnus Utvik<ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-12-29 |title=Flere nye ordførere og varaordførere i Rogaland|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19421229_48_301_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Haugesunds Avis]]|page=4|language=no}}</ref> *1944–1945: Daniel Håvik<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundspressen_null_null_19440825_2_197_1|title=Ny ordfører i Avaldsnes|date=1844-08-25|newspaper=Haugesunds-Pressen|page=2}}</ref> *1945–1945: Peder Johan Skeie<ref name="AO" /> *1945–1947: Anders Olafsen<ref name="AO">{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19451229_33_100_1 |title=Anders Olafsen ny ordfører i Avaldsnes|date=1945-12-29|newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad|page=2}}</ref> *1947–1955: Wilhelm Østhus<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19471231_52_300_1 |title=Ordførarval i distriktet|date=1947-12-31|newspaper=[[Haugesunds Avis]]|page=3}}</ref> *1955–1957: Sigvart Røkke ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19551230_60_303_1|title=Ordførarskifte i Avaldsnes|date=1955-12-30|newspaper=[[Haugesunds Avis]]|page=3}}</ref> *1957–1963: Wilhelm Østhus<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19571220_62_296_1|title=Wilhelm Østhus ny ordfører i Avaldsnes|date=1957-12-20|newspaper=[[Haugesunds Avis]]|page=3}}</ref> *1963–1964: Sverre K. Andersen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{cite news|language=no|accessdate=2026-02-19|url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19631231_68_303_1 |title=Sverre K. Andersen vart vald til ny ordførar i Avaldsnes|date=1963-12-31|newspaper=[[Haugesunds Avis]]|page=5}}</ref> {{div col end}}
==See also== *[[List of former municipalities of Norway]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Rogaland|wikt=Avaldsnes}} {{Adjacent communities |state = collapsed |Centre = Avaldsnes Municipality |North = [[Haugesund Municipality]] |Northeast = [[Skjold Municipality]] |East = [[Tysvær Municipality]] |Southeast = [[Bokn Municipality]] |South = [[Kopervik Municipality]] |Southwest = [[Stangaland Municipality]] |West = [[Utsira Municipality]] |Northwest = [[Torvastad Municipality]] }} {{Rogaland}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Karmøy Municipality]] [[Category:Tysvær Municipality]] [[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]] [[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]] [[Category:1965 disestablishments in Norway]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1838]] [[Category:Populated places disestablished in 1965]]