Bjerkreim Municipality

{{short description|Municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Bjerkreim |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Birkrem herred |image_skyline = Runaskaret.jpg |image_caption = View of the Bjerkreim landscape |idnumber = 1114 |county = Rogaland |district = Dalane |capital = [[Vikeså]] |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |demonym = Bjerkreimsbu |language = Nynorsk |coatofarms = Bjerkreim komm.svg |webpage = www.bjerkreim.kommune.no |mayor = Tone Vaule |mayor_party = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]] |mayor_as_of = 2023 |elevation_max_m = 906.99 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/fakta-om-norge/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 173 |area_total_km2 = 650.55 |area_land_km2 = 576.15 |area_water_km2 = 74.4 |area_water_percent = 11.4 |population_as_of = 2026 |population_rank = 236 |population_total = 2894 |population_density_km2 = 4.4 |population_increase = 2.4 |coordinates = {{coord|58|39|25|N|06|08|48|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}

'''Bjerkreim''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Dalane]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Vikeså]]. Other villages in the municipality include [[Røysland, Rogaland|Røysland]] and [[Øvrebygd]].

Nature has been generous in giving Bjerkreim many idyllic places, making Bjerkreim a good place to live by living in a countryside environment, but still relatively close to a major city, [[Stavanger (city)|Stavanger]]. Bjerkreim has one of the most important [[salmon]] rivers in Norway, ''Bjerkreimselva''. The most important livelihoods are [[agriculture]] and small-scale industries.

The {{convert|650.55|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 173rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Bjerkreim Municipality is the 236th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of {{formatnum:2894}}. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|4.4|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 2.4% 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="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=no}}</ref>

==General information== [[File:Indra Vinjavatnet 01.jpg|thumb|upright|left|View of the lake Indra Vinjavatnet]] [[File:Vikeså skule.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Vikeså School]] [[File:Ivesdal kapell.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Ivesdal Chapel]]]] The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Birkrem'' (later spelled ''Bjerkreim'') was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]].<ref>{{Cite SNL|Nikolai_Schei|Nikolai Schei|2026-03-19|Grepstad|Jon|2025-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite SNL|kommuneinndelingen_i_Norge|kommuneinndelingen i Norge|2026-03-19|Hansen|Tore|2024-05-27|editor2-first=Geir|editor2-last=Thorsnæs}}</ref> On 1 January 1965, the ''Nedre Maudal'' area of Bjerkreim Municipality (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring [[Gjesdal Municipality]]. The boundaries have not changed since that time.<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>

===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Bjerkreim (village)|Bjerkreim]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Bjarkarheimr}}), since the first [[Bjerkreim Church]] was built there The first element is the [[genitive case]] of {{wikt-lang|non|bjørk}} which means "[[birch]]". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|heimr}} which means "homestead" or "farm". Before 1889, the name was written ''"Birkrem"''.<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 |pages=47–49 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms=== The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 11 July 1986. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]], a birch branch with six leaves and four catkins [[argent]]"'' ({{langx|no|På grøn grunn ein opprett sølv bjørkekvist med sju blad og fire raklar}}). This means the arms have a green [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a vertical branch from a [[birch]] tree which has six leaves and four [[catkin]]s. The charge has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design was chosen since the name of the municipality is derived from the Norwegian word for birch, ''{{lang|no|bjørk}}'', thus the arms are [[Canting arms|canting]]. The arms were designed by John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Bjerkreim |access-date=2023-06-30 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bjerkreim, Rogaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-11-14.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-07-11 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-07-11-1545 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> {{See also-text|Coats of arms of [[Coat of arms of Birkenes|Birkenes]]|[[Coat of arms of Lavangen|Lavangen]]}}

===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Bjerkreim Municipality. It is part of the [[Dalane prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]].

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Bjerkreim Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="2"|Bjerkreim||[[Bjerkreim Church]]||[[Røysland, Rogaland|Røysland]]||1835 |- |[[Ivesdal Chapel]]||[[Øvrebygd]]||1876 |}

==Government== Bjerkreim Municipality is 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 is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[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 is under the jurisdiction of the [[Sør-Rogaland District Court]] and the [[Gulating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council=== The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Bjerkreim Municipality is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The executive committee of the council has 5 members, who also make up the authority's planning and economic committee. The mayor of Bjerkreim leads both the council and the executive committee. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by [[political party]]. {{div col}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/rogaland/bjerkreim#seats |access-date=2024-01-25 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |collapsed = |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 3 |otherparty = Bjerkreim Local List |otherparty_no = Bjerkreim Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/rogaland/bjerkreim#seats |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=Norwegian}}</ref> |nynorsk = yes |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/rogaland/#seats |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |nynorsk = yes |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Venstre = 1 |Høyre = 5 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 9 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 7 |otherparty = Local list |otherparty_no = Bygdelista |otherparty_number = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 5 |otherparty = Local list |otherparty_no = Bygdelista |otherparty_number = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 6 |otherparty = Local list |otherparty_no = Bygdelista |otherparty_number = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 6 |otherparty = Local list |otherparty_no = Bygdelista |otherparty_number = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 9 |otherparty = Local list |otherparty_no = Bygdelista |otherparty_number = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-06-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 7 |Venstre = 4 |Local_Lists = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Venstre = 2 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 9 |Venstre = 3 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Venstre = 3 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 16 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 1 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 10 |Venstre = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-14 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 14 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Bjerkreim |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=2020-05-16 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 16 |Høyre = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 10 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} {{div col end}}

===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Bjerkreim Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:<ref>{{Cite web |year=2024 |editor-last=Fiva |editor-first=Jon H |editor2-last=Sørensen |editor2-first=Rune J. |editor3-last=Vøllo |editor3-first=Reidar |title=Local Candidate Dataset |url=https://www.jon.fiva.no/docs/FivaSorensenVollo2024.pdf}}</ref><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> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * 1838–1839: Thønnis Tollefsen Bjerkreim * 1840–1841: Rasmus Rasmussen Osland * 1842–1843: Omund Mauritsen Adsem * 1844–1845: Erik Eriksen Espeland * 1846–1849: Erik Adamsen Løvbræk * 1850–1853: Sigbjørn Staalesen Hytland * 1854–1855: Omund Mauritsen Adsem * 1856–1865: Christian Larsen Kløgetvedt * 1866–1869: Ole Villadsen Sagland * 1870–1879: Christian Larsen Kløgetvedt * 1880–1881: Jonas Knutsen Vigesaa * 1882–1893: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela * 1894–1897: Tollef Asbjørnsen Gjedrem * 1898–1899: Tønnes Tollefsen Bjerkrheim * 1899–1901: Tollef Carlsen Laksesvela * 1902–1904: Sem Johan Jonassen Vaule * 1905–1919: Gitle A. Birkrem * 1920–1922: Peder Carlson Skjæveland * 1923–1925: Arne Gjedrem * 1926–1934: Karl Laksesvela * 1935–1940: Arne Gjedrem * 1945–1947: Arne Gjedrem * 1948–1955: Martin Veen * 1956–1963: Karl L. Skjæveland * 1964–1966: Martin Veen * 1966–1975: Tolleiv Gjedrem * 1976–1979: Lloyd Vaule * 1980–1993: [[Olaf Gjedrem]] ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]]) * 1994–1999: Gunnhild Vassbø * 1999–2003: Asbjørn Gjedrem * 2003–2007: Asbjørn Ramsli ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]) * 2007–2015: Marthon Skårland ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]) * 2015–2019: Torbjørn Ognedal ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]) * 2019–2023: Kjetil Slettebø ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]) * 2023–present: Tone Vaule ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-15 |title=Ap får ordfører i Bjerkreim |url=https://www.nrk.no/rogaland/ap-far-ordforer-i-bjerkreim-1.16559438 |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref> {{div col end}}

==Geography== Bjerkreim Municipality lies at the northern end of the hilly, rugged [[Dalane]] district, just south of the very flat [[Jæren]] district. There are several large lakes in Bjerkreim including [[Austrumdalsvatnet]], [[Birkelandsvatnet]], [[Hofreistæ]], and [[Ørsdalsvatnet]]. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|906.99|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Vinjakula, located on the border with [[Gjesdal Municipality]].<ref name="elev" /> The [[Gloppedalsura]] [[skree]] is located on the Gjesdal-Bjerkreim border.

[[Gjesdal Municipality]] is located to the north, [[Sirdal Municipality]] (in [[Agder]] county) is located to the east, [[Eigersund Municipality]] is located to the south, [[Hå Municipality]] is located to the west, and [[Time Municipality]] is located to the northwest.

===Climate=== {{Weather box |metric first= yes |single line = yes |location = Bjerkreim  |Jan mean C=-0.5 |Feb mean C=-0.6 |Mar mean C=1.5 |Apr mean C=4.5 |May mean C=9.5 |Jun mean C=13.0 |Jul mean C=14.2 |Aug mean C=14.3 |Sep mean C=11.0 |Oct mean C=8.0 |Nov mean C=3.5 |Dec mean C=0.8 |year mean C=6.6  |Jan precipitation mm=180 |Feb precipitation mm=132 |Mar precipitation mm=152 |Apr precipitation mm=87 |May precipitation mm=106 |Jun precipitation mm=115 |Jul precipitation mm=136 |Aug precipitation mm=177 |Sep precipitation mm=240 |Oct precipitation mm=270 |Nov precipitation mm=253 |Dec precipitation mm=217 |year precipitation mm=2065 |precipitation colour=green  |unit precipitation days= 1 mm |Jan precipitation days=14.8 |Feb precipitation days=11.0 |Mar precipitation days=13.8 |Apr precipitation days=10.9 |May precipitation days=12.7 |Jun precipitation days=11.8 |Jul precipitation days=11.6 |Aug precipitation days=14.3 |Sep precipitation days=17.2 |Oct precipitation days=17.7 |Nov precipitation days=18.4 |Dec precipitation days=15.9 |year precipitation days=170.1  |source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref> }}

==Transportation== The main means of transportation to Bjerkreim is via the [[European route E39]] highway which passes through the municipality from south to north. The municipality lies in the southwestern part of the country. The distance to the nearest airport, [[Stavanger airport]] in [[Sola Municipality]], is approximately 40 minutes by car.

== Notable people == * [[Knud Spødervold]] (1791–1848 in Bjerkreim), a lay preacher and leader of the [[Strong Believers]] religious movement * [[Olaf Gjedrem]] (born 1948 in Bjerkreim), a politician and mayor of Bjerkreim (1979–1993) * [[Ragnar Bjerkreim]] (born 1958 in Bjerkreim), a composer of film scores<ref>{{IMDb name|0084813|Ragnar Bjerkreim}}. Retrieved 19 January 2021.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/bjerkreim Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050828211110/http://www.bjerkreimselva.no/eng/index.htm The River Bjerkreim (Bjerkreimselva)] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060115030535/http://www.reisemal-sydvest.no/english/index.htm Visit the South region of Rogaland (Reisemaal Soer Vest)] *[http://www.buas.no Fishing equipment]

{{use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Rogaland|wikt=Bjerkreim}} {{Adjacent communities |state = collapsed |Centre = [[File:Bjerkreim komm.svg|20px]] Bjerkreim Municipality |North = [[Gjesdal Municipality]] |Northeast = [[Gjesdal Municipality]] |East = [[Sirdal Municipality]]<br />{{coat of arms|Agder}} county |Southeast = [[Sirdal Municipality]]<br />{{coat of arms|Agder}} county |South = [[Eigersund Municipality]] |Southwest = [[Eigersund Municipality]] |West = [[Hå Municipality]] |Northwest = [[Time Municipality]] }} {{Rogaland}} {{authority control}}

[[Category:Bjerkreim Municipality| ]] [[Category:Municipalities of Rogaland]] [[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]