Gjesdal Municipality

{{short description|Municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Gjesdal |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Gjestal herred |former_name1 = Gjæsdal herred |image_skyline = Madlandsvatn(Jarvin).jpg |image_caption = View of the Gjesdal landscape |idnumber = 1122 |county = Rogaland |district = Jæren |capital = [[Ålgård]] |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |demonym = Gjesdalbu |language = Neutral |coatofarms = Gjesdal komm.svg |webpage = www.gjesdal.kommune.no |mayor = Frode Fjeldsbø |mayor_party = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]] |mayor_as_of = 2013 |elevation_max_m = 1141.49 |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 = 186 |area_total_km2 = 617.98 |area_land_km2 = 558.09 |area_water_km2 = 59.89 |area_water_percent = 9.7 |population_as_of = 2026 |population_rank = 95 |population_total = 12715 |population_density_km2 = 20.6 |population_increase = 7.3 |coordinates = {{coord|58|46|55|N|06|00|31|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}

'''Gjesdal''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Jæren]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Ålgård]]. Other villages in Gjesdal Municipality include [[Dirdal]], [[Frafjord]], [[Gilja]], [[Gjesdal (village)|Gjesdal]], and [[Oltedal]]. The municipality lies about {{convert|25|km}} to the southwest of the city of [[Stavanger (city)|Stavanger]] in southwestern Norway.<ref name="snl1">{{Cite SNL|Gjesdal|Gjesdal|2026-04-06|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26|editor2-first=Per Roger|editor2-last=Lauritzen|editor3-first=Silje|editor3-last=Een de Amoriza}}</ref>

The [[European route E39]] highway runs through the western side of the municipality. On the east side of the municipality, the [[Frafjord Tunnel]] connects the [[Frafjord]] valley with the rest of the municipality.

The {{convert|617.98|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 186th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Gjesdal Municipality is the 95th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of {{formatnum:12715}}. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|20.6|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 7.3% 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>

===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Gjesdal (village)|Gjesdal]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Gesdalir}}) since the first [[Gjesdal Church]] was built there. The first element is probably the old name of the local river, but the meaning is uncertain. The last element is the plural form of {{wikt-lang|non|dalr}} which means "[[valley]]" or "dale".<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=155 and 159 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

Before 1889, the name was spelled ''Gjæsdal'', which is the [[Danish language|Danish]] spelling. During the period from 1889 to 1917 it was spelled ''Gjesdal'' ([[Norwegian language]] version). On 3 November 1917, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Gjestal''.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1917 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381014_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |pages=1057–1065}}</ref> This was changed to mimic the pronunciation of the local [[dialect]] (the [[voiced alveolar plosive|d]] in ''dal'' is pronounced [[voiceless alveolar plosive|t]] because of the voiceless consonant [[voiceless alveolar fricative|s]] in front). On 26 June 1964, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality back to ''Gjesdal'' as part of a border adjustment that was to take effect on 1 January 1965.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1964 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1964. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381023_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=471}}</ref> This change in spelling was made to bring the name back to the [[etymological]]ly correct form of ''Gjesdal''.<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Gjestal|Gjestal|2026-04-06|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26}}</ref>

===Coat of arms=== The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 15 March 1985. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], a ram's head [[caboshed]] [[argent]]"'' ({{langx|no|I blått et sølv værhode sett forfra}}). This means the arms have a blue [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is the head of a [[Domestic sheep|ram]]. The ram head 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 ram was chosen as a symbol because [[Sheep husbandry|sheep breeding]] and wool manufacturing have both been important throughout the history of Gjesdal. The wool industry was centered in the village of [[Ålgård]] where wool, textile, and clothing businesses have thrived. It is also an old heraldic charge, that may be found in a number of 14th century Norwegian seals. It depicts almost identical arms in a seal from 1400 of one Aslak Tordsson. The arms were designed by Kai Wood Moe after a preliminary draft by Jørgen Otteren. 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=Gjesdal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703024922/https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Gjesdal |archive-date=3 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-02 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gjesdal, Rogaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-11-22.html |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1985-05-25 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1985-03-15-709 |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] has two parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Gjesdal Municipality. It is part of the [[Jæren prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]].

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Gjesdal Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="3"|Gjesdal||[[Dirdal Church]]||[[Dirdal]]||1903 |- |[[Gjesdal Church]]||[[Gjesdal (village)|Gjesdal]]||1848 |- |[[Oltedal Church]]||[[Oltedal]]||2002 |- |rowspan="2"|Ålgård||[[Ålgård Church]]||[[Ålgård]]||2015 |- |[[Old Ålgård Church]]||[[Ålgård]]||1917 |}

==History== The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Gjæsdal'' was established as a municipality in 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). It originally was much smaller than it is today, centered on the Gjesdalen valley in the western part of the present-day municipality.

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 several areas were merged to form a much larger Gjesdal Municipality:<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> *all of Gjesdal Municipality (population: 3,353) *the Nedre Maudal area in [[Bjerkreim Municipality]] (population: 40) *the Oltesvik area along the [[Høgsfjorden]] in [[Høle Municipality]] (population: 37) *the southern parts of [[Forsand Municipality]] located south and east of the [[Frafjorden]] including [[Dirdal]], [[Frafjord]], Byrkjedal, Øvre Maudal, and Østabødal (population: 621)

On 1 January 1970, an unpopulated area of [[Time Municipality]] was transferred to Gjesdal Municipality. Then on 1 January 1989, another small, unpopulated area of Time Municipality was transferred to Gjesdal Municipality.<ref name="Dag" /> Both of these border adjustments were to provide areas for the growing village of [[Ålgård]] to expand into.

==Government== Gjesdal 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 Gjesdal Municipality is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by [[political party]]. {{div col}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/rogaland/gjesdal#seats |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |collapsed = |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 6 |INP = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/rogaland/gjesdal#seats |access-date=2020-07-05 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Grønne = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Rogaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/rogaland/gjesdal#seats |access-date=2020-07-05 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 27 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 5 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Venstre = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = <ref name="ssb valg" /> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 7 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |DLF/V = 2 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Venstre = 4 |Local_Lists = 8 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjesdal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Venstre = 4 |Local_Lists = 13 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Local_Lists = 10 |note = On 1 January 1965, Gjestal Municipality was enlarged by adding areas from [[Bjerkreim Municipality|Bjerkreim]], [[Forsand Municipality|Forsand]], and [[Høle Municipality|Høle]] municipalities. |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Gjestal |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=2020-07-05 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Local_Lists = 7 |}} {{end div col}}

===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Gjesdal 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 |date=2021-08-05 |title=Tidligere ordførere i Gjesdal |url=https://www.gjesdal.kommune.no/tjenester/politikk-og-administrasjon/politikk/ordforer/tidligere-ordforere-i-gjesdal/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Gjesdal kommune |language=no}}</ref><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><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: Jesper Tjølsen Ravndal *1840–1841: Lars Svendesen Oftedahl *1842–1843: Christian Davidson Edland *1844–1847: Lars Eriksen Berge *1848–1852: Christian Davidson Edland *1852–1853: Peder Ingebretsen Kyllingstad *1854–1860: Aadne Larsen Søiland *1861–1867: Jesper Jespersen Ravndal *1868–1877: Tore Larsen Bergen *1878–1879: Hans Svendsen Næsse *1880–1885: Jesper Jespersen Ravndal *1886–1887: Torger Johannesen Edland *1888–1889: David Olsen Lihme *1890–1893: Ole S. Aalgaard *1894–1898: Knud R. Kluge *1899–1901: Søren Arnesen *1902–1907: Knud R. Kluge *1908–1916: Sven Nilssen *1916–1919: Knud R. Kluge *1920–1931: Svein Søyland<ref>{{Cite news |date=1920-01-06 |title=Ordførere i Rogaland fylke med ladesteder |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19200106_28_4_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Stavanger aftenblad]] |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1931–1941: Velle O. Gjesdal<ref>{{cite news |date=1931-12-12 |title=Velle O. Gjesdal |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerennittenseksten_null_null_19311212_15_288_1 |accessdate=2026-04-19 |newspaper=Stavangeren |page=4 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1941-01-09 |title=Ordførere og varaordførere i Østfold, Rogaland og Vest-Agder |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_nationen_null_null_19410109_24_7_1 |access-date=2026-04-18 |work=[[Nationen]] |page=5 |language=no}}</ref> *1942–1943: Enevald Haga<ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-01-02 |title=En rekke nye ordførere utnevnt i Nord-Rogaland |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19420102_61_1_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=3 |language=no}}</ref> *1944–1945: Olaus Todnem<ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-01-10 |title=Nyoppnevninger av ordførere og varaordførere i Rogaland fylke |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundspressen_null_null_19450110_3_8_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Haugesunds-Pressen |pages=2-3 |language=no}}</ref> *1945–1945: Velle O. Gjesdal *1946–1961: K.B. Lima *1964–1967: Ingolf Stokkeland *1968–1971: Alf Kyllingstad *1972–1975: Alf Ravndal *1976–1983: Ingolf Stokkeland *1984–1987: Rasmus Flesjå ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]]) *1988–1991: Inger Sirevåg *1992–1999: Svein K. Søyland *2000–2007: Karl Edvard Aksnes ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]]) *2008–2013: [[Olaug Vervik Bollestad]] ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]]) *2013–present: Frode Fjeldsbø ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]) {{div col end}}

==Geography== Gjesdal Municipality is located in the southern part of the [[Jæren]] district in Rogaland county. To the north and northwest, Gjesdal Municipality borders [[Sandnes Municipality]], to the east is [[Sirdal Municipality]] (in [[Agder]] county), to the south is [[Bjerkreim Municipality]], and to the west is [[Time Municipality]].

Gjesdal Municipality sits at the head of the [[Høgsfjorden]] and along the south and east sides of the [[Frafjorden]]. The [[Månafossen]] waterfall, the largest [[waterfall]] in Rogaland county, is located in the [[Frafjord]] valley. There are several large lakes in the municipality such as [[Edlandsvatnet]], [[Flassavatnet]], [[Limavatnet]], and [[Oltedalsvatnet]]. The [[Figgjoelva]] river has its headwaters in Gjesdal Municipality also. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|1141.49|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Strålaus, on the border with Sandnes Municipality.<ref name="elev" />

===Weather=== {{Weather box |metric first= yes |single line = yes |location = Gjesdal  |Jan mean C=-0.1 |Feb mean C=-0.2 |Mar mean C=1.9 |Apr mean C=4.8 |May mean C=9.1 |Jun mean C=12.1 |Jul mean C=13.4 |Aug mean C=13.6 |Sep mean C=11.1 |Oct mean C=8.1 |Nov mean C=3.8 |Dec mean C=1.4 |year mean C=6.6  |Jan precipitation mm=126 |Feb precipitation mm=90 |Mar precipitation mm=103 |Apr precipitation mm=65 |May precipitation mm=78 |Jun precipitation mm=85 |Jul precipitation mm=108 |Aug precipitation mm=140 |Sep precipitation mm=185 |Oct precipitation mm=195 |Nov precipitation mm=185 |Dec precipitation mm=155 |year precipitation mm=1515 |precipitation colour=green  |unit precipitation days= 1 mm |Jan precipitation days=15.5 |Feb precipitation days=12 |Mar precipitation days=14 |Apr precipitation days=11.2 |May precipitation days=12.5 |Jun precipitation days=12.2 |Jul precipitation days=13.1 |Aug precipitation days=15.3 |Sep precipitation days=18.1 |Oct precipitation days=18.5 |Nov precipitation days=19.1 |Dec precipitation days=17.7 |year precipitation days=179.2  |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> }}

==Notable people== [[File:Liv Kyllingstad Godin.jpg|140px|thumb|Liv Godin, 2008]] * [[Liv Godin]] (1918 in Ålgård – 2012), a Norwegian missionary who worked in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] * [[Finn E. Kydland]] (born 1943 in Søyland), an economist who was the winner of [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences|Nobel Memorial Prize]] in 2004 * [[Olaug Bollestad]] (born 1961), a nurse and politician who was mayor of Gjesdal from 2007–2013 * [[Dagny Mellgren]] (born 1978 in Ålgård), a footballer who scored the gold medal goal for Norway at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] * [[Leo Moracchioli]] (born 1978 in Ålgård), a multi-instrumentalist [[heavy metal music]]ian and producer based in [[Oltedal]] * [[Håvard Rugland]] (born 1984 in Ålgård), a Norwegian [[American football]] [[placekicker]], known as ''"Kickalicious"''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Norway}} *[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/gjesdal Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}

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

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