{{short description|Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Jelsa |herred = yes |former = yes |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Jælse herred |image_skyline = Jelsa kyrkje 1.jpg |image_caption = View of [[Jelsa Church]], the main church for the municipality |idnumber = 1138 |county = Rogaland |district = [[Ryfylke]] |capital = [[Jelsa, Norway|Jelsa]] |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |disestablished = 1 Jan 1965 |succeeded = [[Suldal Municipality|Suldal]], [[Hjelmeland Municipality|Hjelmeland]], and [[Finnøy Municipality|Finnøy]] municipalities |demonym = |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 = Lars Bjørnsen Jelsa |mayor_party = |mayor_as_of = 1963–1964 |elevation_max_m = 862 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |title=Kart over Norge |url=https://norgeskart.no/#!?project=norgeskart&layers=1004&zoom=13&markerLat=6622782.0130801285&markerLon=-11647.241050697054&lat=6622782.01&lon=-11647.24&p=searchOptionsPanel&sok=Grytenuten |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 392 |area_total_km2 = 129.8 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 1964 |population_rank = 482 |population_total = 1028 |population_density_km2 = 7.9 |population_increase = -21.7 |coordinates = {{coord|59|20|N|06|04|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Jelsa''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|129.8|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now divided between [[Hjelmeland Municipality]], [[Stavanger Municipality]], and [[Suldal Municipality]] in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Ryfylke]]. The [[administrative centre]] was the village of [[Jelsa, Norway|Jelsa]], where [[Jelsa Church]] is located.<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Jelsa_-_tidligere_kommune|Jelsa (tidligere kommune)|2026-03-15|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26}}</ref>
Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the {{convert|129.8|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 392nd largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Jelsa Municipality was the 482nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about {{formatnum:1028}}. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|7.9|PD/km2}} and its population had decreased by 21.7% 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== The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Jælse'' (later spelled ''Jelsa'') was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). In 1859, the municipality was divided in two: the northern district (population: 1,600) became the new [[Sand Municipality]] and the southern district (population: 2,606) remained as a smaller Jelsa 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>
On 1 January 1914, Jelsa Municipality was divided again: the eastern district (population: 617) became the new [[Erfjord Municipality]] and the western district (population: 1,539) remained as a smaller Jelsa 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, Jelsa Municipality was dissolved. The Buergårdene area (population: 8) located on the island of [[Ombo]] was moved from Jelsa Municipality to [[Hjelmeland Municipality]], and the rest of Jelsa Municipality located on the island of Ombo (population: 89) was transferred to [[Finnøy Municipality]]. On the same date, the rest of Jelsa Municipality was merged with the following areas were merged to form a new, larger [[Suldal Municipality]]:<ref name="Dag" /> *all of [[Suldal Municipality]] (population: 1,412) *all of [[Sand Municipality]] (population: 1,135) *all of [[Erfjord Municipality]] (population: 610) *the parts of Jelsa Municipality not located on the island of [[Ombo]] (population: 928) *the part of [[Imsland Municipality]] that was located south of the [[Vindafjorden]] (population: 61)
===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''Jelsa'' farm ({{langx|non|Jalsa}}) since the first [[Jelsa Church]] was built there. The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it is probably the old name for the Jelsafjorden. It is possible that the name comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|jálmr}} which means "noise". Another possibility is that it comes from the [[Shetland dialect|Shetland]] word {{wikt-lang|sco|jāl}} which means "scream" or "screech" (particularly referring to the noise a seagull makes). Historically, the name was spelled ''Jælse''.<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=339–340 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref><ref name="snl" />
===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Jelsa Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Jelsa [[prestegjeld]] and the [[Ryfylke prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]].<ref name="SS1951" />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Jelsa Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="2"|Jelsa||[[Jelsa Church]]||[[Jelsa, Norway|Jelsa]]||1647 |- |[[Marvik Chapel]]||[[Marvik]]||1920 |}
==Geography== The municipality was located along the [[Sandsfjorden]] including land on the Ropeid peninsula and on the mainland. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|862|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Grytenuten, a [[tripoint]] on the border of [[Imsland Municipality]], [[Vikedal Municipality]], and Jelsa Municipality.<ref name="elev" /> [[Imsland Municipality]] was located to the north, [[Sand Municipality]] was located to the northeast, [[Erfjord Municipality]] was located to the southeast, [[Hjelmeland Municipality]] was located to the south, [[Sjernarøy Municipality]] was located to the southwest, [[Nedstrand Municipality]] was located to the west, and [[Vikedal Municipality]] was located to the northwest.
==Government== While it existed, Jelsa 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 [[Ryfylke District Court]] and the [[Gulating Court of Appeal]].
===Municipal council=== The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Herredsstyre)}} of Jelsa Municipality was made up of 17 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 = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 8 |note = On 1 January 1965, Jelsa Municipality was divided between [[Finnøy Municipality]], [[Hjelmeland Municipality]], and [[Suldal Municipality]]. |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 9 |Local_Lists = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Local_Lists = 17 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Local_Lists = 16 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Local_Lists = 16 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Local_Lists = 16 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Jelsa |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=2020-07-30 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Local_Lists = 16 |}} {{div col end}}
===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Jelsa 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><ref>{{cite book |last1=Foldøy |first1=Ola |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018030748151 |title=Jelsa II |date=1981 |publisher=Suldal kommune |location=Sand, Norway |pages=401-409 |language=no |chapter=Ordførarar i Jelsa 1837-1964}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1838–1839: Ole Stephensen Fatnæs *1840–1840: Rev. Edvard Vilhelm Vedøe *1841–1845: Ole Stephensen Fatnæs *1846–1847: Johannes Bergesen Naadland *1848–1855: Ole Stephensen Fatnæs *1856–1859: Bjørn Larsen Jelsø *1860–1863: Ole Larsen Jelsø *1864–1865: Rasmus Gudmundsen Østhusbygden *1866–1869: Svend Thorsen Jelsa *1869–1869: Lars Haldorsen Jaarvig *1870–1875: Rasmus Gudmundsen Østhusbygden *1876–1877: Rev. Johan Fredrik Monrad *1878–1885: Edvard Thorsen *1886–1891: Lars Konrad Bjørnsen Jelsa *1892–1897: Edvard Thorsen *1898–1904: Christoffer P. Thorsen *1905–1910: Jon Foldøen *1911–1913: Thore E. Thorsen *1914–1920: Jon Foldøen *1920–1925: Lars Konrad Bjørnsen Jelsa *1926–1926: Ola Mehus *1927–1928: Albert Tveita *1929–1934: Christoffer Berg-Christensen *1935–1937: Sigurd Lindal *1938–1941: Christoffer Berg-Christensen *1942–1945: Arnt Knutsen *1945–1947: Olav Østerhus *1947–1951: Arne Selsvik *1951–1955: Jakob Bjørklund *1955–1959: Einar Thorsen *1959–1963: Leiv Oppedal *1963–1964: Lars Bjørnsen Jelsa {{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=Jelsa}} {{Adjacent communities |state = collapsed |Centre = Jelsa Municipality |North = [[Imsland Municipality]] |Northeast = [[Sand Municipality]] |East = [[Erfjord Municipality]] |Southeast = [[Hjelmeland Municipality]] |South = [[Hjelmeland Municipality]] |Southwest = [[Sjernarøy Municipality]] |West = [[Nedstrand Municipality]] |Northwest = [[Vikedal Municipality]] }} {{Rogaland}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Suldal Municipality]] [[Category:Hjelmeland Municipality]] [[Category:Stavanger]] [[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]]