# Jelsa Municipality

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jelsa_Municipality
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jelsa_Municipality.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelsa_Municipality
> Source revision: 1350033474
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway

Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway

Jelsa Municipality Jelsa herred Former municipality Jælse herred (historic name) View of Jelsa Church, the main church for the municipality Rogaland within Norway Jelsa within Rogaland Coordinates: 59°20′N 06°04′E / 59.333°N 6.067°E / 59.333; 6.067 Country Norway County Rogaland District Ryfylke Established 1 Jan 1838 • Created as Formannskapsdistrikt Disestablished 1 Jan 1965 • Succeeded by Suldal, Hjelmeland, and Finnøy municipalities Administrative centre Jelsa Government • Mayor (1963–1964) Lars Bjørnsen Jelsa Area (upon dissolution) • Total 129.8 km2 (50.1 sq mi) • Rank #392 in Norway Highest elevation [1] 862 m (2,828 ft) Population (1964) • Total 1,028 • Rank #482 in Norway • Density 7.9/km2 (20/sq mi) • Change (10 years) −21.7% Official language [3] • Norwegian form Neutral[2] Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST) ISO 3166 code NO-1138[4] Data from Statistics Norway

**Jelsa** is a [former municipality](/source/List_of_former_municipalities_of_Norway) in [Rogaland](/source/Rogaland) county, [Norway](/source/Norway). The 129.8-square-kilometre (50.1 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now divided between [Hjelmeland Municipality](/source/Hjelmeland_Municipality), [Stavanger Municipality](/source/Stavanger_Municipality), and [Suldal Municipality](/source/Suldal_Municipality) in the [traditional district](/source/Traditional_districts_of_Norway) of [Ryfylke](/source/Ryfylke). The [administrative centre](/source/Administrative_centre) was the village of [Jelsa](/source/Jelsa%2C_Norway), where [Jelsa Church](/source/Jelsa_Church) is located.[5]

Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the 129.8-square-kilometre (50.1 sq mi) 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 1,028. The municipality's [population density](/source/Population_density) was 7.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (20/sq mi) and its population had decreased by 21.7% over the previous 10-year period.[6][7]

## General information

The [parish](/source/Prestegjeld) of *Jælse* (later spelled *Jelsa*) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [formannskapsdistrikt](/source/Formannskapsdistrikt) law). In 1859, the municipality was divided in two: the northern district (population: 1,600) became the new [Sand Municipality](/source/Sand_Municipality) and the southern district (population: 2,606) remained as a smaller Jelsa Municipality.[8]

On 1 January 1914, Jelsa Municipality was divided again: the eastern district (population: 617) became the new [Erfjord Municipality](/source/Erfjord_Municipality) and the western district (population: 1,539) remained as a smaller Jelsa Municipality.[8]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [Schei Committee](/source/Schei_Committee). On 1 January 1965, Jelsa Municipality was dissolved. The Buergårdene area (population: 8) located on the island of [Ombo](/source/Ombo) was moved from Jelsa Municipality to [Hjelmeland Municipality](/source/Hjelmeland_Municipality), and the rest of Jelsa Municipality located on the island of Ombo (population: 89) was transferred to [Finnøy Municipality](/source/Finn%C3%B8y_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](/source/Suldal_Municipality):[8]

- all of [Suldal Municipality](/source/Suldal_Municipality) (population: 1,412)

- all of [Sand Municipality](/source/Sand_Municipality) (population: 1,135)

- all of [Erfjord Municipality](/source/Erfjord_Municipality) (population: 610)

- the parts of Jelsa Municipality not located on the island of [Ombo](/source/Ombo) (population: 928)

- the part of [Imsland Municipality](/source/Imsland_Municipality) that was located south of the [Vindafjorden](/source/Vindafjorden) (population: 61)

### Name

The municipality (originally the [parish](/source/Prestegjeld)) is named after the old *Jelsa* farm ([Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse_language): *Jalsa*) since the first [Jelsa Church](/source/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 *[jálmr](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/j%C3%A1lmr#Old_Norse)* which means "noise". Another possibility is that it comes from the [Shetland](/source/Shetland_dialect) word *[jāl](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/j%C4%81l#Scots)* which means "scream" or "screech" (particularly referring to the noise a seagull makes). Historically, the name was spelled *Jælse*.[9][5]

### Churches

The [Church of Norway](/source/Church_of_Norway) had one parish (*sokn*) within Jelsa Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Jelsa [prestegjeld](/source/Prestegjeld) and the [Ryfylke prosti](/source/Ryfylke_prosti) ([deanery](/source/Deanery)) in the [Diocese of Stavanger](/source/Diocese_of_Stavanger).[7]

Churches in Jelsa Municipality Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built Jelsa Jelsa Church Jelsa 1647 Marvik Chapel Marvik 1920

## Geography

The municipality was located along the [Sandsfjorden](/source/Sandsfjorden) including land on the Ropeid peninsula and on the mainland. The highest point in the municipality was the 862-metre (2,828 ft) tall mountain Grytenuten, a [tripoint](/source/Tripoint) on the border of [Imsland Municipality](/source/Imsland_Municipality), [Vikedal Municipality](/source/Vikedal_Municipality), and Jelsa Municipality.[1] [Imsland Municipality](/source/Imsland_Municipality) was located to the north, [Sand Municipality](/source/Sand_Municipality) was located to the northeast, [Erfjord Municipality](/source/Erfjord_Municipality) was located to the southeast, [Hjelmeland Municipality](/source/Hjelmeland_Municipality) was located to the south, [Sjernarøy Municipality](/source/Sjernar%C3%B8y_Municipality) was located to the southwest, [Nedstrand Municipality](/source/Nedstrand_Municipality) was located to the west, and [Vikedal Municipality](/source/Vikedal_Municipality) was located to the northwest.

## Government

While it existed, Jelsa Municipality was responsible for [primary education](/source/Primary_education) (through 10th grade), outpatient [health services](/source/Health_care), [senior citizen](/source/Old_age) services, [welfare](/source/Welfare_spending) and other [social services](/source/Social_work), [zoning](/source/Zoning), [economic development](/source/Economic_development), and municipal [roads](/source/Road) and utilities. The municipality was governed by a [municipal council](/source/Municipal_council_(Norway)) of [directly elected](/source/Direct_election) representatives. The [mayor](/source/Mayor) was [indirectly elected](/source/Indirect_election) by a vote of the municipal council.[10] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [Ryfylke District Court](/source/Ryfylke_District_Court) and the [Gulating Court of Appeal](/source/Gulating_Court_of_Appeal).

### Municipal council

The [municipal council](/source/Municipal_council_(Norway)) *(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 [party](/source/Political_party).

Jelsa herredsstyre 1963–1965 [11] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 3 Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6 Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8 Total number of members: 17 Note: On 1 January 1965, Jelsa Municipality was divided between Finnøy Municipality, Hjelmeland Municipality, and Suldal Municipality.

Jelsa herredsstyre 1959–1963 [12] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4 Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 9 Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4 Total number of members: 17

Jelsa herredsstyre 1955–1959 [13] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 17 Total number of members: 17

Jelsa herredsstyre 1951–1955 [14] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16 Total number of members: 16

Jelsa herredsstyre 1947–1951 [15] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16 Total number of members: 16

Jelsa herredsstyre 1945–1947 [16] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16 Total number of members: 16

Jelsa herredsstyre 1937–1941* [17] Party name (in Norwegian) Number of representatives Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 16 Total number of members: 16 Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

### Mayors

The [mayor](/source/Mayor#Scandinavia) ([Norwegian](/source/Norwegian_language): *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:[18][19][20]

- 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

## See also

- [List of former municipalities of Norway](/source/List_of_former_municipalities_of_Norway)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-elev_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-elev_1-1) ["Kart over Norge"](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) (in Norwegian). [Kartverket](/source/Kartverket).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lang_2-0)** ["Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m"](https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015110481043_001). *[Norsk Lovtidend](/source/Norsk_Lovtidend)* (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 453–471. 1932.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar"](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2019-12-20-2114) (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (9 January 2024). ["Kommunenummer"](https://snl.no/kommunenummer). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-snl_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-snl_5-1) Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (26 November 2024). ["Jelsa (tidligere kommune)"](https://snl.no/Jelsa_-_tidligere_kommune). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 15 March 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ssb_pop_6-0)** [Statistisk sentralbyrå](/source/Statistics_Norway). ["Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)"](https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/) (in Norwegian).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SS1951_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SS1951_7-1) [Statistisk sentralbyrå](/source/Statistics_Norway) (1 January 1951). [*Norges Sivile, Geistlige, Rettslige og Militære Inndeling 1. Januar 1951*](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_049.pdf) (PDF). Norges Offisielle Statistikk (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: H. Aschehoug & Co.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dag_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dag_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Dag_8-2) Jukvam, Dag (1999). ["Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen"](http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). [Statistisk sentralbyrå](/source/Statistics_Norway). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788253746845](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788253746845).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Rygh, Oluf](/source/Oluf_Rygh) (1915). [*Norske gaardnavne: Stavanger amt*](https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ) (in Norwegian) (10 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 339–340.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ks_10-0)** Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). ["kommunestyre"](https://snl.no/kommunestyre). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Kommunevalgene 1963"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937"](https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf) (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Grude, Joakim (1887). [*Amtsformandskabet i Stavanger Amt 1838-1887*](http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016102648082) (in Norwegian). Stavanger: Dreyers Boktrykkeri.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Grude, Joakim (1919). [*Amtsformandskabet i Stavanger Amt 1838-1918*](http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2021052848654) (in Norwegian). Stavanger: Dreyers Grafiske Ansalt.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Foldøy, Ola (1981). "Ordførarar i Jelsa 1837-1964". [*Jelsa II*](http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2018030748151) (in Norwegian). Sand, Norway: Suldal kommune. pp. 401–409.

**Jelsa Municipality** at Wikipedia's [sister projects](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_sister_projects):

- [**Definitions**](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jelsa) from Wiktionary
- [**Travel guides**](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Rogaland) from Wikivoyage
- [**Data**](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19376192) from Wikidata

Places adjacent to Jelsa Municipality Vikedal Municipality Imsland Municipality Sand Municipality Nedstrand Municipality Jelsa Municipality Erfjord Municipality Sjernarøy Municipality Hjelmeland Municipality Hjelmeland Municipality

v t e Rogaland county, Norway Main article: Rogaland Capital: Stavanger County government: Rogaland County Municipality County lists: County Governors Villages Churches Towns and cities Stavanger (1125) Egersund (1798) Haugesund (1854) Skudeneshavn (1857–1964, 1996) Sandnes (1860) Kopervik (1866–1964, 1996) Jørpeland (1998) Sauda (1999) Bryne (2001) Åkrehamn (2002) Sogndal (former; 1798–1944) Municipalities Dalane Bjerkreim Eigersund Lund Sokndal Haugaland Bokn Haugesund Karmøy Tysvær Utsira Vindafjord Jæren Gjesdal Hå Klepp Randaberg Sandnes Sola Stavanger Time Ryfylke Hjelmeland Kvitsøy Sauda Strand Suldal Former Municipalities in Rogaland Avaldsnes (1838–1965) Egersund (1838–1964) Erfjord (1914–1965) Finnøy (1838–2020) Fister (1884–1965) Forsand (1871–2020) Helleland (1838–1965) Heskestad (1838–1965) Hetland (1838–1965) Høle (1865–1965) Høyland (1838–1965) Håland (1838–1930) Imsland (1923–1965) Jelsa (1838–1965) Kopervik (1866–1964) Madla (1930–1965) Mosterøy (1884–1965) Nedstrand (1838–1965) Nærbø (1894–1964) Ogna (1839–1964) Rennesøy (1838–2020) Sand (1859–1965) Sandeid (1923–1965) Sjernarøy (1868–1965) Skjold (1838–1965) Skudenes (1838–1965) Skudeneshavn (1858–1965) Skåre (1881–1958) Sogndal (1845–1944) Stangaland (1909–1965) Torvastad (1838–1965) Vats (1891–1965) Varhaug (1894–1964) Vikedal (1838–1965) Ølen (1916–2006) Åkra (1892–1965) Årdal (1859–1965)

Authority control databases: Artists KulturNav

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jelsa Municipality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelsa_Municipality) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelsa_Municipality?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.