{{short description|Town in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Skudeneshavn |other_name = {{no bold|Skudeneshamn ''(unofficial)''<ref name="name" />}} |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = [[List of towns and cities in Norway|Town/City]]<ref name="town">In the Norwegian language, the word ''by'' can be translated as "town" or "city".</ref> |image_skyline = Skudesneshavn - no-nb digifoto 20150317 00101 NB MIT FNR 10393.jpg |image_caption = Skudeneshavn in July 1951 |mapframe = yes |mapframe-zoom = 9 |mapframe-marker = town |subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[Norway]] |subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Norway|Region]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Western Norway]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of Norway|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Rogaland]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Norway|District]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Haugaland]] |subdivision_type4 = [[List of municipalities of Norway|Municipality]] |subdivision_name4 = [[Karmøy Municipality]] |timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] |utc_offset1 = +01:00 |timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] |utc_offset1_DST = +02:00 |established_title = Established as |established_date = |established_title1 = [[Ladested]] |established_date1 = 10 Feb 1858 |area_footnotes = <ref name="ssb" /> |area_total_km2 = 2.55 |population_as_of = 2025 |population_footnotes = <ref name="ssb" /> |population_total = 3360 |population_density_km2 = 1318 |population_demonym = Skudnesbu,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Innbyggjarnamn - Språkrådet |url=https://www.sprakradet.no/sprakhjelp/Skriverad/navn-pa-steder-og-personer/Innbyggjarnamn/ |access-date=24 December 2020 |publisher=Language Council of Norway |language=no}}</ref> Skudenesbu<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vårvik |first=Bjørn Inge |date=11 September 2020 |title=Skudenesbu kan havne på Stortinget - SkudenesNytt.no |url=https://www.skudenesnytt.no/2020/09/11/skudenesbu-kan-havne-pa-stortinget/ |access-date=26 December 2020 |publisher=SkudenesNytt |language=no}}</ref> |postal_code_type = Post Code |postal_code = 4280 Skudeneshavn |coordinates = {{coord|59.1501|5.2566|region:NO_type:city|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = 3 |elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Skudeneshavn, Karmøy (Rogaland) |url=https://www.yr.no/place/Norway/Rogaland/Karm%C3%B8y/Skudeneshavn/ |access-date=2020-07-11 |publisher=[[yr.no]]}}</ref> |module={{Infobox kommune |child = yes |name = Skudeneshavn |ladested = yes |former = yes |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |official_name = Skudeneshavn ladested |image_skyline = |image_caption = |idnumber = 1104 |county = Rogaland |district = [[Haugaland]] |capital = Skudeneshavn |established = 10 Feb 1858 |preceded = [[Skudenes Municipality]] |disestablished = 1 Jan 1965 |succeeded = [[Karmøy Municipality]] |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 = Olav M. Wikre |mayor_party = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]] |mayor_as_of = 1949–1964 |area_rank = 522 |area_total_km2 = 0.51 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 1964 |population_rank = 466 |population_total = 1310 |population_density_km2 = 2568.6 |population_increase = -1.4 }} }}
{{Audio|Skudeneshavn.ogg|'''Skudeneshavn'''}}<ref name="name">{{Cite web |title=Informasjon om stadnamn |url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/548417 |access-date=2026-03-03 |website=Norgeskart |publisher=[[Norwegian Mapping Authority|Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> (also known as simply '''Skudenes''') is a [[List of towns and cities in Norway|town]]<ref name="town" /> in [[Karmøy Municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located on the southernmost tip of the [[Karmøy (island)|island of Karmøy]] at the entrance to the [[Boknafjorden]] and [[Karmsundet]] strait. The town is part of the [[Districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Haugaland]] and the [[Haugesund Region]], a [[Metropolitan regions of Norway|statistical metropolitan area]]. The town was an independent municipality due to its status as a [[ladested]] from 1858 until 1965.<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Skudeneshavn_-_tidligere_kommune|Skudeneshavn (tidligere kommune)|2026-03-03|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-25}}</ref>
The {{convert|2.55|km2|acre|adj=on}} town has a population (2025) of {{formatnum:3360}} and a [[population density]] of {{convert|1318|PD/km2}}.<ref name="ssb">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |date=2025-10-27 |title=Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/folketall/statistikk/tettsteders-befolkning-og-areal}}</ref> In 1990, Skudeneshavn won second prize in NORTRA's competition for Norway's Best Preserved Small Town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gamle Skudeneshavn |url=http://www.skudeneshavn.no/gamle_skudenes.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528114317/http://www.skudeneshavn.no/gamle_skudenes.htm |archive-date=2007-05-28 |language=Norwegian}}</ref>
==History== The village of Skudeneshavn was declared to be a [[ladested]] (port town) on 10 February 1858. Since towns were not allowed to be part of a rural municipality, Skudeneshavn was removed from [[Skudenes Municipality]], and established as its own urban municipality. Initially, Skudeneshavn Municipality had 1,209 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1965, the town-municipality of Skudeneshavn was merged into the newly formed [[Karmøy Municipality]] (along with [[Skudenes Municipality]], [[Avaldsnes Municipality]], [[Stangaland Municipality]], [[Torvastad Municipality]] and the town of [[Kopervik]]). Prior to the merger, Skudeneshavn Municipality had 1,275 residents. At the time of the merger, Skudeneshavn lost its status as a town (''ladested''). In 1996, after the law on towns had been changed, Karmøy Municipality declared Skudeneshavn to be a town once again.<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 town (originally the municipality and [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the Skudenes peninsula ({{langx|non|Skútunes}}) at the south end of the [[Karmøy (island)|island of Karmøy]]. The first element is the [[genitive case]] of {{lang|non|skúta}} which means "rock wall that is sticking out", referring to the rocky islets and skerries that lie just off the shore of the peninsula. The second element is {{wikt-lang|non|nes}} which means "[[headland]]". The last element is {{wikt-lang|no|havn}} which means "[[harbor]]" or "[[port]]".<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=383 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>
==Municipal self-government (1858-1964)== From 1858 through 1964, Skudeneshavn was a self-governing municipality. While it existed, Skudeneshavn 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|(Bystyre)}} of Skudeneshavn 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 = Skudeneshavn |city = yes |start = 1963 |end = 1964 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 7 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 7 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 7 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Høyre = 3 |DRF/V = 9 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |DRF/V = 7 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = 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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 14 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Skudeneshavn |city = yes |start = 1935 |end = 1937 |reference = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1935 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |access-date=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Venstre = 8 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 5 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |}} {{div col end}}
===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|nb|ordfører}}) of Skudeneshavn 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 |last1=Nes |first1=Simon |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014100338146 |title=Skudeneshavn sjøfart- og byhistorie |date=1947 |publisher=Skudenes historielag |location=Skudeneshavn |page=146 |language=no}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1858–1859: Michael Smith *1859–1861: Lars Riisdahl *1861–1869: A.M. Andersen *1869–1870: E. Gjessen *1870–1880: E.O. Kjeldsen *1880–1884: S. Waage *1884–1893: Rasmus Larsen *1893–1899: Lars L. Riisdahl *1899–1903: O.G. Gjessen *1903–1905: O.C. Hansen *1905–1908: Hans Sannæs *1908–1918: O.C. Hansen *1918–1924: Oskar Kjeldsen *1924–1926: J. Hellesland *1926–1934: Hans Hillesland *1934–1937: Hans Gilje *1937–1941: Hans Hillesland<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> *1941–1942: Ove Gilje<ref name="OÅ" /> *1942–1945: Olav Åsen<ref name="OÅ">{{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> *1945–1945: Hans Hillesland *1946–1947: Olav M. Wikre ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{cite news |date=1946-01-05 |title=Bare 4 av 16 ordførere gjenvalgt i Nord-Rogaland |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19460105_33_4_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1947–1949: Alf Midtbø<ref>{{cite news |date=1947-12-24 |title=Bare 5 ordførere gjenvalgt i Nord-Rogaland hittil |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19471224_35_294_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1949–1964: Olav M. Wikre ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{cite news |date=1949-12-21 |title=Arbeiderpartiet fikk både ordfører og varaordfører i Skudeneshavn |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugalandarbeiderblad_null_null_19491221_40_296_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=[[Haugaland Arbeiderblad]] |page=7 |language=no}}</ref> {{div col end}}
==Attractions== Skudeneshavn's old town (''Gamle Skudeneshavn''), consisting of 225 wooden houses/boathouses, is regarded as one of the best preserved in Europe. In 2004, it was voted Norway's "Summer Town" by listeners to [[NRK Radio]]'s Reiseradioen programme.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Skudeneshavn - fishing village of Karmøy |url=http://www.norwaves.com/karmoy-museums-and-other-attractions-karmoy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714195645/http://www.norwaves.com/karmoy-museums-and-other-attractions-karmoy.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 |access-date=25 February 2010 |publisher=The Karmøy Museums}}</ref>
Each year the "Skudeneshavn International Literature and Culture festival" ({{langx|no|Skudeneshavn Internasjonale Litteratur- og Kulturfestival}}) (SILK festival) is held on the first weekend of November.
===Skudefestival=== Every year, Skudeneshavn hosts a "boating" festival known as ''Skudefestivalen''. It usually runs for four days (from Thursday to Sunday) at the end of June or beginning of July (it is a 'moveable' date). The festival is the largest gathering of coastal culture in Western Norway, with boats of all categories - old wooden boats, vintage boats, modern boats, sailing boats, tall ships - the town is full of life around the harbour - both on land and on water. Markets stalls are set up in the Town Square. Craftsmen demonstrate handcrafts from olden days connected to sea and shipping. Boat builders, ship models, old engines. An art exhibition in ''Søragadå'' - the main and narrow street in "Old Skudeneshavn" is held with a new festival artist chosen every year. Visitors can see the exhibitions in "Bytunet" in the old part of town. Entertainment is provided in the daytime - and in the evenings in the festival tent featuring national and international artists and in the many sea houses [[Celtic music]], blues and middle-of the road pop. Travelling amusement rides and arcades usually time their visits to coincide with this popular festival, providing extra enjoyment for younger children and teenagers. Every year about 35,000 people visit the festival and it gathers more than 600 boats. The festival in 2017 was between 29 June - 2 July and is the 24th festival. The festival in 2018 is between 5 and 8 July.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boating Festival |url=http://www.skudefestivalen.no |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107181905/http://www.skudefestivalen.no/ |archive-date=7 January 2008}}</ref>
==See also== *[[List of former municipalities of Norway]]
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.skudeneshavn.com/ Skudeneshavn.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717055639/http://www.skudeneshavn.com/ |date=17 July 2012 }}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Rogaland|wikt=Skudeneshavn}} {{Rogaland}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Karmøy Municipality]] [[Category:Populated places in Rogaland]] [[Category:Cities and towns in Norway]] [[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]] [[Category:1858 establishments in Norway]] [[Category:1965 disestablishments in Norway]] [[Category:1996 establishments in Norway]]