{{short description|Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Torvastad |herad = yes |former = yes |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Torvestad herred |image_skyline = |image_caption = |idnumber = 1152 |county = Rogaland |district = [[Haugaland]] |capital = [[Torvastad]] |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |disestablished = 1 Jan 1965 |succeeded = [[Haugesund Municipality]] and [[Karmøy Municipality]] |demonym = Torvastadbu |language = [[Nynorsk]]<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 = Thomas Stange |mayor_party = [[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]] |mayor_as_of = 1959–1964 |elevation_max_m = 128 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |title=Kart over Norge |url=https://norgeskart.no/#!?project=norgeskart&layers=1004&zoom=11&markerLat=6621085.097350849&markerLon=-48537.07939317016&lat=6620603.79&lon=-48685.17&p=searchOptionsPanel&sok=Spannhelgelandvegen |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 489 |area_total_km2 = 25.9 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 1964 |population_rank = 260 |population_total = 3628 |population_density_km2 = 140.1 |population_increase = 30.9 |coordinates = {{coord|59|22|49|N|05|14|13|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}
'''Torvastad''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|25.9|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now mostly part of [[Karmøy Municipality]] in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Haugaland]]. The [[administrative centre]] was the village of [[Haugesund (town)|Haugesund]] (from 1838 until 1855), and after that it was the village of [[Torvastad]] on the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]]. Other villages in the municipality included [[Norheim, Rogaland|Norheim]] and [[Vormedal]].<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Torvastad|Torvastad|2026-03-08|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26}}</ref>
Torvastad Municipality originally encompassed parts of the present-day [[Haugesund Municipality]], [[Utsira Municipality]], and [[Karmøy Municipality]]. It included the northwesternmost part of the mainland of Rogaland county plus the northern part of the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]] and the islands of [[Utsira (island)|Utsira]], [[Røvær]], [[Vibrandsøy]], and [[Feøy]]. It got smaller over the years, and upon its dissolution in 1965, the municipality covered only {{convert|26|km2}}.<ref name="snl" />
Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the {{convert|25.9|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 489th largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Torvastad Municipality was the 260th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about {{formatnum:3628}}. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|140.1|PD/km2}} and its population had increased by 30.9% 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== [[File:Torvastad kirke, Rogaland - Riksantikvaren-T238 01 0201.jpg|thumb|left|Torvastad Church]] The parish of ''Torvestad'' was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 February 1855, the village of [[Haugesund (town)|Haugesund]] was declared a "[[ladested]]" ([[Lading|port of lading]]). The law said that a ladested could not be part of a rural municipality, so it was separated from Torvastad Municipality to form a municipality of its own. The split left Torvastad Municipality with 3,242 inhabitants.<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 November 1881, Torvastad Municipality was divided. Most of the mainland part of Torvastad Municipality (population: 1,665) became the new [[Skaare Municipality]] and the rest of Torvastad Municipality (population: 1,918) continued on as a smaller Torvastad Municipality.
On 1 July 1924, the [[Utsira (island)|island of Utsira]] and some small surrounding islands (population: 414) were separated from Torvastad Municipality to form the new [[Utsira Municipality]]. This left Torvastad Municipality was left with 2,187 residents.<ref name="Dag" />
On 1 January 1965, Torvastad Municipality was dissolved upon recommendations of the [[Schei Committee]] and its lands were divided as follows:<ref name="Dag" /> *the small island of [[Vibrandsøy]] (population: 70) was transferred to [[Haugesund Municipality]] *the rest of Torvastad Municipality (population: 3,783) was merged with the following areas to form the new [[Karmøy Municipality]]: **all of the town of [[Kopervik Municipality|Kopervik]] (population: 1,737) **all of the town of [[Skudeneshavn]] (population: 1,275) **all of the [[Skudenes Municipality]] (population: 3,583) **all of the [[Stangaland Municipality]] (population: 2,678) **all of the [[Åkra Municipality]] (population: 6,008) **most of [[Avaldsnes Municipality]] (population: 4,153), except for the Gismarvik, [[Førre]], and Stegaberg areas that became part of [[Tysvær Municipality]]
===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''Torvastad'' farm ({{langx|non|Torfastaðir}}) since the first [[Torvastad Church]] was built there. The first element is the [[genitive case]] of the male name {{wikt-lang|non|Torfi}}. The last element is the plural form of {{wikt-lang|non|staður}} which means "farm" or "location". Thus the name is something like "Torfi's farm" or "Torfi's place".<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=407 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref><ref name="snl" />
Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled ''Torvestad''. On 3 November 1917, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Torvastad''.<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>
===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Torvastad Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Torvastad [[prestegjeld]] and the [[Karmsund prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Stavanger]].<ref name="SS1951" />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Torvastad Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="1"|Torvastad||[[Torvastad Church]]||[[Torvastad]]||1880 |}
==Geography== The municipality encompassed the northern part of the island of [[Karmøy (island)|Karmøy]], plus a small area on the mainland, across the [[Karmsundet]] strait. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|128|m|adj=on}} tall ridge to the northeast of the village of [[Vormedal]].<ref name="elev" /> [[Haugesund Municipality]] was located to the north, [[Avaldsnes Municipality]] was located to the east and south, and [[Utsira Municipality]] was located to the southwest.
==Government== While it existed, Torvastad 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|nn|(Herradsstyre)}} of Torvastad 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 = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 3 |note = On 1 January 1965, Torvastad Municipality became part of [[Karmøy Municipality]]. |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 4 |Local_Lists = 1 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 2 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Venstre = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Venstre = 4 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 3 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Høyre = 2 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |DRF/V = 4 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Local_Lists = 5 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Torvastad |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=2020-07-31 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 8 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |}} {{div col end}}
===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Torvastad 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> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1838–1840: Nils Jørgensen Vibrandsø *1841–1845: John Bendix Johnsen Brække *1846–1847: Ditlev Møller *1848–1849: Johannes Christian Bøe *1850–1851: John Christian Johnsen Haaland *1852–1852: Hans Andreas Høstad *1853–1881: Haagen Jørgensen Storsteen *1882–1887: Ole Johannesen Storsteen *1888–1891: Christian C. Haaland<ref>{{Cite news |date=1888-06-26 |title=Følgende ordførere afgav Møde ved Stavanger Amtsformandskab |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerenattenfemtito_null_null_18880626_37_7132_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavangeren |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1892–1897: Ole Johannesen Storsteen<ref>{{Cite news |date=1893-06-22 |title=Stavanger Amtsformandskab |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeramtogadress_null_null_18930622_53_141_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavanger Amtstidende og Adresseavis |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1898–1898: Christian C. Haaland *1899–1901: Ole Johannesen Storsteen *1902–1907: Christian O. Haaland *1908–1913: Thomas L. Haaland *1914–1916: John Christian B. Hausken *1917–1919: Nils A. Økland *1919–1922: Bendik Stange<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> *1922–1925: Kristian B. Hausken<ref>{{Cite news |date=1923-01-03 |title=Rogaland fylkes ordførere i den nye periode |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19230103_13_2_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=3 |language=no}}</ref> *1925–1928: Thore L. Hausken<ref>{{Cite news |date=1926-02-06 |title=Rogalands ordførere for perioden 1926-28 |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19260206_34_31_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |page=5 |language=no}}</ref> *1928–1941: Knut Stange<ref>{{Cite news |date=1929-01-04 |title=Ordførervalgene i Rogaland avgjørt |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19290104_19_3_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=1 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=1935 |title=Rogaland Fylkesting |url=https://digitaltmuseum.no/021016834059/rogaland-fylkesting |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=DigitaltMuseum |publisher=Dalane Folkemuseum |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> *1942–1944: Bendik Hausken<ref>{{Cite news |date=1942-12-29 |title=Flere nye ordførere og varaordførere i Rogaland |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19421229_48_301_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Haugesunds Avis]] |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1945–1945: Finn Retzius<ref>{{cite news |date=1945-01-25 |title=Ny ordfører i Torvastad |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundspressen_null_null_19450125_3_21_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=Haugesunds-Pressen |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1945–1945: Knut Stange *1946–1947: Arnt Stange ([[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> *1947–1958: Lars Håland<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> *1958–1959: Hans Midttun ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{cite news |date=1958-07-05 |title=Hans Midttun (A) blir ny ordfører i Torvastad |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19580705_47_152_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1959–1964: Thomas Stange ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])<ref>{{cite news |date=1959-12-17 |title=Sers spanande ordførarval i Torvastad |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsavis_null_null_19591217_64_294_1 |accessdate=2026-04-25 |newspaper=[[Haugesunds Avis]] |page=3 |language=no}}</ref> {{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=Torvastad}} {{Adjacent communities |state = collapsed |Centre = Torvastad Municipality |North = [[Haugesund Municipality]] |Northeast = [[Haugesund Municipality]] |East = [[Avaldsnes Municipality]] |Southeast = [[Avaldsnes Municipality]] |South = [[Avaldsnes Municipality]] |Southwest = [[Utsira Municipality]] |West = [[Utsira Municipality]] |Northwest = [[Haugesund Municipality]] }} {{Rogaland}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Haugesund Municipality]] [[Category:Karmøy Municipality]] [[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]]