{{short description|Former municipality in Rogaland, Norway}} {{Infobox kommune |name = Vats |herred = yes |former = yes |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |official_name = |image_skyline = Vats kirke.jpg |image_caption = View of the local church |idnumber = 1155 |county = Rogaland |district = [[Ryfylke]] |capital = [[Vats, Rogaland|Vats]] |established = 1 Jan 1891 |preceded = [[Skjold Municipality]] |disestablished = 1 Jan 1965 |succeeded = [[Vindafjord Municipality]] |demonym = Vatsbu |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 = Olav Koltveit |mayor_party = |mayor_as_of = 1951–1964 |elevation_max_m = 735 |highest_point_ref = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |title=Kart over Norge |url=https://norgeskart.no/#!?project=norgeskart&layers=1001&zoom=10&markerLat=6636577.667673248&markerLon=-20186.764580378658&lat=6637799.44&lon=-19709.69&p=searchOptionsPanel&sok=D%C3%B8ldarheia |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> |area_rank = 397 |area_total_km2 = 123.7 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_percent = |population_as_of = 1964 |population_rank = 477 |population_total = 1126 |population_density_km2 = 9.1 |population_increase = -7.3 |coordinates = {{coord|59|29|30|N|05|44|01|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}} }}

'''Vats''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Rogaland]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|123.7|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1891 until its dissolution in 1965. The area is now part of [[Vindafjord Municipality]] in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Haugaland]]. The [[administrative centre]] was the village of [[Vats, Rogaland|Vats]].<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Vats|Vats|2026-02-08|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26|editor2-first=Per Roger|editor2-last=Lauritzen|}}</ref>

Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the {{convert|123.7|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 397th largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Vats Municipality was the 477th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about {{formatnum:1126}}. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|9.1|PD/km2}} and its population had decreased 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="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 municipality of Vats was established on 1 January 1891 when [[Skjold Municipality]] was divided: the eastern part (population: 1,095) became the new Vats Municipality and the western part (population: 1,961) remained as a smaller Skjold 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 1965, the municipality was dissolved due to recommendations of the [[Schei Committee]] and its lands were divided as follows:<ref name="Dag" /> *the Breidal and Stølsvik farms on the south side of the [[Yrkefjorden]] (population: 16) was merged with [[Nedstrand Municipality]], [[Tysvær Municipality]], and parts of [[Avaldsnes Municipality]], [[Skjold Municipality]], and [[Vikedal Municipality]] to form a larger [[Tysvær Municipality]] *the rest of Vats Municipality (population: 1,128) was merged with parts of [[Imsland Municipality]], [[Skjold Municipality]], and [[Vikedal Municipality]], as well as all of [[Sandeid Municipality]] to form the new [[Vindafjord Municipality]]

===Name=== The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Vats, Rogaland|Vatne]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Vatn}}) since the first [[Vats Church]] was built there. The name comes from the [[dative case]] of the word {{wikt-lang|non|vatn}} which means "water", likely referring to the lake know known as [[Vatsvatnet]].<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=449 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Churches=== The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Vats Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Skjold [[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 Vats Municipality''''' !Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built |- |rowspan="1"|Vats||[[Vats Church]]||[[Vats, Rogaland|Vats]]||1855 |}

==Geography== The municipality encompassed the land to the east and west surrounding the [[Vatsfjorden]] and the lake [[Vatsvatnet]]. Vats was typically divided into two parts Øvre Vats (around the lake in the north) and Nedre Vats (around the fjord in the south). The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|735|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Døldarheia, located along the border with [[Sandeid Municipality]].<ref name="elev" /> [[Ølen Municipality]] (in [[Hordaland]] county) was located to the north, [[Sandeid Municipality]] was located to the northeast, [[Vikedal Municipality]] was located to the east, [[Nedstrand Municipality]] was located to the south, and [[Skjold Municipality]] was located to the west.

==Government== While it existed, Vats 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|(Heradsstyre)}} of Vats Municipality was made up of 15 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 = Vats |herad = 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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |Total = 15 |Høyre = 4 |Local_Lists = 11 |note = On 1 January 1965, Vats Municipality was divided between [[Tysvær Municipality]] and [[Vindafjord Municipality]]. |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Høyre = 1 |Local_Lists = 14 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Local_Lists = 15 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 12 |Local_Lists = 12 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 12 |Local_Lists = 12 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 12 |AFS = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |Local_Lists = 6 |}} {{Kommunestyre table |name = Vats |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=no |location=Oslo}}</ref> |collapsed = yes |Total = 12 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 6 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 4 |}} {{div col end}}

===Mayors=== The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Vats 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_2021052848654 |title=Amtsformandskabet i Stavanger Amt 1838-1918 |publisher=Dreyers Grafiske Ansalt |year=1919 |location=Stavanger |language=no}}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *1891–1901: Erik Eriksen Koltveit<ref name="H" /><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> *1901–1907: Carl C. Hatteland<ref>{{Cite news |date=1902-05-21 |title=Stavanger Amtsting |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19020521_10_127_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |page=6 |language=no}}</ref> *1908–1910: Hans Frøland<ref>{{Cite news |date=1908-02-07 |title=Ordførervalg i Stav. Amt |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_skandinaven_null_null_19080207_43_6_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Skandinaven]] |page=6 |language=no}}</ref> *1911–1913: Nils Eidhammer<ref>{{Cite news |date=1911-01-11 |title=Ordførervalgene i Stavanger amt |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19110105_19_4_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=[[Stavanger Aftenblad]] |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1913–1914: Hans Frøland<ref name="HF">{{cite news |date=1913-12-06 |title=Vats |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangeraftenblad_null_null_19131206_21_304_1 |accessdate=2026-02-15 |newspaper=[[Stavanger aftenblad]] |page=14 |language=no}}</ref> *1914–1917: Erik Eriksen Koltveit<ref name="H">{{cite web |title=Slektslinja mellom Børge Aubø og Christoffer Ladstein |url=https://www.hetland.net/bjarte/borge.html |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=Hetland.net |language=no}}</ref> *1917–1919: Martin E. Eide<ref>{{Cite news |date=1917-01-22 |title=Amtets herreder |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_stavangerennittenseksten_null_null_19170122_1_21_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Stavangeren |page=5 |language=no}}</ref> *1920–1922: Tor Alvseike<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> *1923–1925: Nils Eidhammer<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> *1926–1928: Olav Eide<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> *1929–1935: Jakob Hatteland<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> *1935–1937: Olav Eide<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> *1938–1941: S.M. Eide<ref>{{Cite news |date=1938-01-03 |title=De valgte ordførere i vaare herreder |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19380103_59_1_1 |access-date=2026-02-10 |work=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=2 |language=no}}</ref> *1941–1944: Anders R. Hervig ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])<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: Jakob Hatteland<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> *1946–1947: Olav Koltveit<ref>{{cite news |date=1945-12-29 |title=Ordførervalget i Vats |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19451229_33_100_1 |accessdate=2026-02-15 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=4 |language=no}}</ref> *1948–1951: Thor Alvseike<ref>{{cite news |date=1948-01-07 |title=Mange nye menn på ordførerplassene i Nord-Rogaland |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19480107_36_5_1 |accessdate=2026-02-15 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=6 |language=no}}</ref> *1951–1964: Olav Koltveit<ref>{{cite news |date=1951-12-08 |title=Olav Koltveit ny ordfører i Vats |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haugesundsdagblad_null_null_19511208_39_286_1 |accessdate=2026-02-15 |newspaper=Haugesunds Dagblad |page=2 |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=Vats}} {{Adjacent communities |state = collapsed |Centre = Vats Municipality |North = [[Ølen Municipality]]<br />{{coat of arms|Hordaland}} county |Northeast = [[Sandeid Municipality]] |East = [[Vikedal Municipality]] |Southeast = [[Vikedal Municipality]] |South = [[Nedstrand Municipality]] |Southwest = [[Skjold Municipality]] |West = [[Skjold Municipality]] |Northwest = [[Vikebygd Municipality]]<br />{{coat of arms|Hordaland}} county }} {{Rogaland}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vindafjord Municipality]] [[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]] [[Category:1891 establishments in Norway]] [[Category:1965 disestablishments in Norway]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1891]] [[Category:Populated places disestablished in 1965]]