Kvæfjord Municipality Kvæfjord kommune | |
|---|---|
View of the island of Gapøya | |
Troms within Norway | |
Kvæfjord within Troms | |
| Coordinates:68°42′07″N16°08′49″E / 68.70194°N 16.14694°E /68.70194; 16.14694 | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Troms |
| District | Central Hålogaland |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Administrative centre | Borkenes |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2023) | Birger Holand (Sp) |
| Area | |
• Total | 512.62 km2 (197.92 sq mi) |
| • Land | 497.31 km2 (192.01 sq mi) |
| • Water | 15.31 km2 (5.91 sq mi) 3% |
| • Rank | #207 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 1,117.38 m (3,665.9 ft) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 2,845 |
| • Rank | #237 in Norway |
| • Density | 5.5/km2 (14/sq mi) |
| • Change(10 years) | |
| Demonym | Kvæfjerding[2] |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Neutral |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-5510[4] |
| Website | Official website |
Kvæfjord (Northern Sami:Giehtavuotna) is amunicipality inTromscounty,Norway. It is part of thetraditional region ofCentral Hålogaland. Theadministrative centre of the municipality is the village ofBorkenes. Other villages includeHundstad,Langvassbukta, andRevsnes.
Together with the neighboringHarstad Municipality, the two municipalities cover a large part of the island ofHinnøya in the southern part of the Troms county. Kvæfjord consists mostly of mountains and fjords. The municipality centers on theKvæfjorden andGullesfjorden.
Kvæfjord is also where the Norwegian national cake,Kvæfjord cake, originally comes from.
The 513-square-kilometre (198 sq mi) municipality is the 207th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Kvæfjord Municipality is the 237th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,845. The municipality'spopulation density is 5.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (14/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 8.4% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

Kvæfjord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (seeformannskapsdistrikt law). On 25 October 1956, a part of Kvæfjord Municipality (population: 32) was transferred to neighboringTrondenes Municipality. On 1 January 2000, the part of Kvæfjord Municipality that surrounded theGodfjorden (population: 102) was transferred from Kvæfjord toSortland Municipality (in neighboringNordland county).[7]
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formedTroms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the oldTroms county.[8] On 1 January 2024, theTroms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part ofTroms county.[9]
The municipality (originally theparish) is named after localfjord known as theKvæfjorden (Old Norse:Kviðjufjǫrðr) since the firstKvæfjord Church was built along the shore of the fjord. The first element is thegenitive case of the name of theislandKviðja (now known asKveøya) which lies in the fjord. The name of the island might be derived from the wordkviðr which means "belly" or "stomach". The last element of the name isfjǫrðr which means "fjord". Prior to 1889, the name was spelledKvædfjord.[10]
Thecoat of arms was granted on 4 April 1986. The officialblazon is"Vert, a strawberry plantOr" (Norwegian:I grønt en gull jordbærplante). This means the arms have a greenfield (background) and thecharge is astrawberry plant. The strawberry plant has atincture ofOr which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The green color in the field symbolizes the importance ofagriculture in the municipality, along with fertility, growth, and renewal. The strawberry was chosen since it is the northernmost municipality in Norway where strawberries are produced commercially. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[11][12][13]
TheChurch of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Kvæfjord Municipality. It is part of theTrondenes prosti (deanery) in theDiocese of Nord-Hålogaland.
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kvæfjord | Kvæfjord Church | Borkenes | 1867 |
| Langvassbukt Chapel | Langvassbukta | 1981 |

The municipality is known foragriculture and farming. The quality of thestrawberries is famous. The long hours of daylight, combined with relatively low summer temperatures, make the strawberries more tasteful than berries grown in warmer climates.
A large institution for the mentally handicapped was once located in Kvæfjord. It employed a large number of health workers.
The municipality is located onHinnøya island and it is split by three smaller branches of the largeAndfjorden:Gullesfjorden,Kvæfjorden, andGodfjorden. The island ofKveøya is located in the middle of the Kvæfjorden, across fromBorkenes.
The landscape of today was largely formed during the lastice age. When the ice retreated, the terrain rose by 50 metres (164 ft). It is in this belt of old seabed that today's best farm land is located. There are four county roads connecting the municipality: two to the north and one each to the east and south. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,117.38-metre (3,665.9 ft) tall mountain Tverrelvtindan.[1] The 412-metre (1,352 ft) tall mountainNupen is located in the northern part of the municipality on the border with Harstad.
Kvæfjord has a subpolar oceanic climate, and is mild for the high latitude. The wettest season is September - January, and the driest season is April - August.
| Climate data for Borkenes 1991-2020 (36 m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.4 (29.5) | −1.9 (28.6) | −0.6 (30.9) | 2.5 (36.5) | 7 (45) | 10.8 (51.4) | 13.6 (56.5) | 13.2 (55.8) | 9.6 (49.3) | 4.7 (40.5) | 1.5 (34.7) | −0.3 (31.5) | 4.9 (40.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 92 (3.6) | 73 (2.9) | 78 (3.1) | 53 (2.1) | 47 (1.9) | 50 (2.0) | 52 (2.0) | 61 (2.4) | 95 (3.7) | 108 (4.3) | 78 (3.1) | 112 (4.4) | 899 (35.4) |
| Source: Norsk Klimaservicesenter[14] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forBorkenes, Kvæfjord 1961-1990 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) | −0.3 (31.5) | 1.6 (34.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.3 (55.9) | 15.6 (60.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 10.8 (51.4) | 6.4 (43.5) | 2.3 (36.1) | 0.4 (32.7) | 6.5 (43.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.8 (27.0) | −2.5 (27.5) | −1.0 (30.2) | 1.9 (35.4) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 12.6 (54.7) | 12.1 (53.8) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.3 (39.7) | 0.4 (32.7) | −1.9 (28.6) | 4.0 (39.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) | −5.0 (23.0) | −3.6 (25.5) | −1.0 (30.2) | 3.1 (37.6) | 7.2 (45.0) | 9.7 (49.5) | 9.0 (48.2) | 5.6 (42.1) | 1.9 (35.4) | −1.9 (28.6) | −4.2 (24.4) | 1.3 (34.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 81 (3.2) | 74 (2.9) | 59 (2.3) | 47 (1.9) | 33 (1.3) | 40 (1.6) | 51 (2.0) | 56 (2.2) | 82 (3.2) | 109 (4.3) | 94 (3.7) | 94 (3.7) | 820 (32.3) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) | 12.6 | 12.4 | 10.6 | 9.9 | 7.9 | 9.2 | 11.0 | 11.6 | 14.3 | 16.3 | 13.9 | 15.0 | 144.7 |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[15] | |||||||||||||
Kvæfjord Municipality is responsible forprimary education (through 10th grade), outpatienthealth services,senior citizen services,welfare and othersocial services,zoning,economic development, and municipalroads and utilities. The municipality is governed by amunicipal council ofdirectly elected representatives. Themayor isindirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of theMidtre Hålogaland District Court and theHålogaland Court of Appeal.
Themunicipal council(Kommunestyre) of Kvæfjord Municipality is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by politicalparty.
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Joint list of theConservative Party (Høyre) and theProgress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
| Joint list of theConservative Party (Høyre) and theProgress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
| Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
| Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 23 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Joint list of theRed Electoral Alliance(Rød Valgallianse) and theSocialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 7 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Red Electoral Alliance(Rød Valgallianse) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 8 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 7 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 6 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 4 | |
| Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
| Farmers' Party(Bondepartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 9 | |
| Total number of members: | 29 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
| Farmers' Party(Bondepartiet) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party(Høyre) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 2 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 4 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 12 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
| List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 1 | |
| Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Note: Due to theGerman occupation of Norway duringWorld War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. | ||
Themayor (Norwegian:ordfører) of Kvæfjord Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[36]
