Steigen Municipality Steigen kommune | |
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![]() View of the village ofNordskot | |
![]() Nordland within Norway | |
![]() Steigen within Nordland | |
Coordinates:67°47′54″N15°10′19″E / 67.79833°N 15.17194°E /67.79833; 15.17194 | |
Country | Norway |
County | Nordland |
District | Salten |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
• Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Leinesfjorden |
Government | |
• Mayor(2019) | Aase Refsnes (SV) |
Area | |
• Total | 1,009.26 km2 (389.68 sq mi) |
• Land | 963.58 km2 (372.04 sq mi) |
• Water | 45.68 km2 (17.64 sq mi) 4.5% |
• Rank | #114 in Norway |
Highest elevation | 1,351.15 m (4,432.91 ft) |
Population (2024) | |
• Total | 2,672 |
• Rank | #245 in Norway |
• Density | 2.6/km2 (7/sq mi) |
• Change(10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Steigværing[2] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Bokmål |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-1848[4] |
Website | Official website |
Steigen (Norwegian pronunciation:[ˈstæɪɡn̩])[needs pitched IPA] is amunicipality inNordlandcounty,Norway. It is part of thetraditional district ofSalten. Theadministrative centre of the municipality is the village ofLeinesfjorden. Other villages includeLeirvikbogen,Leines,Nordfold,Nordskot, andSørskot.Engeløy Airport, Grådussan is located in the northern part of the municipality.Måløy–Skarholmen Lighthouse is located in theVestfjorden in the western part of the municipality. The only road access to the municipality is via theSteigen Tunnel.
The 1,009-square-kilometre (390 sq mi) municipality is the 114th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Steigen is the 245th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,672. The municipality'spopulation density is 2.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (6.7/sq mi) and its population has increased by 3.6% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]
The municipality of Steigen was established on 1 January 1838 (seeformannskapsdistrikt law). The southern part of Steigen Municipality was separated on 1 September 1900 to form the newLedingen Municipality. This left 2,216 residents in Steigen Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of theSchei Committee. On 1 January 1964, a major municipal merger took place. A new Steigen Municipality was created by the merging the following areas:
Prior to the merger, the population of Steigen Municipality was 1,843, and after the merger, the new municipality had 4,545 residents.[7][8]
The municipality (originally theparish) is named after the oldSteigen farm (Old Norse:Steig) since the firstSteigen Church was built there. The name is derived from the verbstíga which means "mount" or "rise". This is referring to the high and steep mountain Steigtinden (-tinden means "the peak") behind the farm.[9]
Thecoat of arms was granted on 12 October 1988, but they were not formally approved by the government until 11 January 1991. The officialblazon is"Or three axe bladessablein bend" (Norwegian:I gull tre svarte øksehoder i skrå rekke). This means the arms have afield (background) that has atincture ofOr which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. Thecharge is threeaxe heads from theViking Age that are lined up diagonally. The design was chosen to represent theViking history of the municipality. There are three axe heads to represent that three municipalities were merged in 1964 to form the present municipality. The arms were designed by Henry Tømmerås, the municipal cultural secretary at the time.[10][11][12][13]
TheChurch of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within Steigen Municipality. It is part of theSalten prosti (deanery) in theDiocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Leiranger | Leiranger Church | Leines | 1911 |
Leinesfjord Chapel | Leinesfjorden | 1912 | |
Sørskot Chapel | Sørskot | 1953 | |
Nordfold | Nordfold Church | Nordfold | 1976 |
Steigen | Steigen Church | Steigen (Engeløya) | 1250 |
Bogen Chapel | Leirvikbogen | 1926 |
The municipality is located along the coast of theVestfjorden, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of thetown of Bodø, well inside theArctic Circle. The road to Steigen departs fromEuropean route E6 and makes use of the 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) longSteigentunnelen (seeWorld's longest tunnels). Steigen bordersHamarøy Municipality in the north andSørfold Municipality to the south. TheVestfjorden andLofoten are located west of Steigen. TheSagfjorden lies on the north and theFolda fjord in the south.
The municipality is mainly located on apeninsula dissected by manyfjords. Steigen also includes severalislands. The largest island isEngeløya, where there are ancientburial mounds (such as Sigarshaugen) andthe world's most northerly naturally occurringHazel forest inPrestegårdsskogen Nature Reserve. The largest glacier is Helldalsisen encircling a 1,361 metres (4,465 ft)mountain. The island ofEngeløya is connected to the mainland by theEngeløy Bridges and just to the north of that lies the uninhabited island ofLundøya. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,351.15-metre (4,432.9 ft) tall mountain Helldalisen.[1]
Steigen has fertile lowlands in between the mountains and the sea. There are several archeological sites showing settlements from theBronze Age,Iron Age, andViking Age. Lakes in the region includeForsanvatnet,Hopvatnet,Makkvatnet, andStraumfjordvatnet.
The monthly 24-hr averages range from −1 °C (30 °F) in January and February to 13 °C (55 °F) in July and August, with precipitation ranging from 49 millimetres (1.9 in) in May to 146 millimetres (5.7 in) in October; annual average is 970 millimetres (38.2 in) and mean annual temperature is 5.1 °C (41 °F).[14]
Steigen 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.[15] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of theSalten og Lofoten District Court and theHålogaland Court of Appeal.
Themunicipal council (Kommunestyre) of Steigen is made up of 17 representatives that are elected for 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) | 4 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Red Party(Rødt) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 5 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 1 | |
Red Party(Rødt) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Pensioners' Party(Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 | |
Red Party(Rødt) | 2 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Pensioners' Party(Pensjonistpartiet) | 2 | |
Red Party(Rødt) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 3 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
Cross-party list for Steigen(Tverrpolitisk liste for Steigen) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Cross-party list(Tverrpolitisk liste) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
Cross-party list(Tverrpolitisk list) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Progress Party(Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
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) | 3 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Socialist Left Party(Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
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) | 8 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 11 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 1 | |
Free voters non-party list(Frie velgeres upolitiske liste) | 3 | |
Fishing industry non-party list(Fiskerinæringens upolitiske liste) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 14 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 3 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party(Venstre) | 2 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party(Høyre) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party(Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 29 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 11 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 13 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 16 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party(Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 14 | |
Total number of members: | 16 |
Party name(in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders(Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties(Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 | |
Local List(s)(Lokale lister) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 16 | |
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 Steigen 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:[35][36]