Øystre Slidre Municipality
Municipality in Innlandet, Norway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Øystre Slidre is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Heggenes. Other villages in the municipality include Hegge, Rogne, Volbu, Moane, Skammestein, Beito, and Beitostølen.
Øystre Slidre Municipality
Øystre Slidre kommune | |
|---|---|
| Østre Slidre herred (historic name) | |
Buahaugen in Øystre Slidre | |
 Flag | |
 Innlandet within Norway | |
 Øystre Slidre within Innlandet | |
| Coordinates: 61°14′11″N 9°8′37″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Innlandet |
| District | Valdres |
| Established | 1849 |
| • Preceded by | Slidre Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Heggenes |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2023) | Bjarne Budal (Ap) |
| Area | |
• Total | 969.89 km2 (374.48 sq mi) |
| • Land | 886.08 km2 (342.12 sq mi) |
| • Water | 83.81 km2 (32.36 sq mi) 8.6% |
| • Rank | #120 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 2,010.66 m (6,596.7 ft) |
| Population (2025) | |
• Total | 3,311 |
| • Rank | #221 in Norway |
| • Density | 3.4/km2 (8.8/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) |  +2.9% |
| Demonym | Øystreslidring |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-3453 |
| Website | Official website |
The 969.89-square-kilometre (374.48 sq mi) municipality is the 120th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Øystre Slidre Municipality is the 221st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,311. The municipality's population density is 3.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (8.8/sq mi) and its population has increased by 2.9% over the previous 10-year period.[2][3]
General information
The municipality of Østre Slidre, later spelled Øystre Slidre, was established in 1849, when the former Slidre Municipality, created in 1838, was divided into Østre Slidre Municipality, with a population of 2,406, and Vestre Slidre Municipality, with a population of 3,130. On 1 January 1882, a small area of Vang Municipality, with 31 residents, was transferred to the neighbouring Østre Slidre Municipality. On 1 January 1899, a small uninhabited area of Østre Slidre Municipality was transferred to Vestre Slidre Municipality.[4]
Historically, the municipality was part of the former Oppland county. On 1 January 2020, Øystre Slidre became part of the newly created Innlandet county, formed through the merger of Hedmark and Oppland.[5]
On 1 January 2021, the Skjelgrenda area of Vestre Slidre Municipality was transferred to Øystre Slidre Municipality.[6]
Name
The municipality, originally the parish, is named after the old Slidre farm, recorded in Old Norse as Slíðrar, because the old Slidredomen church was built there. The name is probably derived from slíðr, meaning "sheath", possibly referring to a long depression near the church. When the municipality and parish were divided in 1849, the word østre, meaning "eastern", was added to the name. The meaning of Østre Slidre is therefore "the eastern part of Slidre".[7] The municipality was historically spelled Østre Slidre. On 11 September 1925, a royal resolution changed the official spelling to Øystre Slidre, using a local dialect form of the same word.[8]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 17 March 1989. The official blazon is "Plumetty azure and argent" (Norwegian: Dekt av blå og sølv skjell). This means that the arms have a field, or background, covered with a plumetty pattern in alternating blue and argent tinctures. Argent is usually shown as white, or as silver when metal is used.
The design is intended to resemble tiles made of slate. It refers to the slate industry, which was formerly important in the area, and to the use of slate roofing in Valdres. The arms were designed by Odd Karlberg. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11][12][13]
Churches
The Church of Norway has four parishes, or sokn, within Øystre Slidre Municipality. They are part of the Valdres prosti, or deanery, in the Diocese of Hamar.
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hegge | Hegge Stave Church | Hegge | 1216 |
| Lidar | Lidar Church | Skammestein | 1932 |
| Rogne | Rogne Church | Rogne | 1857 |
| Volbu | Volbu Church | Volbu | 1820 |
History
Båtskaret (lit. 'The boat pass') is a narrow pass along the mountain Bitihorn where in medieval times people from the Øystre Slidre area dragged their boats through, therefore the name. A bit further into the mountain there is a big lake called Vinstre with a lot of fine trout. As a result of a dispute between people from Valdres and people from Gudbrandsdalen, they could not leave their boats behind. Therefore, they had to resort to dragging their boats through Båtskaret. According to local folklore, the dispute began in medieval times with a young bride being married to an old man and a knight stealing his way over the mountains to rescue her.[13]
Hegge Stave Church was originally constructed around the year 1216 in the village of Hegge. It has been extensively rebuilt and is mostly post-reformation. It contains a fine altarpiece (reredos) carved by Eistein Kjørn from Heidal between 1781 and 1782.[13]
Geography
Øystre Slidre Municipality shares borders with Nord-Aurdal Municipality and Vestre Slidre Municipality in the south; Vang Municipality in the west; Gausdal Municipality, Sør-Fron Municipality, and Nord-Fron Municipality to the east; and up to the Valdresflya plateau at the border of Vågå Municipality in the north. Øystre Slidre Municipality is part of the traditional district of Valdres in central, southern Norway, situated between the Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal valleys. Øystre Slidre Municipality measures about 45.1 kilometres (28.0 mi) on a north–south axis and 39.8 kilometres (24.7 mi) on an east–west axis.
The highest point in the municipality is the 2,010.66-metre (6,596.7 ft) tall mountain Øystre Rasletinden, located as a tri-point on the border with Vågå Municipality, Vang Municipality, and Øystre Slidre Municipality.[1] About 73% of the land is over 900 metres (3,000 ft) in elevation. More than 10% of the land is over 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level. Some of the notable mountains in the municipality include Gråhøe, Store Kalvemellen, Kvernhøe, Rabalsmellen, Raslet, Rundemellen, Skaget, and Skarvemellen. The lowest points lie at 410 metres (1,350 ft) above sea level. Lakes and rivers cover 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi) of the area. The largest lakes are Vinstre, Yddin, Vangsjøen, Javnin, Olevatn, Nedre Heimdalsvatn, Øyangen, and Sandvatnet/Kaldfjorden/Øyvatnet.[12]
Climate
| Climate data for Løken i Volbu 1991-2020 (521 m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −3.3 (26.1) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.5 (45.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.7 (67.5) |
17.9 (64.2) |
13.4 (56.1) |
6.2 (43.2) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
7.5 (45.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.2 (19.0) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
2.5 (36.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
8.6 (47.5) |
2.6 (36.7) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−6.8 (19.8) |
2.9 (37.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 46 (1.8) |
30 (1.2) |
34 (1.3) |
31 (1.2) |
48 (1.9) |
72 (2.8) |
82 (3.2) |
86 (3.4) |
55 (2.2) |
57 (2.2) |
52 (2.0) |
39 (1.5) |
632 (24.7) |
| Source 1: Yr (precipitation)[14] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA - WMO averages 91-2020 Norway[15] | |||||||||||||
Government
Øystre Slidre Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[16] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestoppland og Valdres District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Øystre Slidre Municipality is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 11 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 | |
| Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 | |
| Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 11 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 | |
| Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 12 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 8 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 | |
| Total number of members: | 21 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 | |
| Liberal Party (Venstre) | 7 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 2 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 10 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 3 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 3 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 | |
| Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
| Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 8 | |
| Total number of members: | 20 | |
| Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. | ||
Mayors
The mayor (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Øystre Slidre 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:[38]
- 1871–1875: Ole R. Skattebo[41]
- 1875–1887: Tollef Knudsen Liekren[42]
- 1888–1891: Knud O. Rogne[43]
- 1892–1904: Torstein Rogne[44]
- 1905–1910: G.H. Skattebo[45]
- 1911–1916: Ole Bustebakke (V)[46]
- 1917–1925: Knut O. Alfstad (V)[47]
- 1925–1931: Knut Ekkern (FV)[48]
- 1931–1941: Gullik K. Hovi (RF)[49]
- 1941–1945: John O. Mørstad (NS)[50]
- 1945–1947: Gullik K. Hovi (V)
- 1948–1955: Haldor Hegge (V)
- 1956–1959: Knut Bjørnstad (Sp)
- 1960–1963: Haldor Hegge (V)
- 1964–1975: Knut Bjørnstad (Sp)
- 1976–1979: Nils T. Windingstad (Sp)
- 1980–1991: Knut Bergo (V)
- 1992–1997: Terje Stenseng (Sp)
- 1997–1999: Ola Fjelltun (Sp)
- 1999–2003: Ove Skaret (Ap)
- 2003–2011: Gro Lundby (Ap)
- 2011–2019: Kjell Berge Melbybråten (Ap)
- 2019–2023: Odd Erik Holden (Sp)
- 2023–present: Bjarne Budal (Ap)[51]
Economy
Because of the rugged landscape, farming is only possible on a small scale, but this is still one of the main sources of income. There are only about 30 square kilometres (12 mi2) of agricultural land in the municipality. About 85% of farmers in the municipality use the high mountain pastures in the summer time.[12]
The winter sports resort of Beitostølen, host to World Cup events in biathlon and cross-country skiing, is located here. It is the biggest tourist area in the municipality, and provides a large fraction of the municipality's income.
Notable people
- Olav Beito (1901–1989), a linguist and academic
- Ole Haldorsen Bjelbøle (1879–??), a farmer and politician[53]
- Torger Hovi (1905–1980), a politician and deputy mayor of Øystre Slidre from 1959–1961
- Torleiv Bolstad (1915–1979), a musician and Hardanger fiddle player
