Gran Municipality

The prestegjeld of Gran was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1874, an unpopulated area of Gran Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Jevnaker Municipality. On 1 January 1897, the municipality was divided into two. The northern part of the municipality (population: 4,719) became the new Brandbu Municipality and the southern part of the municipality (population: 3,897) remained as Gran Municipality.^[7]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, the Furulund area of Gran Municipality on the west side of the lake Randsfjorden (population: 180) was transferred to the neighboring Jevnaker Municipality. Also on that date, the remaining part of Gran Municipality (population: 5,249) was merged with Brandbu Municipality (population: 6,477) to form a new, larger Gran Municipality. On 1 January 1964, the part of Gran Municipality located at the south end of the lake Einavatnet (population: 12) was transferred to the neighboring Vestre Toten Municipality.^[7]

More information Ancestry, Number ...

Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Gran by country of origin in 2015

Ancestry	Number[12]
Lithuania	190
Eritrea	142
Poland	142
Somalia	139
Kosovo	64
Iraq	47
Philippines	45
Sweden	45
Thailand	44
Denmark	36

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Granavollen is the site of the Sister Churches (Norwegian: Søsterkirkene). These two stone churches are from the Middle Ages and were constructed side by side. The smaller and older is the Mariakirke, a single nave church built in the Romanesque style, built sometime before 1150. The neighbouring Nikolaikirke is a three-aisled basilica, probably inspired by the construction of the St. Halvardskirke in Oslo. It was built sometime between 1150 and 1200. According to local folklore, the churches were built by two sisters. These two detested each other so much they could not share the same church. A more likely explanation however, is that the Mariakirke was built for the local congregation, while the Nikolaikirke was the main church for Hadeland parish. The Granavollen stone is located behind the Nikolaikirken.^[13]

The Old Tingelstad Church (Tingelstad St.Petri Kirke) is another medieval stone church. It is a Romanesque stone church, dated to the 12th century and dedicated to St.Peter. This church has survived even though it has not been in regular use for some 140 years.^[14]

This is also the location of Hadeland Folkemuseum with a collection of buildings from the area, farm implements, a grave mound from the Viking Age, and a replica of the 11th century Dynna Runestone (Dynnasteinen). It also holds an archive of photographs and documents.^[15]

In 2002, the economy of the municipality was 24,098 kr in free income per inhabitant, and the net debt per inhabitant was 41,835 kr (also municipal economy, not private). Health care spending represents about one-third of the total municipal budget, which is 7.5% higher than the average for Norway. The Norwegian National Road 4 runs through the most populated parts of Gran, bringing lots of transportation traffic.

Gran Municipality is part of the Hadeland region. It is bordered to the north by Søndre Land Municipality and Vestre Toten Municipality (in Innlandet county), to the east by Hurdal Municipality and Nannestad Municipality (both in Akershus county), to the south by Lunner Municipality and Jevnaker Municipality (both in Akershus county), and to the west by Ringerike Municipality (in Buskerud county). There are several lakes in Gran Municipality including Øyangen, Randsfjorden, and Vestre Bjonevatnet. The highest point in the municipality is the 812.52-metre (2,665.7 ft) tall mountain Lushaugen, located on the border with Hurdal Municipality.^[1]

Gran 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.

Gran has sister city agreements with the following places:^[66]

• - Favrskov, Region Midtjylland, Denmark
• - Kungsbacka, Halland County, Sweden
• - Lugazi, Kampala District, Uganda
• - Mukono, Mukono District, Uganda
• - Pärnu, Pärnu County, Estonia
• - Saarijärvi, Länsi-Suomi, Finland

• Cally Monrad (1879 in Gran – 1950), a singer, actress, and poet^[67]
• Hans Stenseth (1896 in Gran – 1994), a leading flautist
• Kristian Horn (1903 in Brandbu – 1981), a botanist, academic, and humanist
• Kirsten Langbo (1909 in Gran – 1996), a children's writer, singer-songwriter, and entertainer
• Ulla-Mari Brantenberg (born 1947), a glass artist who lives in Brandbu
• Espen Reinertsen (born 1979 in Gran), a saxophonist, flutist, composer, and music producer