Lesja
Lesja Municipality
Lesja kommune | |
---|---|
Lesje herred (historic name) | |
View of the Lesja area | |
Gudbrandsdal | |
Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
• Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
Administrative centre | Lesja |
Government | |
• Mayor (2015) | Mariann Skotte (Sp) |
Area | |
• Total | 2,259.50 km2 (872.40 sq mi) |
• Land | 2,168.92 km2 (837.42 sq mi) |
• Water | 90.57 km2 (34.97 sq mi) 4% |
• Rank | #25 in Norway |
Population (2023) | |
• Total | 1,966 |
• Rank | #282 in Norway |
• Density | 0.9/km2 (2/sq mi) |
• Change (10 years) | ![]() |
Demonym | Lesjing[1] |
Official language | |
• Norwegian form | Neutral |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
ISO 3166 code | NO-3432[3] |
Website | Official website |
Lesja is a
Lesja is located in the northwestern edge of Innlandet county. It is bordered in the north by the municipalities of Molde and Sunndal (in Møre og Romsdal county) and Oppdal (in Trøndelag county). It is bordered to the east by the municipality of Dovre; in the south by Vågå and Lom municipalities; in the southwest by the municipality of Skjåk; and to the west by Rauma municipality.
The 2,260-square-kilometre (870 sq mi) municipality is the 25th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lesja is the 282nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,966. The municipality's population density is 0.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 8.3% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
General information
The parish of Lesje was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1863, the eastern part of the municipality (population: 2,537) was separated to become the new municipality of Dovre. This left Lesja with 3,666 residents.[6]
Name
The municipality (originally the
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 23 January 1987. The official blazon is "Per fess argent and azure, a pile issuant from the base" (Norwegian: På sølv grunn blå skjoldfot med spiss oppover). This means the arms have are divided with a line that is horizontal with a triangle point upwards in the middle. The field (background) below the line has a tincture of blue. Above the line, the field has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design is meant to represent the spire of Lesja Church, which sits on a hill and its roof line and spire are visible from far away. The arms were designed by Einar H. Skjervold. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]
Churches
The
Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
---|---|---|---|
Lesja og Lesjaskog | Lesja Church | Lesja | 1749 |
Lesjaskog Church | Lesjaskog | 1697 | |
Lesjaverk Church | Lesjaverk | 1964 |
Geography
Lesja is highly mountainous, and lies on the east–west watershed, with the lake
Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park
Economy
The municipality is primarily
Rail service is provided by the Rauma Line, connecting with the Dovre Line at Dombås in Dovre and extending to the terminus in Åndalsnes on the fjord in Møre og Romsdal County.
Lesja is located in a mountain region, comprising the south-westerly portion of the Dovrefjell range. It is the site of the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park, lies just north of Jotunheimen National Park and lies just west of Rondane National Park, so tourism and outdoor sports such as skiing are also important. The Bjorli ski area lies in Lesja.
Government
Lesja Municipality is responsible for
Municipal council
The
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Total number of members: | 17 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 11 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local list (Bygdalista) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 12 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local list (Bygdalista) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local list (Bygdelista) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Local list (Bygdalista) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Local list (Bygdalista) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 | |
Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
Non-party and free voters list (Upolitiske og Frie velgere) | 2 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 9 | |
Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 | |
Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 | |
Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 10 | |
Total number of members: | 21 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 14 | |
Total number of members: | 24 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 9 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 24 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 | |
Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 2 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 | |
Total number of members: | 24 |
Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives | |
---|---|---|
Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 | |
Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 10 | |
Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 | |
Total number of members: | 24 | |
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 mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Lesja:[34]
- 1838-1849: Johannes Tøndevold
- 1850-1853: Peder Skotte
- 1854-1855: Syver Hogsvold
- 1856-1863: H.G. Kolstad
- 1864-1867: Syver Hogsvold
- 1868-1871: Peder Bj. Holager
- 1872-1873: Syver Hogsvold
- 1874-1877: H.H. Hatrem
- 1878-1879: Peder Bj. Holager
- 1880-1883: Per Kolstad
- 1884-1885: H.H. Hatrem
- 1886-1887: Peder Bj. Holager
- 1888-1889: H.H. Hatrem
- 1890-1891: Peder Bj. Holager
- 1892-1901: A. Norderhus
- 1902-1913: Ole Rolstad (Bp)
- 1914-1916: Ole Ekre (Bp)
- 1917-1919: Ole Rolstad (Bp)
- 1920-1922: Ole Ekre (Bp)
- 1923-1925: Ole Rolstad (Bp)
- 1926-1928: Ole Ekre (Bp)
- 1929-1937: Sigvart Jordhøy (Bp)
- 1938-1947: John Bottheim (Bp)
- 1947-1955: Ola O. Mølmen (Bp)
- 1956-1959: Sverre J. Botheim (Sp)
- 1960-1963: Ola O. Mølmen (Sp)
- 1964-1967: Sverre J. Botheim (Sp)
- 1968-1969: Ola O. Mølmen (Sp)
- 1970-1971: Andreas Mølmen (Heile Lesja)
- 1972-1975: Karl Stålaker (Sp)
- 1976-1987: Jo Nordahl Botheim (Sp)
- 1988-1991: Osvald Haugbotn (Sp)
- 1992-1999: Jo N. Bottheim (Sp)
- 1999-2011: Per Dag Hole (Sp)
- 2011-2015: Steinar Tronhus (Ap)
- 2015–present: Mariann Skotte (Sp)
History
Ancestry | Number |
---|---|
![]() |
41 |
![]() |
34 |
![]() |
16 |
Since it is located on a pass providing access to the Gudbrandsdalen, Lesja lies on an important trade route used in prehistoric times.
Earliest recorded history
The area is first mentioned in the written chronicle of the
Lesjaverk (The Lesja iron works)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Lesjaverk.gif/220px-Lesjaverk.gif)
Art and culture
Jakob Bersveinson Klukstad (1710 to 1773), who was born in Lom spent most of his career on Klukstad farm in Lesja. Klukstad was the foremost Norwegian sculptor and painter of his generation. His work can still be seen in churches at Lesja, Skjåk, and Heidal.[38]
Emigration from Lesja
The Lesja area in the
World War 2
After the
During the war a British fighter squadron (flying 'Gloster Gladiators') flew from the icebound surface of lake
Notable people
- Jakob Klukstad (1705–1773), a wood carver and painter who lived most of his life and died in Lesja
- Edvard Storm (1749–1794), a national romantic poet and teacher in Lesja
- Christen Pram (1756 in Lesja – 1821), an economist, civil servant, poet, novelist, playwright, diarist, and magazine editor
- Jens Holmboe (1752 in Lesja – 1804), a Norwegian bailiff who helped settle the Målselvdalen
- John Flittie (1856 in Lesja – 1913), the first North Dakota Secretary of State who emigrated from Lesja in 1867
- Frederick Delius (1862–1934), an English composer who summered at Villa Høifagerli, the house he built in Lesjaskog in 1921
- Sigurd Einbu (1866 in Lesjaskog – 1946), a Norwegian self-taught astronomer
- Ragnvald Einbu (1870 in Lesja – 1943), a painter and woodcarver of fairy-tale and genre figures
- Lars Magnus Moen (1885 in Lesja – 1964), a politician, government minister, and member of the Storting from 1928-1957
- Olaf Heitkøtter, (Norwegian Wiki) (1928–2013), a mountain ranger in Lesja who wrote seven books
- Ola Enstad (1942 in Lesjaskog – 2013), a Norwegian sculptor
- Arne Hyttnes (born 1950 in Lesjaskog), a Norwegian banker
See also
References
- ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
- ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
- Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
- ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2022). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
- ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2022). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
- ISBN 9788253746845.
- ^ Rygh, Oluf (1900). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (in Norwegian) (4 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 14.
- ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
- ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 23 January 1987. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Lesja, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
- Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- Valgdirektoratet.
- ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
- Valgdirektoratet.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984.
- ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
- ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
- ^ Einbu, Sigurd; Skotte, Ola (1949). Lesja : litt frå den kommunale soga 1838-1938, og ymse anna (in Norwegian).
- ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson
- ^ Stagg, Frank Noel (1953). The Heart of Norway. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. ISBN none.
- ^ Årsskrift for Lesja historielag [The yearbook for the Lesja Historical Association] (in Norwegian). Lesja, Norge: Lesja historielag. 2000.
- ^ Du Chaillu, Paul B. (1899). The Land Of The Midnight Sun. London: George Newnes, Limited. p. 123.
- ISBN 978-0-88254-812-8.
- ISBN 0-312-06427-6.
Further reading
- Stagg, Frank Noel (1956). East Norway and its Frontier. London: George Allen and Unwin.
- Kleiven, Ivar (1923). Gamal Bondekultur i Gudbrandsdalen: Lesja og Dovre (in Norwegian). Aschehoug.
- Einbu, Per; Kjelland, Arnfinn (1988). Setrane i Lesja - i teikning og teks [Manors in Lesja - in drawings and text]. p. 256. ISBN 9788290795073.
- Kjelland, Arnfin (1987). Bygdebok for Lesja bd 1. Gards- og slektshistorie for Lesjaskogen [Rural district for Lesja 1. Farm and genealogical history of Lesja woods] (in Norwegian). p. 634.
- Kjelland, Arnfin (1992). Bygdebok for Lesja bd 2. Gards- og slektshistorie for nørdre del av Lesja hovudsokn. p. 736.
- Kjelland, Arnfin (1996). Bygdebok for Lesja bd 3. Gards- og slektshistorie for søre del av Lesja hovudsokn. p. 800.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png)
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian)
Innlandet travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Bjorli ski center in Lesja (in Norwegian)
- Map of Lesja from Kulturnett.no(in Norwegian)