Beiarn Municipality

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Municipality in Nordland, Norway

title: "Beiarn Municipality" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["beiarn-municipality", "municipalities-of-nordland", "populated-places-of-arctic-norway", "1853-establishments-in-norway", "populated-places-established-in-1853"] description: "Municipality in Nordland, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beiarn_Municipality" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Municipality in Nordland, Norway ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox kommune"]

FieldValue
nameBeiarn
former_nameBeiara herred
former_name1Beieren herred
image_skylineHoegtind Beiarn 01.jpg
idnumber1839
countyNordland
districtSalten
capitalMoldjord
established1853
precededGildeskål Municipality
demonymBeiarværing
languageBokmål
coatofarmsBeiarn komm.svg
webpagewww.beiarn.kommune.no
mayorAndrè Kristoffersen
mayor_partySp
mayor_as_of2023
elevation_max_m1634.52
highest_point_ref
area_rank88
area_total_km21222.31
area_land_km21178.76
area_water_km243.55
area_water_percent3.6
population_as_of2024
population_rank333
population_total1062
population_density_km20.9
population_increase-2.4
coordinates
::

|name = Beiarn |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Beiara herred |former_name1 = Beieren herred |image_skyline = Hoegtind Beiarn 01.jpg |image_caption = |idnumber = 1839 |county = Nordland |district = Salten |capital = Moldjord |established = 1853 |preceded = Gildeskål Municipality |demonym = Beiarværing |language = Bokmål |coatofarms = Beiarn komm.svg |flag = |webpage = www.beiarn.kommune.no |mayor = Andrè Kristoffersen |mayor_party = Sp |mayor_as_of = 2023 |elevation_max_m = 1634.52 |highest_point_ref = |area_rank = 88 |area_total_km2 = 1222.31 |area_land_km2 = 1178.76 |area_water_km2 = 43.55 |area_water_percent = 3.6 |population_as_of = 2024 |population_rank = 333 |population_total = 1062 |population_density_km2 = 0.9 |population_increase = -2.4 |coordinates =

Beiarn is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. Beiarn is also a part of the Bodø Region, a statistical metropolitan region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Moldjord. Other villages in Beiarn are Høyforsmoen, Trones, and Tverrvika.

The 1222 km2 municipality is the 88th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Beiarn Municipality is the 333rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,062. The municipality's population density is 0.9 PD/km2 and its population has decreased by 2.4% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of Beiarn was established in 1853 when it was separated from the large Gildeskål Municipality. Initially, Beiarn had 1,164 residents. The municipal boundaries have not changed since that time.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Beiar Fjord ( or Beðinn). The meaning of the name is uncertain. It may be derived from the plural form of the word which means "bedding" (in the sense of a "river bed". Another option is that it is the past participle of the word which means "to pray" or "to ask". Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Beieren. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Beiara. This spelling, however, was not well-liked. On 19 August 1908 (a few months later), another royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Beiarn. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Beiarn_kirke_01.jpg" caption="[[Beiarn Church"] ::

Coat of arms

The coat of arms has been used in Beiarn since 1988. The blazon is "Vert, a pine tree uprooted Or" (). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a pine tree. The pine tree has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The pine tree was chosen to symbolize the mighty pine forests for which Beiarn has historically been well-known. This is mentioned both by Petter Dass' "Nordlands Trompet" and in Lars Hess Bing's "Description of the Kingdom of Norway, the Isles of Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as well as Greenland". There are remains of giant pine trees that are likely over one thousand years old. The green color of the field was chosen to represent the lush green forests and the gold/yellow color was chosen because the forest is "worth its weight in gold" for the municipality. The arms were designed by Erik Gabrielsen, who was a cultural consultant in Beiarn municipality. In 1995, the municipality applied to have the arms formally approved for use by the National Archives of Norway, but they were not approved because it did not meet the heraldic standards for coats of arms in Norway. The National Archives told the municipality that they can use the unapproved arms in some circumstances, but they cannot be put on a flag, road sign, or public buildings.

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Beiarn Municipality. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

::data[format=table title="style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Beiarn Municipality'''''"]

Parish (sokn)Church NameLocation of the ChurchYear built
BeiarnBeiarn ChurchMoldjord1873
Høyforsmoen ChapelHøyforsmoen1957
::

A privately owned stave church was built in 2006 at Savjord, about 8 km east of Moldjord. The Savjord Stave Church was modeled after the Gol Stave Church.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Tellingen_Beiarn_01.jpg" caption="Tellingen mountain in February"] ::

The municipality of Beiarn is located just north of the Arctic Circle, along the Beiar River including the Beiar Valley and some surrounding areas in the Saltfjellet mountains. The highest point in the municipality is the 1634.52 m tall mountain Skjelåtinden. The river is one of the best salmon rivers in Northern Norway. There are several large lakes in Beiarn including Arstaddalsdammen, Litle Sokumvatnet, and Ramsgjelvatnet.

The Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is partially located in Beiarn. The Svartisen and Simlebreen glaciers are both located in Beiarn. The world's most northern naturally occurring elm forest (Ulmus glabra) grows in the Arstadlia nature reserve, where the rich vegetation also includes orchids.

Government

Beiarn 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. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Beiarn Municipality is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party. |name = Beiarn |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = |collapsed = |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Senterpartiet = 6 |otherparty = Beiarn Local List |otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 5 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Senterpartiet = 9 |otherparty = Beiarn Local List |otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 3 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Senterpartiet = 5 |otherparty = Beiarn Local List |otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 4 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Senterpartiet = 4 |otherparty = Beiarn Local List |otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 4 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Senterpartiet = 2 |otherparty = Beiarn local list |otherparty_no = Beiarn bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 8 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 15 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Senterpartiet = 2 |otherparty = Beiarn local list |otherparty_no = Beiarn Bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 4 |otherparty1 = Rural development list |otherparty_no1 = Bygdeutviklingslista |otherparty_number1 = 2 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |otherparty = Beiarn local list |otherparty_no = Beiarn bygdeliste |otherparty_number = 3 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 1 |KrF/Sp = 8 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 2 |KrF/Sp = 7 |otherparty = Local people's list |otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste |otherparty_number = 1 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 2 |KrF/Sp = 4 |otherparty = Local people's list |otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste |otherparty_number = 2 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 1 |KrF/Sp = 5 |otherparty = Local people's list |otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets lista |otherparty1 = Working people's list |otherparty_no1 = Arbeidsfolkets liste |otherparty_number1 = 1 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 2 |KrF/Sp = 5 |otherparty = Local people's list |otherparty_no = Bygdefolkets liste |otherparty_number = 1 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |KrF/Sp = 8 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Local_Lists = 1 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |}} |name = Beiarn |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 5 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Local_Lists = 5 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 13 |AFS = 1 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} |name = Beiarn |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Local_Lists = 4 |}}

Mayors

The mayor () of Beiarn 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:

  • 1853–1858: Lars Hansen Næss
  • 1859–1861: Wilhelm Anton Feght
  • 1863–1866: Lars Hansen Næss
  • 1867–1868: Eiler Rosenvinge Kaurin
  • 1869–1870: Lars Hansen Næss
  • 1871–1877: Gustav Sophus Janke
  • 1878–1886: Ole Andreas Anderssen
  • 1887–1896: Christian Angell Pedersen Storjord
  • 1897–1900: Jørgen Blydt Mowinckel
  • 1901–1902: Lorents Rasch
  • 1903–1906: Christian Angell Pedersen Storjord
  • 1907–1908: Halfdan Johannessen Osbak
  • 1909–1916: Johan Christoffersen
  • 1917–1925: Arne Pedersen Øines
  • 1926–1928: Johan Christoffersen
  • 1929–1934: Edvard Nilsen
  • 1935–1941: Julius J. Einan
  • 1941–1945: Sverre Gloppen (NS)
  • 1945–1955: Julius J. Einan
  • 1956–1957: Haakon Innset
  • 1958–1967: Karl Leithe
  • 1968–1971: Erling Jakobsen
  • 1972–1983: Osvald Tollåli
  • 1983–1990: Arne Larsen
  • 1991–1998: Paul Eggesvik
  • 1999–2010: Frigg-Ottar Os
  • 2011–2023: Monika Sande (Sp)
  • 2023–present: Andrè Kristoffersen (Sp)

Attractions

The area offers many outdoor activities to visitors, including fishing, caving, and mountain walking. The Beiarn farm museum includes an overview of Beiarn's cultural history, from the Viking Age through to the middle of the 20th century.

Notable people

  • Kristian Moljord (1882 in Beiarn – 1976), a fisherman, railroad worker, miner, and politician

References

References

  1. (2024-01-16). "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune". [[Kartverket]].
  2. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)".
  3. Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km2) (M)".
  4. Jukvam, Dag. (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen". [[Statistics Norway.
  5. Rygh, Oluf. (1905). "Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt". W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
  6. (1908). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
  7. (1908). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
  8. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World.
  9. "Om Kommunevåpenet".
  10. Store norske leksikon. "Beiarn".
  11. "Beiarn kommune, våpen". Arkivverket.
  12. "Arstadlia-Tverviknakken naturreservat".
  13. {{Cite SNL. kommunestyre. kommunestyre. 2024-12-31. Hansen. Tore. 2024-11-25
  14. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
  15. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
  16. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)". Statistics Norway.
  17. "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
  18. (1996). "Kommunestyrevalget 1995". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  19. (1993). "Kommunestyrevalget 1991". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  20. (1988). "Kommunestyrevalget 1987". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  21. (1984). "Kommunestyrevalget 1983". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  22. (1979). "Kommunestyrevalget 1979". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  23. (1977). "Kommunevalgene 1975". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  24. (1973). "Kommunevalgene 1972". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  25. (1967). "Kommunevalgene 1967". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  26. (1964). "Kommunevalgene 1963". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  27. (1960). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  28. (1957). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  29. (1952). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  30. (1948). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  31. (1947). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  32. (1938). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  33. Gabrielsen, Laila. (2022-08-07). "Oversikt over tidligere ordførere i Beiarn". Beiarn kommune.
  34. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset".

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beiarn-municipalitymunicipalities-of-nordlandpopulated-places-of-arctic-norway1853-establishments-in-norwaypopulated-places-established-in-1853