Fusa Municipality

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Former municipality in Hordaland, Norway

title: "Fusa Municipality" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bjørnafjorden-municipality", "former-municipalities-of-norway", "1856-establishments-in-norway", "2020-disestablishments-in-norway", "populated-places-established-in-1856", "populated-places-disestablished-in-2020"] description: "Former municipality in Hordaland, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusa_Municipality" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Former municipality in Hordaland, Norway ::

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

Field	Value
name	Fusa
former	yes
former_name	Fuse herred
image_skyline	Sævareidfjorden.JPG
image_caption	View of the Sævareidfjorden
idnumber	1241
county	Hordaland
district	Midhordland
capital	Eikelandsosen
established	1856
preceded	Os Municipality
disestablished	1 Jan 2020
succeeded	Bjørnafjorden Municipality
demonym	Fusing
language	Nynorsk
coatofarms	Fusa komm.svg
mayor	Atle Kvåle
mayor_party	Ap
mayor_as_of	2009–2019
elevation_max_m	1299.1
highest_point_ref
area_rank	247
area_total_km2	377.84
area_land_km2	353.71
area_water_km2	24.13
area_water_percent	6.4
population_as_of	2019
population_rank	235
population_total	3861
population_density_km2	10.2
population_increase	1.8
coordinates
::

Fusa () is a former municipality in the old Hordaland county, Norway. The 377.84 km2 municipality existed from 1856 until its dissolution in 2020. The area is now part of Bjørnafjorden Municipality in the traditional district of Midhordland in Vestland county. The administrative centre was the village of Eikelandsosen. Other villages in the municipality included Fusa, Holdhus, Holmefjord, Strandvik, and Sundvor.

Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 377.84 km2 municipality was the 247th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Fusa Municipality was the 235th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was 10.2 PD/km2 and its population had increased by 1.8% over the previous 10-year period.

The Frank Mohn company's Fusa marine division was headquartered in the municipality, with almost 500 employees.

General information

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Fusafjorden.JPG" caption="View of the Fusafjorden"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Holdhus_kirke,_Fusa_kommune,_Hordlanad.jpg" caption="Historic church in Holdhus"] ::

The parish of Fuse (later spelled Fusa) was established as a municipality in 1856 when the large Os Municipality was divided in two. Initially, the new Fuse Municipality had 3,173 residents.

On 1 January 1903 Fusa Municipality was divided into three municipalities as follows:

the southern area (population: 1,876) became the new Strandvik Municipality
the northeastern area (population: 647) became the new Haalandsdalen Municipality (later spelled Hålandsdal)
the northwestern area (population: 1,072) became a much smaller Fusa Municipality

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Fusa Municipality was enlarged by merging the following areas:

all of Hålandsdal Municipality (population: 528)
all of Strandvik Municipality (population: 2,053)
most of Fusa Municipality (population: 1,466), except for the Bogstrand area on the west side of the Fusafjorden which was transferred to Os Municipality

On 1 January 2020, Fusa Municipality and Os Municipality were merged to form the new Bjørnafjorden Municipality. Historically, this municipality was part of the old Hordaland county. Also on 1 January 2020, the new Bjørnafjorden Municipality became a part of the newly-formed Vestland county (after Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties were merged).

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Fusa farm () since the first Fusa Church was built there. The meaning of the name is uncertain. The name could be the plural form of the word which means "eager" or "longing". Another possibility is that it comes from the verb or its alternate spelling which both mean "to rush" (as in rushing water). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Fuse. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Fusa.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 27 September 1991 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Argent, three azure in pall" (). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 charge is a set of three spirals, two over one. The design was chosen to symbolise the strong currents in the Fusafjorden and Bjørnafjorden. The spirals also symbolise the many giant's kettles () in the municipality, which were created by the water in the rocks. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Fusa Municipality. It was part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.

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

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Fusa	Fusa Church	Fusa	1961
Holdhus Church	Holdhus	1726
Hålandsdal Church	Eide in Hålandsdal	1890
Strandvik Church	Strandvik	1857
Sundvor Church	Sundvor	1927
::

Geography

Fusa Municipality was located at the inner end of the Bjørnafjorden and its small arm, the Fusafjorden. Os Municipality was located across the fjord to the west, Samnanger Municipality was to the north, Kvam Municipality was to the east, and Kvinnherad Municipality was to the south. Lakes in Fusa included Gjønavatnet, Skogseidvatnet, and Henangervatnet. The highest point in the municipality was the 1299.1 m tall mountain Tveitakvitingen, located on the northern border of the municipality.

Population

|align = none |direction = vertical |cols = 3 |percentages = pagr |footnote = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1903 and 1964, causing a significant change in the population. |source = Statistics Norway and Norwegian Historical Data Centre |1856|3173 |1865|3174 |1875|3284 |1891|3475 |1900|3784 |1910|1232 |1920|1291 |1930|1290 |1946|1449 |1951|1514 |1960|1516 |1970|3916 |1980|3765 |1990|3727 |2000|3684 |2010|3823 |2019|3861

Government

While it existed, Fusa Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Bergen District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Fusa Municipality was made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows: |name = Fusa |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |nynorsk = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 1 |note = On 1 January 2020, Fusa Municipality and Os Municipality were merged to form the new Bjørnafjorden Municipality. |}} |name = Fusa |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 25 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |otherparty = Cross-Party Common List |otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste |otherparty_number = 4 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 7 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |otherparty = Cross-Party Common List |otherparty_no = Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste |otherparty_number = 4 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |otherparty = Common list |otherparty_no = Samlingslista |otherparty_number = 5 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 4 |otherparty = Common list |otherparty_no = Samlingslista |otherparty_number = 5 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 7 |Venstre = 4 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 3 |otherparty = Local list for Strandvik/Vinnes, Skjørsand, and Fusa

|otherparty_no = Bygdeliste for Strandvik/Vinnes, Skjørsand og Fusa |otherparty_number = 6 |otherparty1 = Common list |otherparty_no1 = Samlingslista |otherparty_number1 = 1 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |DLF = 1 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Venstre = 4 |otherparty = Local list for Strandvik, Vinnes, Skjørsand, and Fusa

|otherparty_no = Bygdelista for Strandvik, Vinnes, Skjørsand og Fusa |otherparty_number = 5 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |DLF/V = 5 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 9 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 9 |Venstre = 6 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Senterpartiet = 9 |Venstre = 5 |}} |name = Fusa |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Local_Lists = 26 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 15 |Local_Lists = 15 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 15 |Local_Lists = 15 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Local_Lists = 12 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 10 |}} |name = Fusa |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |nynorsk = yes |Total = 12 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Local_Lists = 10 |}}

Mayors

The mayor () of Fusa Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. In 2007, Fusa participated in a national trial where the mayor was directly elected. The sitting mayor, Hans S. Vindenes, won the election with 51.8% of the votes. The following people have held this position:

1856–1859: Hans Christian Krüger
1860–1861: Samson Gerhard Meidell
1862–1871: Hans Christian Krüger
1872–1875: Berge Ingebrigtsen Skaathun
1876–1879: Ole Brandanger
1880–1883: Hans Andersen Havsgaard
1884–1889: Anders Hansen Bolstad
1890–1910: John Dahl
1911–1916: Johannes Dale
1917–1919: Olav Foer
1920–1934: Hans Berge
1935–1937: Johan O. Samnøy
1938–1940: Hans Christian Ekeberg
1941–1944: Johan O. Samnøy
1945–1945: Hans Christian Ekeberg
1946–1947: Johan O. Samnøy
1947–1959: Hans H. Helland
1959–1964: Anders Samnøy
1964–1975: Peter Haugarvoll (Sp)
1975–1983: Gitle Havsgård (Sp)
1983–1987: Asbjørn Malvin Heidal (KrF)
1987–1991: Jan Koldal (V)
1991–1999: Hans J. Berge (Sp)
1999–2003: Asbjørn Malvin Heidal (KrF)
2003–2015: Hans S. Vindenes (Sp)
2015–2019: Atle Kvåle(Ap)

References

References

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