Lødingen Municipality
Municipality in Nordland, Norway
title: "Lødingen Municipality" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lødingen-municipality", "municipalities-of-nordland", "populated-places-of-arctic-norway", "1838-establishments-in-norway", "populated-places-established-in-1838"] description: "Municipality in Nordland, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lødingen_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"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Lødingen |
| nickname | Biketown |
| other_name | se |
| image_skyline | Loedingen-2020.jpg |
| image_caption | Lødingen City seen from Hjertholmen lighthouse |
| idnumber | 1851 |
| county | Nordland |
| district | Ofoten |
| capital | Lødingen |
| established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| preceded | none |
| demonym | Lødingsværing |
| language | Bokmål |
| coatofarms | Lødingen komm.svg |
| webpage | www.lodingen.kommune.no |
| mayor | Hugo Jacobsen |
| mayor_party | Ap |
| mayor_as_of | 2019 |
| elevation_max_m | 1263.66 |
| highest_point_ref | |
| area_rank | 201 |
| area_total_km2 | 527.41 |
| area_land_km2 | 507.67 |
| area_water_km2 | 19.74 |
| area_water_percent | 3.7 |
| population_as_of | 2024 |
| population_rank | 279 |
| population_total | 2060 |
| population_density_km2 | 3.9 |
| population_increase | -8.4 |
| coordinates | |
| :: |
|name = Lødingen |native_name = |native_name_lang = |nickname = Biketown |other_name = se |former_name = |image_skyline = Loedingen-2020.jpg |image_caption = Lødingen City seen from Hjertholmen lighthouse |idnumber = 1851 |county = Nordland |district = Ofoten |capital = Lødingen |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |demonym = Lødingsværing |language = Bokmål |coatofarms = Lødingen komm.svg |flag = |webpage = www.lodingen.kommune.no |mayor = Hugo Jacobsen |mayor_party = Ap |mayor_as_of = 2019 |elevation_max_m = 1263.66 |highest_point_ref = |area_rank = 201 |area_total_km2 = 527.41 |area_land_km2 = 507.67 |area_water_km2 = 19.74 |area_water_percent = 3.7 |population_as_of = 2024 |population_rank = 279 |population_total = 2060 |population_density_km2 = 3.9 |population_increase = -8.4 |coordinates =
Lødingen () is a municipality in Nordland county in Norway. Lødingen is located on the southeastern corner of the island of Hinnøya, and is part of the traditional district of Ofoten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lødingen. Other villages in the municipality include Våge and Ytterstad. Lødingen has the nickname "Biketown" because it hosts several annual bicycle races, including "Lofoten Insomnia" and Vestbygd-rittet.
The 527 km2 municipality is by area the 201st largest out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Lødingen Municipality is the 279th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,060. The municipality's population density is 3.9 PD/km2 and its population has decreased by 8.4% over the previous 10-year period.
General information
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Tjeldsundet-2.jpg" caption="View north into Tjeldsundet from just north of Lødingen village"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Saami_Family_1900.jpg" caption="Saami]] family near [[Kanstad]], Lødingen, 1896. Some of the descendants of the children in the photograph are reindeer herders in the area to this date [http://www.vesteraalen.info/andoy_friluftsliv.htm]."] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/DSC_0028-Forbedret-NR.jpg" caption="[[Lødingen Church"] ::
The municipality of Lødingen was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1869, the southern district of Lødingen surrounding the Tysfjorden on the mainland (population: 1,402) was separated to form the new Tysfjord Municipality. This left 2,064 residents in Lødingen. Then on 1 January 1909, the northeastern district of Lødingen (population: 1,404) was separated to form the new Tjeldsund Municipality. This left 3,034 residents in Lødingen.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, the southern mainland part of Lødingen surrounding the Efjorden and the island of Barøya (population: 433) were transferred to Ballangen Municipality. Then on 1 January 1964, the eastern part of Lødingen on the island of Tjeldøya (population: 297) was transferred to Tjeldsund Municipality.
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Lødingen farm () since the first Lødingen Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of laða which means "grain barn" or "hay barn". The last element is eng which means "meadow".
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 11 May 1984. The official blazon is "Gules, a five-looped knot Or" (). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a five-looped knot that is made out of woollen thread and folded to look like a flower with five leaves. The woolen knot 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 design was chosen to symbolize that the municipality is at the junction of road, shipping, and ferry routes to five areas: Lofoten, Ofoten, Salten, Vesterålen, and Southern Troms. It is also located between five fjords: Vestfjorden, Ofotfjorden, Tysfjorden, Tjeldsundet, and Gullesfjorden. The symbol is also an ancient symbol for good fortune. The arms were designed by Øysten H. Skaugvolldal.
Churches
The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Lødingen Municipality. It is part of the Ofoten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
::data[format=table title="style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Lødingen Municipality'''''"]
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lødingen | Lødingen Church | Lødingen | 1897 |
| Vestbygd Church | Våge | 1885 | |
| :: |
Transportation
The nearest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, about 73 km away by road. Lødingen is an important ferry harbor, the car ferry to/from Bognes in Tysfjord leaves 12 times per day and takes 60 minutes. The Rotvær Lighthouse is located in Lødingen.
Geography
The municipality encompasses the southern part of the island of Hinnøya. The terrain is mountainous, with several small islands and fjords. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lødingen, located at the inner part of the Vestfjorden at the southern entrance of the Tjeldsundet strait.
The highest point in the municipality is the 1263.66 m tall mountain Møysalen. Møysalen is located on the northern border with Sortland Municipality and it is within Møysalen National Park.
Climate
Lødingen has continental subarctic climate in the 1961-1990 period. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfc". | name = Lødingen 1961-1990 | location = Lødingen 1961-1990 |metric first = yes |single line = yes |width = 100% | Jan high C = -1 | Feb high C = -1 | Mar high C = 1 | Apr high C = 4 | May high C = 9 | Jun high C = 13 | Jul high C = 16 | Aug high C = 15 | Sep high C = 11 | Oct high C = 6 | Nov high C = 2 | Dec high C = 0 | year high C = | Jan mean C = -3 | Feb mean C = -3 | Mar mean C = -2 | Apr mean C = 2 | May mean C = 6 | Jun mean C = 10 | Jul mean C = 13 | Aug mean C = 12 | Sep mean C = 9 | Oct mean C = 4 | Nov mean C = 0 | Dec mean C = -2 | year mean C = | Jan low C = -6 | Feb low C = -6 | Mar low C = -5 | Apr low C = -1 | May low C = 3 | Jun low C = 7 | Jul low C = 10 | Aug low C = 9 | Sep low C = 6 | Oct low C = 1 | Nov low C = -2 | Dec low C = -5 | year low C = | unit rain days = 1 mm | Jan rain days = 4.7 | Feb rain days = 4 | Mar rain days = 5 | Apr rain days = 8.1 | May rain days = 10.3 | Jun rain days = 10.8 | Jul rain days = 12.6 | Aug rain days = 12.7 | Sep rain days = 14.1 | Oct rain days = 13.4 | Nov rain days = 8.7 | Dec rain days = 7.1 | year rain days = | unit snow days = 1 mm | Jan snow days = 4.8 | Feb snow days = 4.1 | Mar snow days = 3.1 | Apr snow days = 1.4 | May snow days = 0.1 | Jun snow days = 0 | Jul snow days = 0 | Aug snow days = 0 | Sep snow days = 0 | Oct snow days = 0.6 | Nov snow days = 2.2 | Dec snow days = 4.2 | year snow days = | unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 13.9 | Feb precipitation days = 12.5 | Mar precipitation days = 11.9 | Apr precipitation days = 11.3 | May precipitation days = 10.6 | Jun precipitation days = 10.8 | Jul precipitation days = 12.6 | Aug precipitation days = 12.7 | Sep precipitation days = 14.1 | Oct precipitation days = 15.2 | Nov precipitation days = 13.9 | Dec precipitation days = 14.7 | year precipitation days = | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 66 | Feb rain mm = 62 | Mar rain mm = 55 | Apr rain mm = 53 | May rain mm = 57 | Jun rain mm = 67 | Jul rain mm = 87 | Aug rain mm = 85 | Sep rain mm = 107 | Oct rain mm = 113 | Nov rain mm = 85 | Dec rain mm = 76 | year rain mm = | Jan snow cm = 32.6 | Feb snow cm = 32.1 | Mar snow cm = 21.9 | Apr snow cm = 10.8 | May snow cm = 0.8 | Jun snow cm = 0 | Jul snow cm = 0 | Aug snow cm = 0 | Sep snow cm = 0.1 | Oct snow cm = 4.6 | Nov snow cm = 16.7 | Dec snow cm = 26.6 | year snow cm = | Jan light = 2.7 | Feb light = 7.7 | Mar light = 11.8 | Apr light = 16 | May light = 21.4 | Jun light = 24 | Jul light = 22.9 | Aug light = 17.4 | Sep light = 13.1 | Oct light = 9.1 | Nov light = 4.6 | Dec light = 0.2 | year light= | source = WeatherSpark.com | source 2 = Weatherbase.com
Government
Lødingen 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 Midtre Hålogaland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lødingen Municipality is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party. |name = Lødingen |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = |collapsed = |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 4 |Sp/V = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 3 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 5 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 7 |Høyre = 3 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |Høyre = 3 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 5 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 5 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3 |Venstre = 4 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 7 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Høyre = 10 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 1 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 7 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |DLF/V = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Høyre = 7 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Høyre = 6 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 7 |Venstre = 2 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 6 |Venstre = 2 |Local_Lists = 3 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 8 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Høyre = 6 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Venstre = 4 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 6 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Local_Lists = 7 |}} |name = Lødingen |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 9 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |}}
Mayors
The mayor () of Lødingen 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:
- 1838–1840: Niels Nordbye
- 1840–1844: Jens Hagerup Krog
- 1844–1846: Bendix Normann
- 1846–1848: Johan T. Lampe
- 1848–1850: Alexander Falch
- 1850–1852: Andreas Otterbech
- 1852–1854: Willum Lind
- 1854–1859: Severin Samuelsen
- 1859–1860: Petter Kjelsberg
- 1860–1861: Severin Samuelsen
- 1861–1863: Alexander Falck
- 1863–1877: Anders Stoltenberg
- 1877–1880: Bernhard Kokk
- 1880–1882: A. Roll
- 1882–1884: Bernhard Kokk
- 1884–1885: Arent Schøning
- 1885–1904: Petter Møkleby
- 1904–1907: K. Strømstad
- 1907–1918: Gulbrand Kløvstad
- 1919–1922: K. Strømstad
- 1922–1928: Leonhard C. B. Holmboe
- 1928–1934: Andreas Didriksen
- 1935–1945: Leif Hartz Floan
- 1946–1955: Øivind Martinussen (Ap)
- 1955–1967: Einar Ytterstad (H)
- 1968–1969: Reidar Rødø (H)
- 1970–1975: Sigvald Johansen (Ap)
- 1975–1983: Gunnar Bernhoft (H)
- 1983–1991: Normann Aasjord (H)
- 1991–1995: Bjørn Myrlund (H)
- 1995–1999: Bjørn Hegstad (V)
- 1999–2003: Eirik Eriksen (Ap)
- 2003–2007: Kurt Olsen (SV)
- 2007–2011: Vibeke Tveit (Ap)
- 2011–2015: Anita Marthinussen (H)
- 2015–2019: Atle Andersen (Ap)
- 2019–present: Hugo Bongard Jacobsen (Ap)
Attractions
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Hinnøya-E10-Norway-may11.jpg" caption="E10 road in Lødingen, May 2011."] ::
- Eye in Stone (Øye i stein), part of Artscape Nordland (Skulpturlandskap Nordland)
- Norwegian Telecom Museum, telegraphy
- Pilotage Service Museum
- Rotvær Lighthouse
Notable people
- Christopher Nyrop (1680–1733), a theologian and Bishop of Christianssand
- Dagfinn Bakke (1933–2019), a painter, illustrator and printmaker
- Dagfinn Henrik Olsen (born 1966), a Norwegian politician
References
References
- (2024-01-16). "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune". [[Kartverket]].
- Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)".
- Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)".
- Jukvam, Dag. (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen". [[Statistics Norway.
- Rygh, Oluf. (1905). "Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt". W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
- Store norske leksikon. "Lødingen".
- "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World.
- "Lødingen, Nordland (Norway)".
- (1984-07-15). "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet.
- "Climate Summary". weatherbase.com.
- "Climate and Average Weather Year Round". weatherspark.com.
- "Monthly - Weather averages summary". weatherbase.com.
- {{Cite SNL. kommunestyre. kommunestyre. 2024-12-31. Hansen. Tore. 2024-11-25
- "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
- "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)". Statistics Norway.
- "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet.
- (1996). "Kommunestyrevalget 1995". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1993). "Kommunestyrevalget 1991". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1988). "Kommunestyrevalget 1987". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1984). "Kommunestyrevalget 1983". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1979). "Kommunestyrevalget 1979". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1977). "Kommunevalgene 1975". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1973). "Kommunevalgene 1972". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1967). "Kommunevalgene 1967". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1964). "Kommunevalgene 1963". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1960). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1957). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1952). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1948). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1947). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- (1938). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
- Nielssen, Alf Ragnar. (1994). "Fra vidstrakt prestegjeld til storkommune". Lødingen kommune.
- Fjordholm, Vivian. (1987). "Lødingen, Tjeldsund og Tysfjords historie. 2 : Gårds- og slektshistorie for Lødingen". Lødingen kommune.
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