Lyngdal

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Municipality in Agder, Norway

title: "Lyngdal" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lyngdal", "municipalities-of-agder", "1838-establishments-in-norway"] description: "Municipality in Agder, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyngdal" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Municipality in Agder, Norway ::

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

Field	Value
name	Lyngdal
image_skyline	LyngdalKirke.jpg
image_caption	View of the Lyngdal Church
idnumber	4225
county	Agder
district	Lister
capital	Alleen
established	1 Jan 1838
preceded	none
demonym	Lyngdøl
language	Neutral
coatofarms	Lyngdal komm.svg
flag	Flag of Lyngdal.png
webpage	www.lyngdal.kommune.no
mayor	Unni Nilsen Husøy
mayor_party	FrP
mayor_as_of	2023
area_rank	177
area_total_km2	642.81
area_land_km2	606.14
area_water_km2	36.67
area_water_percent	5.7
population_as_of	2023
population_rank	107
population_total	10751
population_density_km2	17.7
population_increase	10.4
coordinates
utm_zone	32V
::

is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Lister. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Alleen. Some of the main villages in Lyngdal include Austad, Byremo, Fleseland, Hæåk, Konsmo, Korshamn, Kvås, Skomrak, Svenevik, and Vivlemo.

The municipal economy centers around wood processing, agriculture, and commerce. Tourism is also central to the community, with the beaches along the Lyngdalsfjorden and Rosfjorden being popular resorts during the summer.

The 643 km2 municipality is the 177th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lyngdal is the 107th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 10,751. The municipality's population density is 17.7 PD/km2 and its population has increased by 10.4% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Satellittbilde_av_Lyngdal.jpg" caption="Satellite view of Lyngdal"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Fleseland.jpg" caption="View of Fleseland on the Rosfjorden"] ::

The parish of Aa was established as the municipality of Lyngdal on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1909, the municipality was split into three: Austad in the south (population: 1,263), Kvås in the north (population: 736) and Lyngdal in the central area (population: 2,698). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Austad (population: 608), Kvås (population: 493), Lyngdal (population: 2,916) as well as the Gitlevåg area (population: 103) in Spangereid municipality, west of Lenesfjorden, were all merged to form one large municipality of Lyngdal. On 1 January 1971, the Ytre Skarstein and Indre Skarstein areas of Lyngdal (population: 21) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Farsund. On 1 January 2001, the municipality of Lyngdal declared that the municipal centre of Alleen would be a town called Lyngdal.

On 1 January 2020, the neighboring municipality of Audnedal was merged into Lyngdal municipality.

Name

The municipality is named after the Lyngdalen valley () since it is the valley in which the municipality is located. The first element is the genitive case of the river name Lygna. This name comes from the word which means "quietness" or "calm". The last element is which means "valley" or "dale". Prior to 1908, the parish (but not the municipality) of Lyngdal was called Aa, named after the vicarage. The name of the vicarage was first mentioned in 1312 as "a Am", the dative plural of á which means "(small) river". The farm lies between two rivers.

Coat of arms

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Lyngdal_gamle_våpen.svg" caption="Arms from 1987 to 2019"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Lyngdal_komm.svg" caption="Current arms since 2020"] ::

The original coat of arms was granted on 27 March 1987 and in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was enlarged. The official blazon was "Vert a cow statant argent" (). This means the arms had a green field (background) and the charge was a cow that was facing to the left. The cow had a tincture of argent which meant it was commonly colored white, but if it was made out of metal, then silver was used. The cow was chosen since the local breed of cows (lyngdalsku) has been very well known across Norway since the 19th century. The yearly cattle fair traders from all over Southern Norway and Western Norway visit the municipality to get cows. The arms were designed by Torgeir Schjølberg.

The current coat of arms was approved for use starting on 1 January 2020. The arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a tree on top of three wavy lines. The tree and wavy lines have a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The tree symbolizes growth. It has nine leaves symbolizing the nine main population centres within Lyngdal. The wavy lines represent waves and meadows. There are three white lines to represent the three large rivers in the municipality: Lygna, Audna, and Mandalselva. The two green wavy lines (between the white wavy lines represent the two valleys in the municipality: Lyngdalen and Audnedalen. The arms were designed by Richard Haugland.

Churches

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Austad_Kirke_Lyngdal.jpg" caption="Austad Church"] ::

The Church of Norway has five parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Lyngdal. It is part of the Lister og Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

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

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Austad	Austad Church	Austad	1803
Korshamn Chapel	Korshamn	1906
Grindheim	Grindheim Church	Byremo	1783
Konsmo	Konsmo Church	Konsmo	1802
Kvås	Kvås Church	Kvås	1836
Lyngdal	Lyngdal Church	Lyngdal	1848
::

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Pop._Lyngdal,1900-_2001.JPG" caption="SSB]])."] ::

The island of Sælør on the southern coast of the municipality is mentioned in Snorre, as the king Saint Olav spent a winter here in 1028. Based around the port of Agnefest, Lyngdal prospered on maritime trade, and in 1771 an application was made for status as a small coastal town. Its coastal location also facilitated emigration; in the 17th and 18th century largely to the Dutch Republic, and in the 19th century to the United States.

Even before the merger of the municipalities in 1964, the parishes of Austad and Kvås, together with Å (or Aa - Lyngdal proper), made up the greater Lyngdal parish. A census from 1801 showed 3529 inhabitants in the area that today makes up Lyngdal: 1850 in Å, 929 in Austad, 585 in Kvås and 165 in the eastern part of Spangereid. The number today is approximately 8000 inhabitants.

Religious life and missionary work have always had a strong position in Lyngdal, and worthy of special note is the minister Gabriel Kielland (1796–1854), who served in the parish from 1837 to 1854, and his wife Gustava (1800–1889). Known today as a missionary pioneer and a popular songwriter, Gustava also wrote one of the first autobiographies by a woman in Norway: her "Reminiscence from my Life" from 1880.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Lyngdal_natural_harbour_Agnefest_harbour_official_registered_since_1771_-_Norway_Foto_Wolfgang_Pehlemann_IMG_9432.jpg" caption="Agnefest in the south of Lyngdal has since 1771 an approved natural harbor on the Rosfjord"] ::

Lyngdal is a coastal municipality that and borders Lindesnes municipality to the east, Evje og Hornnes and Åseral to the north, Hægebostad and Kvinesdal and Farsund to the west. Lyngdal municipality includes the southern portion of the Lyngdalen valley which follows the river Lygna to the Lyngdalsfjorden in the west. The Lenesfjorden, Grønsfjorden, and Rosfjorden also are located in the southern part of Lyngdal. As part of Lyngdal village there is Agnefest on site in the south with a natural harbour at Rosfjorden; the harbour is registered since 1771.

Climate

Government

Lyngdal 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 Agder District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lyngdal is made up of 29 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party. |name = Lyngdal |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = |collapsed = |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 10 |Høyre = 5 |INP = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 35 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 10 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 8 |Rødt = 1 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 12 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 13 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 1 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Venstre = 3 |Høyre = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 6 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 5 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 11 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 9 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 8 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 8 |Senterpartiet = 3 |DLF/V = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |DLF = 1 |Høyre = 12 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |DLF = 3 |Høyre = 10 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 5 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 5 |}} |name = Lyngdal |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 29 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Høyre = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Venstre = 4 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Høyre = 5 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 24 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Høyre = 6 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Venstre = 4 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 24 |Arbeiderpartiet = 3 |Høyre = 5 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Venstre = 5 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 24 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Høyre = 4 |Senterpartiet = 10 |Venstre = 5 |}} |name = Lyngdal |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 24 |Høyre = 6 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Venstre = 6 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |}}

Mayors

The mayors () of Lyngdal (incomplete list):

1838-1838: Abraham Severin Holbye
1842-1843: Abraham Kvelland
1844-1847: Aanen Bergsager
1849-1857: Aanen Bergsager
1858-1859: Lars Tallaksen Foss
1860-1861: Jørgen Thorsen
1862-1874: Aanen Bergsager
1878-1881: Eilert Paulsen Tjersland
1882-1893: Erik Jaabæk
1894-1901: Nils Tobias Larsen Foss
1902-1904: Erik Jaabæk
1905-1907: Nils Tobias Larsen Foss
1909-1912: Gabriel A. Svenevig
1913-1916: Karl B. Lehne
1917-1919: Jørgen Aarnæs
1920-1931: Olaus Kvaavik
1932-1934: Abel Fidjeland
1935-1937: Olaus Kvaavik
1938-1941: Abel Fidjeland
1942-1943: Olav Harveland (NS)
1943-1945: Torleiv Seland (NS)
1945-1947: Abel Fidjeland
1948-1955: Mikal Grøvan
1956-1959: Olav Drangeid
1960-1963: Thorvald Hagen
1964-1967: Olav Benestvedt
1968-1975: Thorvald Hagen
1976-1979: Carl Johan Lehne (H)
1980-1983: Oluf Opsahl
1984-1995: Anders Nøkland
1995-2007: Hans Fredrik Grøvan (KrF)
2007-2013: Ingunn Foss (H)
2013-2023: Jan Kristensen (H)
2023-present: Unni Nilsen Husøy (FrP)

Transportation

Bus lines from/through Lyngdal Bus Terminal: ::data[format=table]

Line	Destination
451	Lyngdal - Flekkefjord/Kvinesdal
781	Lyngdal - Snartemo S
900	Kristiansand - Mandal - Farsund
900	Kristiansand - Mandal - Lista
900	Lyngdal - Farsund-Lista
::

Notable people ==

• The article must mention how they are associated with the community, whether born, raised, or residing. • The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited. • All others will be deleted without further explanation END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * *END OF NOTICE -- ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Ingvild_Stensland.jpg" caption="Ingvild Stensland, 2012"] ::

Teis Lundegaard (1774 in Austad – 1856), a Norwegian farmer, shipowner, and politician
Abraham Berge (1851 in Lyngdal – 1936), a politician who was Prime Minister of Norway from 1923 to 1924
Kristian Andvord (1855 in Lyngdal – 1934), a physician and medical researcher into tuberculosis
Theodore Abrahamson (1900 in Lyngdal - 1978), a dairy farmer and politician; Mayor of Tigerton, Wisconsin
Kjell Elvis (born 1968), a Norwegian professional Elvis Presley impersonator, lives in Lyngdal

Sport

Ingvild Stensland (born 1981), a footballer, 144 caps for Norway women, grew up in Lyngdal
Stefan Strandberg (born 1990 in Lyngdal), a footballer with 230 club caps and 12 for Norway
Zlatko Tripić (born 1992), a Norwegian-Bosnian footballer with over 200 club caps, grew up in Lyngdal
Julian Ryerson (born 1997), a Norwegian-American footballer playing for Borussia Dortmund in Germany, born in Lyngdal.

References

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Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)".
Jukvam, Dag. (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen". [[Statistics Norway.
"Nye Lyngdal kommune Informasjonsbrosjyre". Lyngdal kommune.
Rygh, Oluf. (1912). "Norske gaardnavne: Lister og Mandals amt". W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World.
"Lyngdal, Vest-Agder (Norway)".
(1987-03-27). "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet.
"Kommunevåpenets bakgrunn og symbolikk".
(2001). "Folkemengde ved folketellingene, 1769-2001". [[Statistisk Sentralbyrå]].
"History". Lyngdal Municipality.
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"NOAA WMO normals Norway 1991-2020".
(2022-09-20). "kommunestyre". [[Kunnskapsforlaget]].
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"Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)". Statistics Norway.
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(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.
Lian, Oddleif. (1984). "Lyngdal. 2: Midtre del : gard og folk". Lyngdal kommune.
(1909-01-06). "Valg i Lyngdal". [[Lister (Farsunds Avis).
(2023-09-15). "Lyngdals-ektepar blir ordfører og varaordfører". [[NRK]].
"Teis Lundegaard". Norwegian Encyclopedia AS.
"Abraham Berge". Norwegian Encyclopedia AS.
Legislative Reference Bureau. (1962). "The Wisconsin Blue Book". Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Kjell Elvis burner for children from Burma". Lyngdals Avis.
"Ingvild Stensland". Norwegian Encyclopedia AS.
(January 2023). "Julian Ryerson: Who is Borussia Dortmund's new full-back?".

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