Vegårshei

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

Municipality in Agder, Norway

title: "Vegårshei" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["vegårshei", "municipalities-of-agder", "1838-establishments-in-norway"] description: "Municipality in Agder, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegårshei" 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"]

FieldValue
nameVegårshei
former_nameVegaardsheien herred
idnumber4212
image_skylineVegaar2.jpg
image_captionView of the lake Vegår
countyAgder
districtSørlandet
capitalMyra
established1 Jan 1838
precedednone
demonymVegårsheiing
languageNeutral
coatofarmsVegårshei komm.svg
webpagewww.vegarshei.kommune.no
mayorKjetil Torp
mayor_partyKrF
mayor_as_of2019
area_rank249
area_total_km2355.67
area_land_km2321.76
area_water_km233.89
area_water_percent9.5
population_as_of2023
population_rank272
population_total2143
population_density_km26.7
population_increase7.9
coordinates
utm_zone32V
::

|name = Vegårshei |native_name = |native_name_lang = |other_name = |former_name = Vegaardsheien herred |idnumber = 4212 |image_skyline = Vegaar2.jpg |image_caption = View of the lake Vegår |county = Agder |district = Sørlandet |capital = Myra |established = 1 Jan 1838 |preceded = none |demonym = Vegårsheiing |language = Neutral |coatofarms = Vegårshei komm.svg |webpage = www.vegarshei.kommune.no |mayor = Kjetil Torp |mayor_party = KrF |mayor_as_of = 2019 |area_rank = 249 |area_total_km2 = 355.67 |area_land_km2 = 321.76 |area_water_km2 = 33.89 |area_water_percent = 9.5 |population_as_of = 2023 |population_rank = 272 |population_total = 2143 |population_density_km2 = 6.7 |population_increase = 7.9 |coordinates = |utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6515099 |utm_easting = 0490311 | geo_cat = adm2nd

Vegårshei is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Myra. Other villages in Vegårshei include Mo and Ubergsmoen.

The 356 km2 municipality is the 249th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vegårshei is the 272nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,143. The municipality's population density is 6.7 PD/km2 and its population has increased by 7.9% over the previous 10-year period.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Faersnes_barn.JPG" caption="Farm area in Færsnes"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Haukenes_Sag_-_panoramio.jpg" caption="Haukenes area"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Vegårshei_kirke.jpg" caption="[[Vegårshei Church"] ::

The parish of Vegaardsheien was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The borders of the municipality have not changed since that time.

The population was at its largest in 1930, population 2161.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old name for the area () since the first Vegårshei Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the lake Vegår. The meaning of the lake name is uncertain. One theory is that it comes from the word which means "pagan sanctuary". Another theory is that it comes from the verb which means "to consecrate" or "to dedicate". The last element is which means "heath" or "moor". Historically, the name was spelled as Wegaardsheien or Vegaardsheien, and sometimes it was abbreviated as simply Heien. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Vegaarshei. On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Vegaarshei with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Vegårshei, using the letter å instead.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 30 April 1987. The official blazon is "Gules, a fox sejant argent" (). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a fox. The fox 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 fox was chosen as a representative of the local wildlife and also for the fox farming in the municipality. The arms were designed by Daniel Rike. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Culture

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Vegårshei. It is part of the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

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

Parish (sokn)Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
VegårsheiVegårshei ChurchMyra
::

Geography

Vegårshei is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Nissedal (in Telemark county) and Gjerstad, on the east by Risør, on the south by Tvedestrand, and on the west by Åmli. The lake Vegår dominates the northern part of the hilly and forested municipality.

Government

Vegårshei 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 Vegårshei 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 = Vegårshei |start = 2023 |end = 2027 |reference = |collapsed = |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 4 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 2019 |end = 2023 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 4 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 7 |Senterpartiet = 4 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 6 |Senterpartiet = 5 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 4 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Høyre = 3 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 2 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Senterpartiet = 2 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 21 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 7 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 3 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 3 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 2 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Senterpartiet = 2 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |DLF/H/Sp/V = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |DLF/H/Sp/V = 7 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 7 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 7 |}} |name = Vegårshei |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 7 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 6 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 17 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 8 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 7 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Local_Lists = 5 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 3 |Local_Lists = 4 |}} |name = Vegårshei |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 16 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 4 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |V/DRF = 5 |}}

Mayors

The mayors () of Vegårshei (incomplete list):

  • 1907-1919: Torjus Værland (V)
  • 2003-2011: Maya Twedt Berli (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Kjetil Torp (KrF)
  • 2015-2019: Kirsten Helen Myren (Sp)
  • 2019-present: Kjetil Torp (KrF)

Economy

As of 2019, public administration and the service sector, are most important in regard to employment; the retail industry and entities that have hotel services and those that serve food and beverages, constitute 11% of employment; agriculture and forestry accounts for 9% of employment; manufacturing accounts for 7% of employment—21% including those employed in construction and those employed in the energy sector and [water supply]vannforsyning/ [garbage collection or] renovasjon. Of the inhabitants that are employed, 55% have employment outside the municipal borders.

It is well-suited for hunting and fishing for residents and tourists alike.

Transportation

The Sørlandsbanen railway line runs through the municipality, stopping at Vegårshei Station, just north of the village of Myra. There are several Norwegian county roads that cross the municipality, connecting it to its neighbors. Some of the roads include Norwegian County Road 414, Norwegian County Road 415, Norwegian County Road 416, and Norwegian County Road 417.

Notable people

  • Lars Vegard (1880 in Vegårshei – 1963), a physicist and researcher of the aurora borealis
  • Ole Colbjørnsen (1897in Vegårshei – 1973), a journalist, economist, and politician
  • Tjostolv Moland (1981 in Vegårshei – 2013 in Kinshasa), a former Norwegian army officer and security contractor

References

References

  1. (2016-04-05). "Vegårshei". [[Kunnskapsforlaget]].
  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. "Vegårshei – Store norske leksikon". Snl.no.
  6. Rygh, Oluf. (1905). "Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt". W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri.
  7. (1917). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
  8. (1917). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
  9. (1918). "Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister". Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri.
  10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World.
  11. "Vegårshei, Aust-Agder (Norway)".
  12. (1987-04-30). "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet.
  13. (2022-09-20). "kommunestyre". [[Kunnskapsforlaget]].
  14. "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder". [[Valgdirektoratet]].
  15. "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder". [[Valgdirektoratet]].
  16. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)". Statistics Norway.
  17. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder". [[Valgdirektoratet]].
  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.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

vegårsheimunicipalities-of-agder1838-establishments-in-norway