Vikna Municipality

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Former municipality in Trøndelag, Norway

title: "Vikna Municipality" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nærøysund-municipality", "former-municipalities-of-norway", "archipelagoes-of-the-atlantic-ocean", "archipelagoes-of-norway", "1869-establishments-in-norway", "2020-disestablishments-in-norway", "populated-places-established-in-1869", "populated-places-disestablished-in-2020"] description: "Former municipality in Trøndelag, Norway" topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikna_Municipality" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Former municipality in Trøndelag, Norway ::

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

Field	Value
name	Vikna
former	yes
former_name	Vikten herred
image_skyline	Rorvik 02.jpg
image_caption	View of Rørvik
idnumber	5050
county	Trøndelag
district	Namdalen
capital	Rørvik
established	1 July 1869
preceded	Nærøy Municipality
disestablished	1 Jan 2020
succeeded	Nærøysund Municipality
demonyms	Viknværing
Viknaværing
language	Neutral
mayor	Amund Hellesø
mayor_party	AP
mayor_as_of	2015-2019
elevation_max_m	172.9
highest_point_ref
area_rank	269
area_total_km2	318.70
area_land_km2	311.18
area_water_km2	7.52
area_water_percent	2.4
population_as_of	2019
population_rank	216
population_total	4578
population_density_km2	14.4
population_increase	11.7
coordinates
::

Vikna is a former municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The island municipality existed from 1869 until its dissolution in 2020. It is now part of Nærøysund Municipality in the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Rørvik. Other villages in Vikna included Austafjord, Garstad, and Valøya.

At the time of its dissolution in 2020, the 319 km2 municipality was the 269th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Vikna Municipality was the 216th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,578. The municipality's population density was 14.4 PD/km2 and its population had increased by 11.4% over the last decade.

General information

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Vikna1_072006.jpg" caption="Ytre Vikna."] ::

The municipality of Vikten was established on 1 July 1869 when it was separated from the large Nærøy Municipality. Initially, the population of Vikten Municipality was 1,749. On 1 January 1881, a small area of Fosnes Municipality (population: 61) was transferred to Vikten Municipality. The spelling of the name was later changed to Vikna Municipality.

On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

On 1 January 2020, Vikna Municipality was merged with most of the neighboring Nærøy Municipality to form the new Nærøysund Municipality. The Lund area of Nærøy Municipality was not part of the merger, however, instead it became part of the newly enlarged Namsos Municipality on the same date.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named "Vikna". It was named after the three large islands which made up the municipality: Inner-Vikna, Mellom-Vikna, and Ytter-Vikna (). The name is derived from the word which means "cove" or "wick" (likely since the islands have numerous coves and inlets). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Vikten. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Vikna.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 13 May 1988 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Azure, three salmon argent in annulo" (). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is three salmon forming a circle. The fish design has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize the importance of salmon fishing and farming in the municipality. The arms were designed by Torleif Flosand. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within Vikna Municipality. It was part of the Namdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

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

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Vikna	Garstad Church	Garstad	1856
Rørvik Church	Rørvik	1896
Valøy Chapel	Valøya	1972
::

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Vikna-Langsundet.jpg" caption="Langsundet strait"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Vikna-Norway-coast-landscape.JPG" caption="Vikna landscape in spring. 2009."] ::

The municipality consisted of a large island archipelago with some 6,000 large and small islands going far into the Norwegian Sea off the northwestern coast of Trøndelag county. Vikna is the largest spawning area for cod south of Lofoten. The three largest islands are: Inner-Vikna, closest to the mainland, Mellom-Vikna, and then Ytter-Vikna as the westernmost island. Other islands include Borgan and Lauvøya. The highest point in the municipality was the 172.9 m tall mountain Vattafjellet on the island of Ytter-Vikna.

The main village for the municipality was Rørvik, located on the eastern shore of Inner-Vikna, facing the mainland across the Nærøysundet strait. The many islands in the area means that there are many lighthouses including Gjeslingene Lighthouse, Grinna Lighthouse, Nærøysund Lighthouse, and Nordøyan Lighthouse.

On 21 October 1962, the coastal steamer (Hurtigruten) Sanct Svithun run aground on Nordøyan as a result of navigational error. The ship sunk, and there was a tragic loss of 41 lives. A memorial bauta was raised on Nordøyan in 2002.

Government

While it existed, Vikna 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 Namdal District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vikna Municipality was made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party. |name = Vikna |start = 2015 |end = 2019 |reference = |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 7 |note = On 1 January 2020, Vikna Municipality became part of Nærøysund Municipality. |}} |name = Vikna |start = 2011 |end = 2015 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 4 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 2007 |end = 2011 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 5 |Venstre = 3 |Høyre = 2 |Fremskrittspartiet = 5 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 2003 |end = 2007 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 5 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 4 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 4 |Senterpartiet = 2 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1999 |end = 2003 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 6 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1995 |end = 1999 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Fremskrittspartiet = 2 |Høyre = 3 |Senterpartiet = 8 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1991 |end = 1995 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Fremskrittspartiet = 1 |Høyre = 3 |Senterpartiet = 7 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1987 |end = 1991 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Fremskrittspartiet = 3 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1983 |end = 1987 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 11 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1979 |end = 1983 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |Høyre = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1975 |end = 1979 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 7 |Høyre = 3 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1971 |end = 1975 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 7 |Venstre = 3 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1967 |end = 1971 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 6 |Venstre = 5 |}} |name = Vikna |start = 1963 |end = 1967 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 12 |Høyre = 2 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 4 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1959 |end = 1963 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 1 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Venstre = 6 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1955 |end = 1959 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 23 |Arbeiderpartiet = 10 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 5 |Kristelig_Folkeparti = 1 |Venstre = 4 |Local_Lists = 2 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1951 |end = 1955 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 7 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1947 |end = 1951 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 6 |NKP = 1 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 4 |Venstre = 8 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1945 |end = 1947 |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Arbeiderpartiet = 9 |NKP = 1 |Høyre = 1 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 6 |}} |name = Vikna |herad = yes |start = 1937 |end = 1941* |reference = |collapsed = yes |Total = 20 |Senterpartiet = 3 |Venstre = 7 |Borgerlige_Felleslister = 2 |Arbeiderpartiet = 8 |}}

Mayors

The mayor () of Vikna Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who held this position:

1869–1875: Iver Kirkeby
1876–1877: Arnold Bugge
1878–1881: Benjamin Gjestsen
1882–1898: Kasper Sund (V)
1899–1901: Christoffer Inderberg (V)
1902–1904: Knut Rangsæter (V)
1905–1922: Christoffer Inderberg (V)
1923–1928: Christian Ulsund (Bp)
1929–1942: Ingvar Inderberg (V)
1942–1943: T.B. Norberg (NS)
1943–1945: Fredrik C. Hansen (NS)
1945–1945: Ingvar Inderberg (V)
1946–1947: Arthur Prestvik (Ap)
1948–1951: Leon Brevik (V)
1952–1955: Fredrik Lie-Gjeseth (Bp)
1956–1975: Lars Kirkeby-Garstad (Bp)
1976–1979: Arne Hansen (V)
1980–1983: Roald Kirkeby-Garstad (Sp)
1984–1991: Magnus Kleven (Ap)
1992–1997: Lars Peder Brekk (Sp)
1997–2003: Else Hansvik Storsul (H)
2003–2011: Karin Søraunet (KrF)
2011–2015: Reinert Eidshaug (Ap)
2015–2019: Amund Hellesø (Ap)

Economy

Fishing, fish farming, public services, and agriculture are the main sources of income. The Norveg museum, devoted to the coastal way of life through the centuries, is located in Rørvik. The Vikna Wind Farm is located on Mellom-Vikna, just west of Garstad, and it produces power for much of the municipality.

Transportation

Hurtigruten boats stop frequently at Rørvik and Norwegian County Road 770 via the Nærøysund Bridge connects Vikna to the mainland and European route E6. There is also the small Rørvik Airport, Ryum, just south of Rørvik. Vikna and neighbouring Nærøy Municipality formed a common work area with nearly 10,000 inhabitants.

Notable people

References

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Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)".
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"Vedtak om grensejustering mellom Nærøy og Fosnes kommuner".
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(1917). "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri.
"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World.
"Vikna, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)".
(1988-05-13). "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet.
{{Cite SNL. kommunestyre. kommunestyre. 2024-12-31. Hansen. Tore. 2024-11-25
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(1979). "Kommunestyrevalget 1979". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
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(1967). "Kommunevalgene 1967". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
(1964). "Kommunevalgene 1963". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
(1960). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
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(1952). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
(1948). "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947". Statistisk sentralbyrå.
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Sakshaug, Dagfinn. (1996). "Oversikt for tiden etter andre verdenskrig". Nord-Trøndelag fylkeskommune.
(1953-02-14). "Ordførere i Vikna fra 1870–1951". Adresseavisen.
(2024). "Local Candidate Dataset".

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