Masfjorden Municipality

Masfjorden Municipality
Masfjorden kommune
Municipality
View of the Haugsværsfjorden
View of the Haugsværsfjorden
Flag of Masfjorden Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Masfjorden Municipality
Coat of arms
Vestland within Norway
Vestland within Norway
Masfjorden within Vestland
Masfjorden within Vestland
Coordinates: 60°50′18″N 05°26′55″E / 60.83833°N 5.44861°E / 60.83833; 5.44861
CountryNorway
CountyVestland
DistrictNordhordland
Established1 Mar 1879
 • Preceded byLindås Municipality
Administrative centreMasfjordnes
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Erlend Kvamsdal (H)
Area
 • Total
556.08 km2 (214.70 sq mi)
 • Land509.47 km2 (196.71 sq mi)
 • Water46.61 km2 (18.00 sq mi)  8.4%
 • Rank#194 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,070.89 m (3,513.4 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • Total
1,687
 • Rank#298 in Norway
 • Density3/km2 (7.8/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Increase +0.1%
DemonymMasfjording[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-4634[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Masfjorden is a municipality in the central part of Vestland county in Norway. The municipality is located in the Nordhordland district of the county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Masfjordnes. Other villages in the municipality include Frøyset, Haugsvær, Hosteland, Matre, and Solheim.

The municipality is centered on the Masfjorden which almost divides the municipality completely into a north side and a south side. A cable ferry crosses the fjord from Masfjordnes to Duesund in the western part of the municipality. The Matre Hydroelectric Power Station is located in the eastern part of the municipality.

The 556.08-square-kilometre (214.70 sq mi) municipality is the 194th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Masfjorden Municipality is the 298th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,687. The municipality's population density is 3 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.8/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.1% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

General information

Sandnes Church
View of the Haugsdal valley in Masfjorden

The parish of Masfjorden was established as a municipality on 1 March 1879 when the large Lindaas Municipality (later spelled Lindås) was divided into two: the northern part (population: 2,336) became the new Masfjorden Municipality and the rest remained as a smaller Lindaas Municipality.[7]

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the Einestrand, Eikebotn, and Kikallen area along the Austfjorden (population: 25) was transferred from Lindås Municipality to Masfjorden Municipality.[7]

Historically, this municipality was part of the old Hordaland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Vestland county (after Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane counties were merged).[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Masfjorden (Old Norse: Matrsfjǫrðr) since that fjord is a central geographical feature of the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of the old (uncompounded) name of the fjord: Matr. That name is identical to the word matr which means "food". The last element is fjǫrðr which means "fjord" or "firth". Therefore, the meaning of the name is "the fjord that's full of food (fish)". The village of Matre lies at the inner end of the fjord, and that name has a similar origin.[9]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 28 September 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, three clasps Or in pall" (Norwegian: På raud grunn tre gule heldrer stilte i trepass). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is three heldrer, traditional tools made of wood for fastening a rope around a load. The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. They are meant to symbolize unity as well as the importance of forestry. The arms were designed by Rune Garmann. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[10][11][12]

See also: Coat of arms of Øyer

Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Masfjorden Municipality. It is part of the Nordhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. Prior to 2020, the municipality had three parishes (Frøyset, Sandnes, and Solheim), but in 2020, they were merged into one parish.[13]

Churches in Masfjorden Municipality
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Masfjorden Frøyset Church Frøyset 1937
Sandnes Church Masfjordnes 1845
Solheim Church Solheim 1881

Government

Masfjorden 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.[14] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Masfjorden 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.

Masfjorden kommunestyre 2023–2027 [15]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2019–2023 [16]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2015–2019 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2011–2015 [18]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 6
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2007–2011 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 2003–2007 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1999–2003 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1995–1999 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1991–1995 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1987–1991 [21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and
Liberal People's Party (Liberale Folkepartiet)		 2
 Non-political municipal list (Upolitisk bygdeliste)1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1983–1987 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste)1
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1979–1983 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)2
Total number of members:17
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1975–1979 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 4
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
 Cross-party common list (Tverrpolitisk Samlingsliste)6
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1971–1975 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1967–1971 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden kommunestyre 1963–1967 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 7
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1959–1963 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1955–1959 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) 8
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 6
Total number of members:15
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1951–1955 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1947–1951 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1945–1947 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Masfjorden heradsstyre 1937–1941* [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 14
Total number of members:14
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

The mayor (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Masfjorden 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:[34][35]

  • 1879–1880: Erik A. Riisnæs
  • 1880–1883: Kristen T. Bergsvik
  • 1884–1889: Thorbjørn Frølich
  • 1890–1895: Rasmus M. Haugsvær
  • 1896–1899: Torgeir R. Haugsvær
  • 1900–1901: Rasmus M. Haugsvær
  • 1901–1916: Hans Bergersen Wergeland
  • 1917–1919: Ivar R. Eikemo
  • 1920–1941: Martin H. Matre
  • 1942–1945: Gjert Daae
  • 1945–1945: Magnus Maurstad
  • 1945–1945: Martin H. Matre
  • 1945–1955: Magnus Halsøy
  • 1955–1963: Johannes R. Mjanger (KrF)[36]
  • 1963–1975: Gunnar Daae (LL)
  • 1975–1979: Arne A. Hope (LL)
  • 1979–1983: Albert A. Kjetland (Sp)
  • 1983–1987: Einar Kvinge (H)
  • 1987–1999: Kjell Sverre Løvik (H)
  • 1999–2003: Helge Haukeland (Ap)
  • 2003–2011: Håkon Matre (H)
  • 2011–2023: Karstein Totland (H)
  • 2023–present: Erlend Kvamsdal (H)[37]

Geography

View of the fjord in eastern Masfjorden

Masfjorden Municipality lies to the east of the Fensfjorden and Austfjorden. The Masfjorden runs east to west bisecting the municipality. The eastern part has mountains and as one heads westward, the land levels out before reaching the fjord in the east. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,070.89-metre (3,513.4 ft) tall mountain ridge Årsdalsryggen, which runs southwards from Høyanger Municipality and into Masfjorden Municipality.[1]

The municipality lies along the west coast in the central part of the county. Gulen Municipality and Høyanger Municipality lie to the north, Modalen Municipality to the east, and Alver Municipality lies to the south and west.

The European route E39 highway runs through eastern Masfjorden Municipality heading north and south. The 4.1-kilometre (2.5 mi) long Masfjord Tunnel and the 2.5-kilometre (1.6 mi) long Jernfjell Tunnel (and a few other tunnels) are part of the E39 highway which winds its way through some valleys in the mountainous eastern region of Masfjorden.

Population

Historical population
Year1879189119001910192019301946195119601970198019902000201020202023
Pop.2,3362,3362,2772,2522,2402,0591,9951,9281,9871,8581,9151,8911,7741,6351,6911,654
±% p.a.—    +0.00%−0.28%−0.11%−0.05%−0.84%−0.20%−0.68%+0.34%−0.67%+0.30%−0.13%−0.64%−0.81%+0.34%−0.73%
Source: Statistics Norway[5][38] and Norwegian Historical Data Centre[39]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (9 January 2024). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.
  5. ^ a b Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ a b Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (1 August 2025). "Vestland". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1910). Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt (in Norwegian) (11 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 430.
  10. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Masfjorden, Hordaland". Flags of the World. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Møteprotokoll" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Bjørgvin bispedømme.
  14. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (25 November 2024). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Masfjorden gjennom århundrer". Scandion.no. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  35. ^ Fiva, Jon H; Sørensen, Rune J.; Vøllo, Reidar, eds. (2024). "Local Candidate Dataset" (PDF).
  36. ^ "Ordførarval i Hordaland". Hardanger (in Norwegian). 29 December 1955. p. 2. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  37. ^ "Kommunestyret 2023-2027". Masfjorden kommune (in Norwegian). Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  38. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Folketellingen 1960" (PDF) (in Norwegian).
  39. ^ Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet. "Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC)".

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