Vestre Slidre is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Slidre. Other villages in Vestre Slidre include Lomen and Røn.

Vestre Slidre Municipality
Vestre Slidre kommune
View of Kvåle
View of Kvåle
Innlandet within Norway
Innlandet within Norway
Vestre Slidre within Innlandet
Vestre Slidre within Innlandet
Coordinates: 61°3′38″N 8°55′2″E / 61.06056°N 8.91722°E / 61.06056; 8.91722
CountryNorway
CountyInnlandet
DistrictValdres
Established1 Jan 1849
 • Preceded bySlidre
Administrative centreSlidre
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Haldor Ødegård (Sp)
Area
 • Total457.15 km2 (176.51 sq mi)
 • Land415.17 km2 (160.30 sq mi)
 • Water41.98 km2 (16.21 sq mi)  9.2%
 • Rank#219 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total2,091
 • Rank#275 in Norway
 • Density5/km2 (10/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −5.8%
DemonymVestreslidring[1]
Official language
 • Norwegian formNynorsk
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-3452[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

The 457-square-kilometre (176 sq mi) municipality is the 219th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Vestre Slidre is the 275th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,091. The municipality's population density is 5 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 5.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

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Einang stone, located at its original location atop the Gardberg site

The municipality of Vestre Slidre was established in 1849 when the old municipality of Slidre was divided into two municipalities: Vestre Slidre (population: 3,130) and Øystre Slidre (population: 2,406). On 1 January 1899, a small unpopulated part of Øystre Slidre was transferred to Vestre Slidre.[6] On 1 January 2021, the Skjelgrenda area of Vestre Slidre was transferred to Øystre Slidre.[7]

Name

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The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Slidre farm (Old Norse: Slíðrar) since the old Slidredomen church was built there. The name is probably derived from the word slíðr which means "sheath" (which is probably referring to a long depression near the church). In 1849, the municipality (and parish) was divided into two separate municipalities. The word vestre (meaning "western") was added to the beginning of the name. Thus, the meaning of the name Vestre Slidre is "(the) western (part of) Slidre".[8]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted by royal decree on 20 November 1987. The official blazon is "Azure, a sea-leaf within a tressure invected on the outer edge and engrailed on the inner edge argent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn eit sølv sjøblad omgjeve av sølv bord laga med taggesnitt). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a heart-shaped seeblatt design with a tressure border around the edge of the escutcheon. The charge 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 design is based on a heraldic decoration found in the local Slidredomen church that dates back to the year 1170. The design was originally part of a seal that belonged to a medieval nobleman from the area. The arms were designed by Kari Ruud Flem. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[9][10][11]

Churches

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The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Vestre Slidre. It is part of the Valdres prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Churches in Vestre Slidre
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Lomen Lomen Church Lomen 1914
Lomen Stave Church Lomen 1179
Røn Røn Church Røn 1747
Øyjar Chapel Øyjar 1963
Slidre Slidredomen Slidre c. 1200
  • The ruins of Mo church (Mo kirkeruin) are located on the west side of the Slidrefjorden. The medieval church of stone was built ca. 1215 and was probably out of use after the Reformation. The ruins were excavated and restored from 1972–1977.[12]
  • Slidredomen, a medieval stone-built church, was once the main church for Valdres. The church is built around 1170. The church is entirely made of stone. Its treasures formerly included a chalice presented by Bishop Salomon of Oslo (1322–1352), the only Bishop in Norway to survive the Black Death. Slidredomen is also known to have had a local bishop.[13]
  • Lomen Stave Church is located in the small village of Lomen. It was built circa 1170. The exterior of the present Lomen church is post-Reformation, and only the wall and roof timbers remain from the original building.[13]

History

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Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Vestre Slidre by country of origin in 2017[14]
Ancestry Number
  Lithuania 29
  Netherlands 23
  Eritrea 18

High above the village of Slidre, there is an ancient burial ground called the Gardberg site. At this site, there is a runestone which reads I Godguest wrote the runes. This stone is known as the Einang stone.

Vestre Sildre figures prominently in the Norse Sagas:

  • According to the Sagas, Harald Fairhair was the first Norwegian king (872–930) of Norway. In 866, he made the first of a series of conquests over a number of petty kingdoms. One of the encounters leading to the overall conquest was with Skallagrim Kveldulvssøn in Vestre Slidre. In 872, after winning the Battle of Hafrsfjord near Stavanger, he found himself king of the whole country.[13]
  • In the Heimskringla attributed to Snorri Sturluson, it is recorded that in 1023 King Olav came unannounced from Sogn as part of his campaign to Christianize Norway. At Slidre, he caught the peasants unaware and secured all their boats. As a condition for having their boats restored, they accepted Christianity.[13]

Government

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Vestre Slidre 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.[15] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Vestre Slidre 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.

Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2023–2027 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 2
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
 Local List (Bygdeliste)4
Total number of members:17
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2019–2023 [17]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
 Local List (Bygdeliste)4
Total number of members:17
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2015–2019 [18][19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 3
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local List (Bygdeliste)7
Total number of members:17
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2011–2015 [20]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local List (Bygdeliste)10
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2007–2011 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local List (Bygdeliste)10
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 2003–2007 [19]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local List (Bygdeliste)10
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1999–2003 [19][21]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
 Local List (Bygdeliste)10
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1995–1999 [22]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høgre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1991–1995 [23]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 1
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Cross-Party List (Tverrpolitisk liste)3
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1987–1991 [24]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1983–1987 [25]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)2
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1979–1983 [26]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høgre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1975–1979 [27]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1971–1975 [28]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1967–1971 [29]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre kommunestyre 1963–1967 [30]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 8
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1959–1963 [31]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 5
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1955–1959 [32]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 10
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:21
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1951–1955 [33]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 6
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 11
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 7
Total number of members:24
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1947–1951 [34]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 5
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 11
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 8
Total number of members:24
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1945–1947 [35]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 7
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 5
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 9
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:24
Vestre Slidre heradsstyre 1937–1941* [36]  
Party name (in Nynorsk) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) 4
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 11
  Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) 9
Total number of members:24
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

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The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Vestre Slidre (incomplete list):[37]

  • 1945-1947: Endre Fyrstro (V)
  • 1948-1951: Ola J. Dahle (Sp)
  • 1952-1955: Erik Steine Riste (Sp)
  • 1956-1963: Erik Kirkeeng (V)
  • 1964-1967: Erik Steine Riste (Sp)
  • 1968-1979: Ola Ødegård (Sp)
  • 1980–1999: Sverre Vik (Sp)
  • 1999-2011: Eivind Brenna (BL)
  • 2011-2015: Lars Kvissel (Sp)
  • 2015–2019: Eivind Brenna (V)
  • 2019–present: Haldor Ødegård (Sp)

Geography

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View over Lomen from the Garberg site, with Vang slightly to the left and Jotunheimen in the background. Down by the lake and to the right is Lomen.

Vestre Slidre is bordered to the northwest by Vang Municipality, to the northeast by Øystre Slidre Municipality, to the east by Nord-Aurdal Municipality, and to the southwest by Hemsedal Municipality (in Buskerud county). Vestre Slidre is part of the Valdres region in south-central Norway. It is situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.

The municipality is located along the river Begna and its surrounding valley. There are several lakes in the municipalities including Helin, Øyangen, Slidrefjorden, and Strondafjorden.

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2022). "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå (2022). "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  7. ^ "Vedtak om grensejustering mellom Vestre Slidre og Øystre Slidre kommuner" (PDF). Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). 13 May 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  8. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1902). Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt (anden halvdel) (in Norwegian) (4-2 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 285.
  9. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Vestre Slidre, Oppland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 20 November 1987. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Mo kirkeruin, Vestre Slidre, Oppland". Riksantikvaren. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d Stagg, Frank Noel (1956). East Norway and its Frontier. George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.
  14. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Oppland". Valgdirektoratet.
  21. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1999 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
  22. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1995 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
  23. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1991 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
  24. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1987 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
  25. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1983 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
  26. ^ Kommunestyrevalget 1979 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
  27. ^ Kommunevalgene 1975 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
  28. ^ Kommunevalgene 1972 (PDF) (in Norwegian). Vol. I. Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
  35. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
  36. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
  37. ^ "Ordførarar i Oppland". NRK Oppland (in Norwegian). 13 June 2003.
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