Fjære is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1846 until its dissolution in 1971. The area is now part of Grimstad Municipality in the traditional district of Østre Agder in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Vik, just east of the historic Fjære Church. Other villages in the municipality included Fevik, Dømmesmoen, Frivoll, Kroken, and Rønnes.

Prior to its dissolution in 1971, the municipality was the 415th largest by area out of the 451 municipalities in Norway. Fjære Municipality was the 164th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 19.7% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of Fjære was established on 1 January 1846 when Øyestad Municipality was divided into two: the southern district (population: ) became the new Fjære Municipality and the northern district (population: ) continued as a smaller Øyestad Municipality. The first municipal council met at a farmhouse at Bringsvær, north of Vik. In 1886, the council began meeting in the village of Vik.

On 1 January 1878, a part of Fjære Municipality located adjacent to the town of Grimstad (population: 948) was transferred from Fjære Municipality to Grimstad Municipality. Again, on 1 January 1960, another part of Fjære Municipality located next to the town of Grimstad (population: 344) was transferred from Fjære Municipality to Grimstad Municipality.

On 1 January 1971, Fjære Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Grimstad Municipality:

all of Fjære Municipality (population: ) all of Grimstad Municipality (population: ) all of Landvik Municipality (population: )

Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Fjære farm () since the historic Fjære Church was built there. The name is the genitive case of the word which means "firth" or "fjord".

Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Fjære Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Fjære prestegjeld and the Vest-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.

Churches in Fjære MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtFjæreFjære ChurchFjære

Geography The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Fjæreheia. Øyestad Municipality was located to the north, Hisøy Municipality was located to the northeast, the Skagerrak is located to the east, Grimstad Municipality was located to the south, and Landvik Municipality was located to the west.

Government While it existed, Fjære 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 Sand District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council The municipal council of Fjære Municipality was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors The mayor () of Fjære Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

1838–1838: Christian Juell 1839–1839: Nils Gundersen 1840–1841: Daniel Vigeland 1842–1843: Kittel Nilsen 1844–1845: Aanon Aanonsen 1846–1849: Steffen Steffensen 1849–1849: Gjert Sørensen 1849–1853: Niels Olsen Ribe 1853–1855: Steffen Steffensen 1855–1858: Gunder Nielsen Skotta 1859–1862: Hans Ommundsen Konnestad 1863–1867: Gunder Nielsen Skotta 1868–1869: Jørgen Tellefsen Ugland 1869–1873: Hans Ommundsen Konnestad 1874–1877: Jørgen Tellefsen Ugland 1878–1881: Carl Anton Boe 1881–1885: Knud K. Lien 1885–1886: Asbjørn Knutsen 1886–1887: Mathias Hørthe 1887–1891: Knud K. Lien 1891–1893: Knud Andersen Grevstad 1893–1898: Ole Andersen Grevstad 1898–1910: Ommund Tellefsen Ugland 1910–1916: Gregorius Mjaaland 1916–1916: Klemmet Lofthus 1917–1923: Peder K. Grevstad 1923–1925: Anders Asdal 1925–1925: Ole Ribe 1926–1931: Peder K. Grevstad 1932–1937: Karl Danielsen 1938–1941: Olaf Tønnevold 1941–1945: Tørres Danielsen (NS) 1945–1945: Olaf Tønnevold 1946–1947: Thor Håversen 1948–1955: Karl Ugland 1956–1959: Sigmund Olsen 1960–1967: Johan Jørgen Ugland (H) 1967–1970: Sigurd Stie (V)

Attractions Fjære Church Fjære Church () is made of stone and dates back to the middle of the 12th century. Despite being 850 years old, it is an active parish church. It was not completed in one generation, but was created gradually over the centuries. The church grew together with the village and the people, and became the centre of Fjære's history from the Middle Ages until the present day. The oldest and most valuable individual cultural monuments in and around Fjære Church are the finely sculpted head of a man in stone over the south door, dating from before 1150.

The church's unique and beautiful baptismal font, in the High Gothic style from the Middle Ages. Olavskilden, a fountain associated with St. Olav the Holy. The Terje Vigen stone monument in memory of the brave men of the 1807–1814 war. The stone monument was erected in 1906 by the friends of Terje Vigen. The altarpiece, pulpit with paneled ceiling and pews with the names of farms painted on them are considered valuable. They were made during the period from 1500–1700. The well-preserved church is located approximately north of the town of Grimstad.

See also List of former municipalities of Norway

References

External links 1960 census and map of the municipality (page 4) 1970 census and map of the municipality (page 29)