Landvik is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 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 Roresand, just up the hill from Landvik Church. Other villages in the municipality included Molland, Reddal, Skiftenes, Tjore, and Østerhus. Today, the name "Landvik" is still used to designate the part of Grimstad Municipality from the Prestegårdskogen housing development and westwards.

Prior to its dissolution in 1971, the municipality was the 303rd largest by area out of the 451 municipalities in Norway. Landvik Municipality was the 323rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 43.4% over the previous 10-year period.

General information The parish of Hommedal (later renamed 'Landvik) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

On 1 January 1883, the uninhabited Tolleholmen part of neighboring Birkenes Municipality was transferred to Landvik Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Landvik Municipality with a population of residents: all of Landvik Municipality (population: ) the Salvestjønn area of Øyestad Municipality (population: ) most of Eide Municipality (population: ), except for the Gitmark farm area which became part of Lillesand Municipality

On 1 January 1971, Landvik Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Grimstad Municipality: all of Landvik Municipality (population: ) all of Fjære Municipality (population: ) all of Grimstad Municipality (population: )

Administrative centre Originally, the municipal council met at the Torp farm in the village of Reddal. Starting in the 1840s, the council met at the Landvik farm near the Landvik Church. In 1876, the council began meeting at the Vikmarken school, just south of the village of Roresand. In 1956, the municipal council began meeting at the new Landvik herredshus in Roresand.

Name The municipality (originally the parish) was first named after the old Hommedal farm () since the local priest lived on that farm. The first element was the old name for a local river, Humla. That is the genitive case of the word which is the name of the "humulus" plant. The last element is which means "valley" or "dale". The municipality and parish used the name Hommedal from 1838 until 1865 when the municipal (but not the parish name) was changed to "Landvig".

The new name came from the neighboring Landvig farm since the historic Landvik Church was located there. The first element is which means "land" or "district". The last element comes from the word which means "bay" or "inlet". The farm is located on a bay on the northeast side of the lake Landvikvannet. In the early 20th century the spelling was adjusted to Landvik, to use a more Norwegianized spelling rather than the old Danish spelling.

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

Churches in Landvik MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtLandvikLandvik ChurchRoresand1825

Geography

The municipality has several large lakes including Syndle, Reddalsvannet, Rore, and Landvikvannet. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Dobbedalshei which is located in the northern part of the municipality. Herefoss Municipality was located to the north, Øyestad Municipality was located to the northeast, Fjære Municipality was located to the east, the Skagerrak was located to the southeast, Eide Municipality was located to the south, Vestre Moland Municipality was located to the southwest, and Birkenes Municipality was located to the west.

Government While it existed, Landvik 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 Landvik Municipality was made up of 21 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 Landvik Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

1838–1839: Johannes Jensen Indtjore 1840–1841: Gjeruld Rasmussen Hunsdal 1842–1847: Thomas Pedersen Hardeberg 1848–1850: Terje Terjesen Stalleland, Sr. 1850–1851: Gjeruld Rasmussen Hunsdal 1852–1855: Ole Terjesen Gurebu 1856–1857: Terje Terjesen Stalleland, Sr. 1858–1861: Thomas Pedersen Hardeberg 1862–1863: Kittel Igeland 1864–1867: Peder Thomassen Hardeberg 1868–1869: Aanen Bentsen Morvig 1870–1873: Salve Gjeruldsen Hørte 1874–1875: Peder Thomassen Hardeberg 1876–1897: Nils Pedersen Igland 1898–1898: Terje Terjesen Stalleland, Jr. 1899–1904: Nils Jacobsen Molland 1905–1913: Bendiks Knudsen Imenes (H) 1914–1919: Carl Udjus 1920–1928: Knut Birkedal 1929–1934: Lars Torp 1935–1941: Nils Neset (V) 1941–1943: Nils Johan Igland (NS) 1943–1945: Erik Nesbu (NS) 1945–1945: Nils Neset (V) 1945–1947: Nils Gauslå (V) 1947–1951: Nils Neset (V) 1951–1955: Nils Gauslå (V) 1955–1963: Per Løland (Bp) 1963–1965: Nils Torp 1965–1967: Hans Birkenes (Sp) 1967–1970: Per Løland (Sp)

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)