Holt is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1960. The area is now part of Tvedestrand Municipality in the traditional district of Østre Agder in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Fiane where Holt Church is located.
Prior to its dissolution in 1960, the municipality was the 415th largest by area out of the 743 municipalities in Norway. Holt Municipality was the 230th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 6% over the previous 10-year period.
The historic Holt Church probably dates from the twelfth century and has an ancient baptismal font. The interior was decorated by Torsten Hoff. The Nordkalottruta trail runs through the Holt area in Tvedestrand.
General information Administrative history The parish of Holt was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). According to the 1835 census, the municipality had a population of 3,116. On 1 January 1881, a small part of Holt Municipality (population: 52) was transferred to Dybvaag Municipality. Then on 1 July 1919, a small part of Holt Municipality (population: 14) was transferred to Moland Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1960, Dypvåg Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Tvedestrand Municipality: all of Holt Municipality (population: ) all of Dypvåg Municipality (population: ) all of Tvedestrand Municipality (population: )
Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Holt farm () since the first Holt Church was built there. The name is identical to the word which means "small forested area" or "grove (of trees)".
Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Holt Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Holt prestegjeld and the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Holt MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtHoltHolt ChurchFianeLaget ChapelLaget1908
Geography The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Ansmyrheia. Vegårshei Municipality was located to the north, Søndeled Municipality was located to the northeast, Dypvåg Municipality and Tvedestrand Municipality were located to the east, Flosta Municipality was located to the southeast, Stokken Municipality was located to the south, Austre Moland Municipality was located to the southwest, Froland Municipality was located to the west, and Åmli Municipality was located to the northwest.
Government While it existed, Holt 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 Holt District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Holt 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 Holt Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1838–1842: Jacob Aall 1842–1843: Rev. Andreas Faye 1844–1847: Lars Jonsen Østeraa 1848–1849: Halvor T. Skjerkholt 1850–1853: Reier T. Lilleholt 1854–1857: Halvor T. Skjerkholt 1858–1861: Reier T. Lilleholt 1861–1865: Halvor T. Skjerkholt 1866–1866: Tor Reiersen Lilleholt 1866–1867: Peder Christensen Goderstad 1868–1869: Ole Torjesen Goderstad 1870–1871: Torbjørn T. Bjelland 1872–1875: Halvor H. Lunde 1876–1879: Torbjørn T. Bjelland 1880–1883: Lars Albretsen Myklebustad 1883–1887: Torjus Albretsen Myklebustad 1887–1891: Ole E. Grændsen 1891–1892: Lars Albretsen Myklebustad 1893–1901: Ole E. Grændsen 1902–1904: Torjus H. Skjerkholt 1905–1907: Ole E. Grændsen 1908–1910: Torjus H. Skjerkholt 1911–1913: Peder Tengelsen Langang 1914–1916: Torjus H. Skjerkholt 1917–1925: Stian Erichsen 1926–1937: Grunde O. Gliddi 1938–1938: Halvor T. Skjerkholt 1938–1943: Thoralf Skjerkholt 1943–1946: Erling Solberg (NS) 1946–1947: Søren Sørensen (Ap) 1948–1951: Erik Solberg (KrF) 1952–1959: Frithjof Bjørnstad (Bp)
Attractions Holt Church Holt Church () is a cruciform church dating from the 1100s. The medieval-era church was constructed of stone. In 1753, it was expanded. The extension, choir and transepts were built of wood. The rebuilt church was also equipped with a chancel arch, decorated in the rococo style. The church has a baptismal font made out of soapstone, carved in high Gothic style. The Baroque altarpiece from 1732 is carved with a painting of Jesus in Gethsemane.
Notable people Aasulv Olsen Bryggesaa, a local politician Helga Gitmark, a local politician Harald Selås, a local politician Torje Olsen Solberg, a local politician
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References