Innvik is a former municipality in the old Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Stryn Municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Vestland county. The administrative centre was the village of Innvik. Other villages in the municipality included Randabygda, Nordsida, Utvik, and Olden.
Prior to its dissolution in 1965, the municipality was the 208th largest by area out of the 525 municipalities in Norway. Innvik Municipality was the 299th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had decreased by 2.9% over the previous 10-year period.
General information
The parish of Indvigen (later spelled "Innvik") was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1843, the municipality was divided. The eastern part of the municipality (population: 2,401) formed the new Stryn Municipality and the western part of the municipality (population: 2,675) remained as a much smaller Innvik Municipality
On 1 October 1922, the Raksgrenda area (between the villages of Loen and Stryn), with 120 inhabitants, was administratively transferred from Innvik Municipality to Stryn Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the following areas were merged to form a new, much larger Stryn Municipality: all of Innvik Municipality (population: 3,003) all of Stryn Municipality (population: 2,982) the Hopland area of Gloppen Municipality (population: 42) the parts of Hornindal Municipality that were located east of Navelsaker and Holmøyvik (population: 1,184)
Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Innvik farm () since the first Innvik Church was built there. The original name was the plural form of the word which means "small bay", "cove", or "inlet". Some time around the 15th century, the prefix (which means "inside" or "inner") was added to distinguish the area from nearby Utvik (meaning "outer" Vik). Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Indviken. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Innvik, removing the definite form ending -en and using an "inn" instead of more Danish spelling of "ind".
Churches The Church of Norway had three parishes () within Innvik Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Innvik prestegjeld and the Nordfjord prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Churches in Innvik MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtInnvikInnvik ChurchInnvik1822OldenOlden ChurchOlden1934Old Olden ChurchOlden1759Ljosheim ChapelMykløy in Oldedalen1924UtvikaUtvik ChurchUtvik1840Randabygd ChapelRandabygda1916
Geography
The municipality encompassed the western third of the present Stryn Municipality. Innvik Municipality included both sides of the Nordfjorden, from Randabygda in the west to just west of the village of Stryn. It stretched from the border with Hornindal Municipality in the north, through the Oldedalen valley all the way to the Jostedalsbreen glacier in the south. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Kvitekoll, located on the border with Hafslo Municipality.
Hornindal Municipality was located to the north, Stryn Municipality was located to the east, Hafslo Municipality was located to the south, Jølster Municipality was located to the southwest, Breim Municipality was located to the west, and Gloppen Municipality was located to the northwest.
Government While it existed, Innvik 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 Gulating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Innvik 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 Innvik Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1838–1841: Peter L. Brandt 1842–1843: Jørgen Fredrik Spørck 1844–1844: Arent Uchermann 1845–1845: Lars Olson Bruvoll 1846–1849: Ola Olson Flore 1850–1851: Anders Rasmusson Faleide 1852–1857: Ola Olson Flore 1858–1861: Hans Andersson Heggdal 1862–1871: Ola Hansson Langve 1872–1883: Anders H. Faleide 1884–1895: Anders H. Øiestad 1895–1908: Rasmus Elias Paulson Sindre (V) 1908–1910: Anders A. Drageset 1910–1931: Knut A. Taraldset 1932–1942: Hallvard R. Sindre 1942–1946: Anders J. Rustøen 1946–1951: Per Reme 1952–1959: Ola Bruland 1960–1964: Einar A. Skarstein
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References