Solum () is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Skien Municipality in the traditional district of Grenland. The administrative centre was the village of village of Solum, just south of Klovholt. Solum Church was the main church for the municipality. Solum Municipality was located west of the town of Skien, and encompassed districts such as Nenset, Tollnes, Flakvarp, Skotfoss, and Klyve.
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the municipality was the 275th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Solum Municipality was the 41st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 28.4% over the previous 10-year period.
General information Administrative history The formannskapsdistrikt law of 1837 created a system of local government in Norway by establishing each town (ladested or kjøpstad) and each Church of Norway prestegjeld as a civil municipality. On 1 January 1838, Solum prestegjeld was established as Solum Municipality. According to the 1835 census, Solum prestegjeld had a population of about .
On 1 July 1916, an area of Solum Municipality (population: ) was transferred into the neighboring Skien Municipality to the east. Then on 1 July 1920, a different area of Solum (population ) was transferred into the neighboring Porsgrunn Municipality to the southeast.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Solum Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Skien Municipality: all of Solum Municipality (population: ) all of Gjerpen Municipality (population: ) all of Skien Municipality (population: ) the Valebø area of Holla Municipality (population: )
Name The municipality is named after the old Solum prestegjeld. The prestegjeld was named after the old Solum farm () since the first Solum Church was built there. The first element is which means "sun" or "sunny". The last element is derived from the word which means "village" or "abode".
Churches The Church of Norway had three parishes () within Solum Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Solum prestegjeld and the Skien prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Solum MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtSolumSolum ChurchSolum1766KilebygdKilebygda ChurchRognsbru1859MælumMelum ChurchMælum1728Skotfoss ChapelSkotfoss1900
Geography The highest point in the municipality was a point on the side of the mountain Vasslausfjellet (the peak was in the neighboring Holla Municipality). The southern part of the lake Norsjø was located in the eastern part of the municipality. Holla Municipality was located to the north, Gjerpen Municipality was located to the northeast and east, Skien Municipality was located to the east, Porsgrunn Municipality was located to the southeast, Bamble Municipality was located to the south, and Drangedal Municipality was located to the west.
Government While it existed, Solum 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 Skien District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Solum Municipality was made up of 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 Solum Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1838–1839: Hans Blom Cappelen, Sr. 1839–1847: Hans Nicolai Ørn 1847–1858: Hans Wilhelm Christopher Huitfeldt Wessel 1858–1863: Rev. Bent Wettergren 1863–1882: Diderik Cappelen (H) 1882–1885: Jens P. Tennefoss (V) 1885–1897: Hans Blom Capellen, Jr. (H) 1897–1898: Kjel Pedersen Skjelbred 1899–1901: Jens P. Tennefoss (V) 1902–1904: Kjel Pedersen Skjelbred 1905–1907: Olav Sannes (V) 1908–1910: Jacob Randinius Svensen Gisholt 1911–1916: Olav Nerisen Roe (Ap) 1917–1919: Thomas Adolf Weber 1920–1922: Jacob Randinius Svensen Gisholt 1923–1928: Simon Tennefoss 1929–1940: Thomas Adolf Weber 1941–1945: Gulbrand Romsås (NS) 1945–1945: Thomas Adolf Weber 1945–1945: Olaf M. Jensen 1946–1947: Johannes Landfald (NKP) 1948–1959: Tidemann Flaata Evensen (Ap) 1959–1963: Johan A. Kristensen (Ap)
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References
External links 1960 census and map of the municipality (page 4)