Øyestad is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1992. The area is now part of Arendal Municipality in the traditional district of Østre Agder in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Bjorbekk near the Bjorbekk Church.

Prior to its dissolution in 1992, the municipality was the 394th largest by area out of the 448 municipalities in Norway. Øyestad Municipality was the 116th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 8% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The parish of Øiestad (later spelled Øyestad) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1846, Øiestad Municipality was divided as follows: the southern district (population: ) became the new Fjære Municipality and the northern district (population: ) continued as a smaller Øiestad Municipality. In 1850, Øiestad Municipality was again divided as follows: the northern district (population: ) became the new Froland Municipality and the southern district (population: ) continued as a smaller Øiestad Municipality.

On 1 January 1875, a small rural area of the town of Arendal was removed from the town and split between two neighboring municipalities: the western part (population: 52) was transferred to Øiestad Municipality and the eastern part (population: 22) was transferred to Østre Moland Municipality. On 1 January 1881, Øiestad Municipality was divided as follows: the eastern island district (population: ) became the new Hisø Municipality and the western district (population: ) continued as a smaller Øiestad Municipality. In 1936, an area of Øyestad Municipality (population: 33) was transferred to the neighboring Austre Moland Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers and border adjustments across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the unpopulated Salvestjønn area in Øyestad Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Landvik Municipality.

On 1 January 1992, Øyestad Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Arendal Municipality:

all of Øyestad Municipality (population: ) all of Arendal Municipality (population: ) all of Hisøy Municipality (population: ) all of Moland Municipality (population: ) all of Tromøy Municipality (population: )

Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Øiestad farm () since the first Øyestad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the male name . The last element is the plural form of which means "abode" or "homestead".

Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Øiestad. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Øyestad.

Coat of arms The coat of arms was granted on 19 April 1985 and it was in use until the dissolution of the municipality on 1 January 1992. The official blazon is "Argent, a pile issuant from base sinister wavy azure" (). This means the arms have a field (background) with a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The charge is a pile (triangular figure) with wavy edges that runs diagonally across the arms. The design is meant to represent the local river Nidelva as it runs from the mountains into the fjord as it passes through the municipality as it widens as it approaches the sea. The river has played an important role in the local economy. The arms were designed by Ulf Skauge.

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

Churches in Øyestad MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtØyestadØyestad ChurchRykeneNedenesengene ChapelNedenes1849Øyestad ChapelBjorbekk1884

Geography At the time of its dissolution, Øyestad Municipality encompassed most of the coastline between the towns of Grimstad and Arendal, along with the forested areas along the Nidelva river heading inland. Back in 1838 when the municipality was established, however, the municipality was far larger in size. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Høgsteinsheia, located on the northwestern border with Froland Municipality.

Froland Municipality was located to the north, Moland Municipality was located to the northeast, Arendal Municipality was located to the east, Hisøy Municipality was located to the southeast, Grimstad Municipality was located to the south and west, and Birkenes Municipality was located to the northwest.

Government While it existed, Øyestad 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 Nedenes District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council The municipal council of Øyestad Municipality was made up of 33 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 Øyestad 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 Fredrik Juell 1839–1839: Nils Gundersen Skotta 1840–1841: Daniel K. Vigeland 1842–1843: Kittel Nilsen Solberg 1844–1847: Aanon Aanonsen Løddestøl 1848–1849: Peder Terkelsen Tingstveit 1850–1853: Terje Johnsen Nedenes 1854–1857: Peder Terkelsen Tingstveit 1858–1861: Terje Johnsen Nedenes 1862–1863: Johannes Nilsen Løddestøl 1864–1865: Peder A. Johnsen Nedenes 1866–1869: Johannes Nilsen Løddestøl 1870–1873: Anders Terjesen Stener 1874–1875: Ole O. Asdal 1876–1877: Johannes Nilsen Løddestøl 1878–1879: Svenning Gregertsen Solberg 1880–1883: Ole Nilsen Huseland 1884–1891: Mikael O. Løddestøl 1892–1895: Daniel A. Wigeland 1896–1897: Kittel Ribe 1898–1901: Mikael O. Løddestøl (V) 1902–1907: Finn Blakstad (H) 1908–1913: K. Fosse (V) 1914–1931: Gunnar Sætra (V/Bp) 1932–1933: Kittel Jensen 1934–1937: Johan G. Væding 1938–1939: Tarald Haugaasdal 1939–1942: Knut Josefsen (Ap) 1943–1945: Olav Johansen (NS) 1945–1947: Knut Josefsen (Ap) 1948–1951: Bertin Christensen Røed (V) 1952–1959: Knut Josefsen (Ap) 1960–1964: Olav Dale (V) 1964–1967: Jørgen Slettevold (Ap) 1968–1971: Jens M. Jensen (KrF) 1972–1975: Steffen Nesland (Ap) 1976–1991: Einar Livolden (Sp)

Attractions Øyestad Church Øyestad Church (Øyestad kirke) is a medieval, Gothic nave church. The church built in stone with 300 seats. Dating is uncertain, but it is generally assumed that it was built around the year 1200. The congregation celebrated the church's 800th anniversary in 2000. Øyestad was formerly the main church for several parishes: Øyestad, Fjære, Grimstad, Froland, and Hisøy. The church was damaged by fire in 1900. The choir, sacristy, tower, altarpiece and pulpit were destroyed along with the paintings on the walls. The church was restored and rededicated in 1902. In 2008, the church underwent extensive restoration.

Notable people Peter Munch Brager (born 1806), the vicar of Øyestad Church Brit Hoel (born 1942), a politician Niels Rosenkrantz (1757−1824), a diplomat and prime minister of Denmark-Norway

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)