Austad is a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1909 until its dissolution in 1963. The area is now part of Lyngdal Municipality in the traditional district of Lister in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Austad where Austad Church is located.
Prior to its dissolution in 1962, the municipality was the 607th largest by area out of the 705 municipalities in Norway. Austad Municipality was the 678th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had decreased by 19.1% over the previous 10-year period.
General information The municipality of Austad was established on 1 January 1909 when the old Lyngdal Municipality was divided into three municipalities: the southern coastal area (population: 1,263) became the new Austad Municipality the northern area (population: 736) became the new Kvaas Municipality the central area (population: 2,698) continued as a smaller Lyngdal Municipality
On 7 January 1916, there was a small border adjustment which transferred a small area (population: 4) from Austad Municipality to the neighboring Spind Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1963, Austad Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form a new, larger Lyngdal Municipality: all of Lyngdal Municipality (population: 2,916) all of Austad Municipality (population: 608) all of Kvås Municipality (population: 493) the Gitlevåg area of Spangereid Municipality (population: 103)
Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austad farm () since the first Austad Church was built there. The first element the male name "" or "". The last element is the plural form of which means "place" or "abode".
Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Austad Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Lyngdal prestegjeld and the Lister prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Austad MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtAustadAustad ChurchAustad1803Korshamn ChapelKorshavn1906
Geography The municipality encompassed the area surrounding the Rosfjorden. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Gitlesteinheia. Lyngdal Municipality was located to the north, Spangereid Municipality was located to the east, the North Sea was to the south, and Spind Municipality was located to the west.
Government While it existed, Austad 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 Lyngdal District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Austad Municipality was made up of 13 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 Austad Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1909–1925: Michael Boxnæs 1926–1934: Thorvald Grefstad 1935–1936: T.Z. Lundegård 1936–1937: Thorvald Grefstad 1937–1940: Ole Jensen 1940–1941: Thorvald Grefstad 1941–1945: Selmer Bærø 1945–1945: Thorvald Grefstad 1946–1947: Emil Visdal 1948–1962: Jakob Holvik
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References