Herefoss is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1967. The area is now part of Birkenes Municipality in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Herefoss where the Herefoss Church is located. The other main village was Søre Herefoss, located in the southern part of the municipality.
Prior to its dissolution in 1967, the municipality was the 356th largest by area out of the 460 municipalities in Norway. Herefoss Municipality was the 454th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.
General information The parish of Hegrefoss (later spelled Herefoss) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1967, Herefoss Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Birkenes Municipality: all of Herefoss Municipality (population: ) all of Birkenes Municipality (population: ) all of Vegusdal Municipality (population: )
Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Herefoss farm () since the first Herefoss Church was built there. The first element is the name of the local river, Hegra. This name is derived from the word which means "heron", likely the grey heron which inhabits the area. The last element is which means "waterfall".
Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Hegrefoss. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Herefoss.
Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Herefoss Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Herefoss prestegjeld and the Vest-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Herefoss MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtHerefossHerefoss ChurchHerefoss1865
Geography The municipality surrounded the Herefossfjorden (part of the river Tovdalselva). The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Håstølknuten, located on the western border with Vegusdal Municipality. Mykland Municipality was located to the north, Froland Municipality and Øyestad Municipality was located to the east, Landvik Municipality was located to the southeast, Birkenes Municipality was located to the south, and Vegusdal Municipality was located to the west.
History The area of Herefoss Municipality was historically the seat of public officials in this region. The resided here from 1680 to 1820, and the (district judge) also lived here from 1724 to 1852. Herefoss was established as a in 1875. Herefoss Church was consecrated by Bishop Jacob von der Lippe in 1865. In 1900, 610 people lived in the municipality on 67 different farms.
Government While it existed, Vegusdal 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 Herefoss 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 Herefoss Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1838–1839: Knud Torjussen Aamblie 1840–1841: Knud Madsen Aamlie 1842–1845: Jørgen Huskuldsen Kylland 1846–1847: Ole Halvorsen Bjorvatten 1848–1851: Daniel Halvorsen Kylland 1852–1855: Kristen K. Trantelien 1856–1857: Torjus Knudsen Omblie 1858–1885: Andreas Holm 1886–1913: Knud Torjussen Aamlid 1914–1922: Kristian Andreas Holm 1923–1928: Karl Knutsen (V) 1929–1934: Eirik Nesbu (Bp) 1935–1937: Knut H. Suggelia (Ap) 1938–1943: Andreas Holm (Bp) 1943–1944: Nils Helleland (NS) 1945–1966: Andreas Holm (Sp)
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References
External links 1960 census and map of the municipality (page 4)