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Lebesby Municipality

Coordinates: 70°56′43″N 27°21′04″E / 70.94528°N 27.35111°E / 70.94528; 27.35111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the municipality in Finnmark, Norway. For the village with the same name, see Lebesby (village).
Lebesby Municipality
Lebesby kommune
Davvesiidda gielda (Northern Sami)
Lebespyyn komuuni (Kven)
Municipality
View of the Ifjordfjellet in Lebesby
View of the Ifjordfjellet in Lebesby
Flag of Lebesby Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Lebesby Municipality
Coat of arms
Finnmark within Norway
Finnmark within Norway
Lebesby within Finnmark
Lebesby within Finnmark
Coordinates: 70°56′43″N 27°21′04″E / 70.94528°N 27.35111°E / 70.94528; 27.35111
CountryNorway
CountyFinnmark
DistrictØst-Finnmark
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreKjøllefjord
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Sigurd Rafaelsen (Ap)
Area
 • Total
3,460.50 km2 (1,336.11 sq mi)
 • Land3,230.88 km2 (1,247.45 sq mi)
 • Water229.62 km2 (88.66 sq mi)  6.6%
 • Rank#8 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,066.8 m (3,500.0 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
1,215
 • Rank#320 in Norway
 • Density0.4/km2 (1/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −9.4%
DemonymLebesbyværing[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5624[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Lebesby (Northern Sami: Davvesiida and Kven: Lebespyy) is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kjøllefjord. Other villages in the municipality include Ifjord, Kunes, Lebesby, and Veidnes.

The 3,460.5-square-kilometre (1,336.1 sq mi) municipality is the 8th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Lebesby is the 320th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,215. The municipality's population density is 0.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (1.0/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 9.4% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

The municipality consists of the western half of the Nordkinn Peninsula, along with areas around the Laksefjorden. Most people live in the village of Kjøllefjord. This municipality is dominated by ethnic Norwegians, whereas the areas around the Laksefjorden are predominantly Sami. Fishing is the mainstay of the population.

Economy

[edit]

There are 17 wind turbines that generate electrical power in Kjøllefjord, as of 2024.[7] The world's northernmost dairy farm that produces milk (Norwegian: melkebruk) is located in Bekkarfjord.[8]

History

[edit]

The parish of Lebesby was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). In 1864, the eastern part of Lebesby that surrounds the Tanafjorden (population: 1,388) was separated to become the new Tana Municipality. Tana was later separated into three: Tana Municipality, Gamvik Municipality, and Berlevåg Municipality. The borders of Lebesby have remained unchanged since that time.[9]

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Finnmark county.[10] On 1 January 2024, the Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part of Finnmark county.[11]

Name

[edit]

The origins of the municipal name are uncertain. There are two main possibilities. Lebesby may be a Norwegianized form of a Northern Sami name Leaibbessiida. The first element is the genitive form of the word leaibi which means "grey alder". The last element is siida which means "reindeer camp" or "dwelling place". A second option for the origin of the name is that Lebesby is a corruption of the Old Norse word Liðvarðsbýr. The first element is Liðvarð which is a male name from long ago. The last element is býr which means "dwelling place" or "farmstead".[12][13]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 22 July 1988. The official blazon is "Per fess embattled grady with three steps and two peaks Or and Sable" (Norwegian: Delt av gult og svart ved tredobbelt tindesnitt med to tinder). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line that is "embattled grady". A line embattled grady consists of series of two or three steps, as if each merlon has a smaller merlon atop it. The field below the line has a tincture of sable and the field above the line has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The idea is that the arms represent the Finnkirka ("the Finn Church"), a cliff by the sea in the municipality. This cliff formation has the appearance of a church, and in former times was used by Sami people as a place of sacrifice. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen.[14][15][16]

Geography

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View of the Finnkirka mountain

The municipality consists of the areas around the Laksefjorden, including the eastern part of the Sværholt Peninsula and the western half of the Nordkinn Peninsula. At the entrance to the Kjøllefjorden at the northwestern tip of the Nordkinn Peninsula, one finds the spectacular Finnkirka sea cliff, so named because of its soaring spires that look like a church. On the other side of the Oksefjorden on the northern end of the peninsula, the Kinnarodden cape (shared with Gamvik Municipality) is the northernmost point on the European mainland. There are several large lakes in the municipality including Kjæsvannet, Store Måsvannet, and Suolojávri. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,066.78-metre (3,499.9 ft) tall mountain Rásttigáisá.[1]

Birdlife

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The same seacliffs mentioned above hold large numbers of breeding seabirds. In fact Norway's third largest seabird colony can be found in the municipality. Experiencing a seabird colony is one of nature's great experiences, here you can see and listen to thousands of birds with such species as fulmar and Atlantic puffin being a part of a fascinating ecosystem.

Flora

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The world's northernmost birch forest is located in this municipality, near Oksefjorden, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) east of Kjøllefjord (70°58′N 27°34′E / 70.967°N 27.567°E / 70.967; 27.567).[17]

Climate

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Climate data for Lebesby
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.8
(19.8) 		−6.6
(20.1) 		−4.5
(23.9) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		3.5
(38.3) 		8.0
(46.4) 		11.0
(51.8) 		10.2
(50.4) 		6.5
(43.7) 		1.7
(35.1) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		1.2
(34.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44
(1.7) 		36
(1.4) 		30
(1.2) 		29
(1.1) 		28
(1.1) 		38
(1.5) 		57
(2.2) 		54
(2.1) 		58
(2.3) 		59
(2.3) 		45
(1.8) 		42
(1.7) 		520
(20.5)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[18]

Government

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Lebesby Municipality is 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 is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[19] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

[edit]

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lebesby is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Lebesby kommunestyre 2023–2027 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 2019–2023 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Lebesby Cross-Party List (Lebesby Tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 2015–2019 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Lebesby Cross-Party List (Lebesby Tverrpolitiske liste)5
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 2011–2015 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
 Non-Socialist Common List (Borgerlig Fellesliste)6
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 2007–2011 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 2003–2007 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 4
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 1999–2003 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Lebesby kommunestyre 1995–1999 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
 Dyfjord Village List (Dyfjord Bygdeliste)1
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1991–1995 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 5
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1987–1991 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1985–1987 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1979–1983 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Joint list of the Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) and the Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1975–1979 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1971–1975 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 17
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1967–1971 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 4
Total number of members:21
Lebesby kommunestyre 1963–1967 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 16
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
Total number of members:21
Lebesby herredsstyre 1959–1963 [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 3
Total number of members:21
Lebesby herredsstyre 1955–1959 [34]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 14
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:19
Lebesby herredsstyre 1951–1955 [35]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Lebesby herredsstyre 1947–1951 [36]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:16
Lebesby herredsstyre 1945–1947 [37]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 3
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 8
Total number of members:16
Lebesby herredsstyre 1937–1941* [38]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) 1
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 6
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:16
Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945.

Mayors

[edit]

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Lebesby:[39]

  • 1838-1840: Johan Karsten Garmann Schancke
  • 1840-1843: Nils Pedersen
  • 1843-1845: Jørres Schelderup Hansen
  • 1846-1854: Henning Briks
  • 1855-1857: Nicolai Christian Lassen
  • 1858-1863: Bernhard Kock
  • 1864-1867: Johan Fredrik Lindstrøm
  • 1868-1873: Oluf August Ingemann Melbye
  • 1874-1892: N. Johansen
  • 1893-1895: J.B. Bøgeberg
  • 1896-1898: Ole Moen
  • 1899-1907: N. Johansen
  • 1908-1913: O. Klykken
  • 1914-1914: Andreas Olai Knutsen Steffensen
  • 1914-1916: Johan Hustad
  • 1917-1919: Wilhelm Lund
  • 1920-1925: Ole Konrad Steinholt
  • 1926-1928: Johan P. Olsen
  • 1929-1931: Charlo Klykken
  • 1932-1934: Johan P. Olsen
  • 1935-1941: Karl Fosslund
  • 1941-1942: Jens A. Horst
  • 1942-1945: Sigvald Tryggeseth (NS)
  • 1945-1945: Adolf Hansen
  • 1945-1945: Arne Moilanen
  • 1946-1950: Hans Martin Hanssen (Ap)
  • 1950-1951: Bertin Jonassen
  • 1952-1955: Edmund Wallenius
  • 1956-1957: Viggo Lund
  • 1958-1959: Gerhard Charlo Øfeldt
  • 1959-1961: Viggo Lund
  • 1961-1975: Aksel Samuelsberg (Ap)
  • 1975-1979: Magnor Mathisen (Ap)
  • 1979-1988: Edmund Varfjell (Ap)
  • 1988-1998: Kristin Berg Nilsen (Ap)
  • 1998-2010: Harald Larssen (Ap)
  • 2010-2019: Stine Akselsen (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Sigurd Kvammen Rafaelsen (Ap)

Culture

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Churches

[edit]

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Lebesby. It is part of the Hammerfest prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

Churches in Lebesby
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Kjøllefjord Kjøllefjord Church Kjøllefjord 1951
Lebesby Lebesby Church Lebesby 1962
Kunes Chapel Kunes 1982

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Holst, Inga. "Statkraft vurderer vindkraftutbygging i Finnmark. Reineierne sier kontant nei". iFinnmark.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  8. ^ Pedersen, Helga (17 November 2020). "Samvirke virker". Klassekampen (in Norwegian). p. 2. verdens nordligste melkebruk
  9. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  10. ^ Mæhlum, Lars, ed. (24 December 2019). "Troms og Finnmark". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024" (in Norwegian). Regjeringen.no. 5 July 2022.
  12. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1924). Norske gaardnavne: Finmarkens amt (in Norwegian) (18 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 214.
  13. ^ Store norske leksikon. "Lebesby" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  14. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Lebesby, Finmark". Flags of the World. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 22 July 1988. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Verdens nordligste skog" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  18. ^ "eKlima Web Portal". Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Archived from the original on 14 June 2004.
  19. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Finnmark Finnmárku". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  22. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  23. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Finnmark". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  24. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  35. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  36. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  37. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  38. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  39. ^ "Ordførergalleri i Lebesby avduket". Finnmarksposten (in Norwegian). 14 March 1959. pp. 3 and 6. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  40. ^ Gørild Mauseth at IMDb. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
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