The 2,020-square-kilometre (780 sq mi) municipality is the 36th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Hamarøy is the 243rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,729. The municipality's population density is 1.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.6/sq mi) and its population has increased by about 50% over the previous 10-year period (due to the enlargement of the municipality when part of Tysfjord Municipaltiy became part of Hamarøy in 2020).[7][8]
General information
The municipality of Hamarøy was established 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 1964, the part of Hamarøy located on the south side of the Sagfjorden and west of the Veggfjellan mountain (population: 77) was transferred to neighboring Steigen Municipality. On the same date, the Tysnes and Molvik farms (population: 33) was transferred from Hamarøy to the neighboring Tysfjord Municipality.[9]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hamarøya island (Old Norse: Hamarøy), which is now a peninsula, since the first Hamarøy Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word hǫm which means "thigh/leg (of an animal)". The last element is øy which means "island". This was likely because the island (or a part of it) was shaped in the form of an animal's leg.[12] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Hammerø. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Hamarøy.[13]
On 21 January 2011, the national government approved a resolution to add a co-equal, official Sami language name for the municipality: Hábmer.[14] The spelling of the Sami language name changes depending on how it is used. It is called Hábmer when it is spelled alone, but it is Hábmera suohkan when using the Sami language equivalent to "Hamarøy Municipality".[15]
Coat of arms
Arms (1982-2019)Current arms since 2020
The original coat of arms was granted on 19 February 1982 and in use until 1 January 2020 when the new arms were put into use. The official blazon is "Azure, a lynx statant guardantargent" (Norwegian: I blått en stående sølv gaupe). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a lynx. The lynx has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. Lynx are common in the area it was chosen for the arms as a symbol for the rich wildlife in the forests of the municipality. The arms were designed by Asbjørn Mathiassen.[16][17][18]
The current coat of arms was adopted in 2019 for use starting on 1 January 2020 after a municipal merger. The blazon is "Azure, a rock carving of two swans argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a depiction of a 9,000-year-old rock carving of the outlines of two swans. The swans have a tincture of argent which means they are commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The ancient rock carving seen at Dyreberget in Leiknes is a notable historical feature for the municipality. The two swans also symbolize the two cultures of the municipality: Norwegian and Lule Sami. The arms were designed by Ingar Nikolaisen Kuoljok and Dag Winsjansen.[19][20]
Hamarøyskaftet mountain in springMap of Steinslandvatnet nature reserve
Hamarøy Municipality borders Narvik Municipality to the north, Steigen Municipality to the west, Sørfold Municipality to the south, the Vestfjorden to the northwest, and the country of Sweden to the southeast. The large island of Finnøya is located between the Sagfjorden and the Kaldvågfjorden. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,517.49-metre (4,978.6 ft) tall mountain Bjørntoppen.[1]
Hamarøy has an oceanic or boreal climate, depending on winter threshold used (0 °C (32 °F) or −3 °C (27 °F)). The wettest season is autumn and early winter, while April - June is the driest, indicating an oceanic climate. The record high is 33.7 °C (92.7 °F) recorded 18 July 2018 at Drag.
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hamarøy 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.
The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Hamarøy was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who held this position (incomplete list):
While Hamarøy has a low population density, it sees some traffic during the summer months as the main road connection to Svolvær and the Lofoten islands runs through Hamarøy and its administrative centre, Oppeid. The ferry ride to Skrova and Svolvær is approximately 2 hours and departs from Skutvika (approximately 15 minutes from Oppeid) at regular intervals. In 2008, the ferry schedule was considerably reduced due to the new Lofoten Mainland Connection road. The European route E6 highway runs north and south through the municipality on its way to Narvik. Bus service by Stoklands Bilruter is available between certain villages in Hamarøy.
The municipal administration and other public services are located in Oppeid. There is a hotel in the municipality, as well as the scenic Tranøy Lighthouse which can be rented.[47]
Skutvik is a small residential and marina area concentrated around the ferry dock. In the high season the number of cars and motor homes in line for the ferry can be significant. There are a few sights to see in Skutvik, as well as a small bar/cafe and a Statoil gas station.
Knut Hamsun
The writer Knut Hamsun, winner of the 1920 Nobel Prize in Literature, grew up in Hamarøy. The Knut Hamsun Centre, a museum and educational center dedicated to Knut Hamsun's life and work, finished building in 2009 and opened for the public in June 2010. Knut Hamsun's childhood home is also open for visitors in summer. The Hamsun literature festival was founded in 1982 and takes place in Hamarøy during the first week of August every second year.
^Karlsen, Tone Anita (22 August 2017). "Ny Narvik tar form". Harstad Tidende (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
