This article is about the municipality in Norway. For the village in Hyllestad municipality, see Hyllestad (village). For the similarly spelled surname, see Hyllested.
The 259 km2 (100 sq mi) municipality is the 280th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Hyllestad is the 314th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,268. The municipality's population density is 5.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 11.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Hyllestad be closed.[6]
In the fourth quarter of 2020, there were more than 400 employees at Noryard, a shipyard.[7]
General information
View of the Birkeland areaView of an abandoned building with Lihesten in the backgroundView of Hyllestad Church with Lihesten in the backgroundView of the municipal government building in Hyllestad
Hyllestad was created as a municipality in 1862. Two sub-parishes (sokn) from the Askvollparish (Øn and Hyllestad) and one sub-parish (sokn) from the Lavik og Brekkeparish(Bø) were merged to form a separate municipality which was named Hyllestad. The population at that time in Hyllestad was 2,475. On 1 January 1888, the Krakken farm (population: 17) on the northeastern corner of the island of Sula was transferred from Hyllestad to the neighboring municipality of Utvær. The municipal boundaries have not changed since that time.[8][9]
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly created Vestland county after Sogn og Fjordane and Hordaland counties were merged.
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hyllestad farm (Old Norse: Hyllistaðir) since the first Hyllestad Church was built there. The first element comes from Hylli, the old uncompounded name of the nearby Hyllestadfjorden. This name is likely derived from the word hylli which means "quiet", "friendly", or "benevolent". The last element is the plural form of staðr which means "abode" or "town".[10]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 10 March 1989. The official blazon is "Azure, three millstones in bendargent" (Norwegian: På blå grunn tre sølv kvernsteinar i skrå rekkje). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a set of three millstones lined up diagonally. The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The millstones were chosen because the production of millstones is the oldest industry in the municipality and has been very important to the life of the community. The arms were designed by Hans Berge. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[11][12][13]
The municipal council(Kommunestyre) of Hyllestad 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.
View of the Rønset areaLihesten (mountain in Hyllestad)Another view of Lihesten
Hyllestad is located north of the Sognefjorden along the Åfjorden/Hyllestadfjorden, which flows through the middle of the municipality. Hyllestad is bordered to the north by the municipality of Fjaler, to the east by Høyanger, to the south (across the fjord) by Gulen, and to the west by the island municipality of Solund.
Attractions
Kvernsteins Millstone Park
The production of millstones in Hyllestad started over 1,000 years ago and used to be a major industry employing up to 1,000 people. Millstones were exported to Denmark, the Baltic Sea region, and across Norway. Many of the stone crosses to be seen along the coast are made from millstones from Hyllestad, including the crosses in Eivindvik and Korssund. The park offers nature trails that visualize the history of the industry, with debris, broken product, and half-carved stones still not separated from the rock surface. At the stonemason camp there is a guided tour of the historic stone quarry in the mill stone park and a visit to Åfjordstein where you can see how mill stones are used in a modern, new design.[35]
Lihesten
The majestic and bewitching Lihesten is one of the most prominent mountains on the coast of Norway. There are several marked routes to the peak, over 714 m (2,343 ft) above sea level, with views both straight out to the open sea and inwards over the fjords. Lihesten also has a number of good fishing lakes.[35]
Trondheim Postal Road
Many bicyclists have described the well-preserved section of the Trondheim postal road between Hyllestad and Fjaler as one of the most exhilarating cycling experiences in the country. There were originally 19 stone bridges on the route between the villages of Dale and Leirvik, and many of them are still standing as proud and impressive examples of early dry masonry. There are only a few places along the 40 km (25 mi) stretch between Dale in Fjaler and Leirvik in Hyllestad where the surface is so uneven that it is best to push a bike rather than ride it. Occasionally it is necessary to join the paved road (Fylkesvei 57), but most of the route is free from cars and idyllic.[35]
Water Mills
On the postroad, by Skor, lies a beautiful cluster of five authentic, newly renovated gristmills.[35]
^"Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 10 March 1989. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^"Kommunestyrevalget 1995"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Archived(PDF) from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^"Kommunestyrevalget 1991"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Archived(PDF) from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^"Kommunestyrevalget 1987"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Archived(PDF) from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^"Kommunestyrevalget 1983"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Archived(PDF) from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^"Kommunestyrevalget 1979"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
^"Kommunevalgene 1975"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^"Kommunevalgene 1972"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^"Kommunevalgene 1967"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
^"Kommunevalgene 1963"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Archived(PDF) from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
