Snåsa (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈsnòːsɑ]; Southern Sami: Snåase) is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherred region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Snåsa. Other villages include Agle and Jørstad.

Snåsa Municipality
Snåsa kommune
Snåasen tjïelte
Snaasen herred  (historic name)
View of Snåsa over Snåsavatnet
View of Snåsa over Snåsavatnet
Trøndelag within Norway
Trøndelag within Norway
Snåsa within Trøndelag
Snåsa within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 64°13′28″N 12°37′31″E / 64.22444°N 12.62528°E / 64.22444; 12.62528
CountryNorway
CountyTrøndelag
DistrictInnherad
Established1 Jan 1838
 • Created asFormannskapsdistrikt
Administrative centreSnåsa
Government
 • Mayor (2019)Arnt Einar Bardal (Sp)
Area
 • Total2,342.66 km2 (904.51 sq mi)
 • Land2,145.71 km2 (828.46 sq mi)
 • Water196.95 km2 (76.04 sq mi)  8.4%
 • Rank#23 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total2,021
 • Rank#277 in Norway
 • Density0.9/km2 (2/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −6.2%
DemonymSnåsning[1]
Official languages
 • Norwegian formNeutral
 • Sámi formSouthern Sami
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5041[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

Snåsa is one of the last strongholds for the seriously endangered Southern Sami language.

The 2,343-square-kilometre (905 sq mi) municipality is the 23rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Snåsa is the 277th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,021 inhabitants. The municipality's population density is 0.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.3/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 6.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information

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The parish of Snåsa was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. On 1 January 1874, the eastern district of Snåsa (population: 1,015) was separated to form a new, separate municipality of Lierne. This left Snåsa with 2,235 residents. Snåsa's boundaries have not changed since then.[6]

On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

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The municipality (originally the parish) was named Snåsa (Old Norse: Snǫs). The name is derived from the word snǫs which means "prominent mountain" or "overhanging rock" (possibly referring to the mountain of Bergsåsen, at the inner end of the lake Snåsavatnet).[7] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Snaasen. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Snaasa.[8] On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Snaasa with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Snåsa, using the letter å instead.[9][10]

On 24 September 2010, the national government approved a resolution to add a co-equal, official Southern Sami language name for the municipality: Snåase.[11][12] The spelling of the Sami language name changes depending on how it is used. It is called Snåase when it is spelled alone, but it is Snåasen tjïelte when using the Sami language equivalent to "Snåsa municipality".[13]

Coat of arms

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The coat of arms was granted on 17 March 1994. The official blazon is "Azure, a lady's-slipper orchid Or." (Norwegian: I blått en gull marisko). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a lady's-slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus). The lady's-slipper orchid 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 design was chosen to symbolize the prevalence of orchids growing in the municipality. This particular flower is one of at least 15 species of orchids that grow in Snåsa. The arms were designed by Even Jarl Skoglund. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[14][15][16][11]

Churches

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The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Snåsa. It is part of the Nord-Innherad prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Snåsa
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Snåsa Snåsa Church Snåsa 1200

Geography

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View of the lake Snåsavatnet

Snåsa is located about 180 kilometres (110 mi) northeast of the city of Trondheim, and it borders Sweden to the southeast. Snåsa borders the municipalities of Overhalla, Grong, and Lierne in the north and east, and Steinkjer and Verdal in the west and south. The 6th largest lake in the country, Snåsavatnet, is partly located in the municipality. Other lakes include Andorsjøen, Bangsjøene, Grøningen, Holderen, and Store Øyingen. The Blåfjella–Skjækerfjella National Park covers a lot of the eastern part of the municipality.

Government

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Snåsa 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.[17] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

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The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Snåsa 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.

Snåsa kommunestyre 2023–2027 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Snåsa kommunestyre 2019–2023 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Snåsa kommunestyre 2015–2019 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 2011–2015 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 2007–2011 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 2003–2007 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Local list Snåsa (Bygdeliste Snåsa)1
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1999–2003 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list (Bygdeliste)4
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1995–1999 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list Snåsa (Bygdeliste Snåsa)3
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1991–1995 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Local list Snåsa (Bygdeliste Snåsa)4
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1987–1991 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1983–1987 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1979–1983 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1975–1979 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 10
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1971–1975 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1967–1971 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Snåsa kommunestyre 1963–1967 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 9
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
Total number of members:21
Snåsa herredsstyre 1959–1963 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Snåsa herredsstyre 1955–1959 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 8
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Snåsa herredsstyre 1951–1955 [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:20
Snåsa herredsstyre 1947–1951 [34]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:20
Snåsa herredsstyre 1945–1947 [35]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 4
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
Total number of members:20
Snåsa herredsstyre 1937–1941* [36]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) 7
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:20
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

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The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Snåsa:[37][38]

  • 1837–1839: Jens Rynning
  • 1840–1843: Pål Olsen Gran
  • 1844–1847: Jens Rynning
  • 1848–1851: Bård Larsen Bøgset
  • 1852–1859: Lorentz Peter Elster
  • 1860–1861: Peter Muus
  • 1862–1865: Bertel Gravbrøt
  • 1866–1868: Lorentz Nicolai Bøgset
  • 1868–1871: Thomas Conrad Hirsch
  • 1872–1873: Peter Muus
  • 1874–1875: Butulf Brønstad
  • 1876–1883: Erik Belbo (V)
  • 1884–1887: Gunnerius Larsen (V)
  • 1888–1893: Nils Muus (V)
  • 1894–1898: Ole Eggen (V)
  • 1899–1901: Nils Muus (V)
  • 1902–1907: Ole Eggen (V)
  • 1908–1916: Lorents Seem (Rp)
  • 1917–1919: Johan N. Brede (LL)
  • 1920–1922: Størker Jørstad (V)
  • 1922-1922: Arne H. Five (LL)
  • 1923–1925: Nikolai Kjenstad (Bp)
  • 1926–1928: Arne H. Five (V)
  • 1929–1934: Olaf Eggen (Bp)
  • 1935–1937: Emil Mona (Bp)
  • 1938–1945: Olaf Eggen (Bp/NS))
  • 1945-1945: Emil Mona (Bp)
  • 1945-1945: Peter Finsaas (V)
  • 1946–1947: Jon Viem (Ap)
  • 1948-1948: Peter Finsaas (V)
  • 1948–1951: Johannes Gåsmo (Bp)
  • 1952–1955: Jon Viem (Ap)
  • 1956–1963: Johannes Gåsmo (Sp)
  • 1964–1967: Åsmund Grande (Sp)
  • 1968–1975: Arne Sandnes (Sp)
  • 1976–1987: Fridtjof Jørstad (Sp)
  • 1988–1989: Ludvig Lundheim (V)
  • 1990–1991: Arnold Skjemstad (Ap)
  • 1992–1999: Eystein Bardal (Sp)
  • 1999–2003: Alfred Berget (Ap)
  • 2003-2015: Vigdis Hjulstad Belbo (Sp)
  • 2015-2019: Tone Våg (Ap)
  • 2019–present: Arnt Einar Bardal (Sp)

Transportation

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The European route E6 highway runs through the municipality on the north side of the Snåsavatnet lake and the Nordland Line runs along the south side of the lake. The train stops at Jørstad Station and Snåsa Station.

Trivia

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  • Inge Altemberg, the leading character in the movie Sweet Land, played by Elizabeth Reaser comes to America just after WWI from Snåsa

Notable people

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Jens Rynning, Snåsa
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References

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  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  4. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå.
  7. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 273.
  8. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
  9. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
  10. ^ Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
  11. ^ a b Store norske leksikon. "Snåsa" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Samisk parallellnamn for Snåsa kommune, Nord-Trøndelag" (in Norwegian). LovData.no. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Stadnamn og rettskriving" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Snåsa, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  16. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 19 August 1994. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  17. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Trøndelag Trööndelage". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  35. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  37. ^ Sandnes, Jørn (1960). Snåsaboka. 2. Bygdehistorien etter år 1800 (in Norwegian). Snåsa kommune. pp. 116–122, 299–315.
  38. ^ Skar, Hans (1907). Snaasens kulturhistorie til aaret 1907 (in Norwegian). Mallingske bogtrykkeri. pp. 64–82.
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