Dønna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the island municipality is the village of Solfjellsjøen. Other villages include Bjørn, Dønnes, Hestad, Sandåker, and Vandve. The main island of Dønna is connected to the neighboring municipality of Herøy to the south by the Åkviksundet Bridge.

Dønna Municipality
Dønna kommune
Nordland within Norway
Nordland within Norway
Dønna within Nordland
Dønna within Nordland
Coordinates: 66°05′29″N 12°31′33″E / 66.09139°N 12.52583°E / 66.09139; 12.52583
CountryNorway
CountyNordland
DistrictHelgeland
Established1 Jan 1962
 • Preceded byNordvik, Dønnes, and other areas
Administrative centreSolfjellsjøen
Government
 • Mayor (2024)John-Erik S. Johansen (Ap)
Area
 • Total192.55 km2 (74.34 sq mi)
 • Land186.41 km2 (71.97 sq mi)
 • Water6.16 km2 (2.38 sq mi)  3.2%
 • Rank#304 in Norway
Population
 (2023)
 • Total1,391
 • Rank#304 in Norway
 • Density7.5/km2 (19/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −2.8%
DemonymDønnværing[1]
Official language
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-1827[3]
WebsiteOfficial website

The 193-square-kilometre (75 sq mi) municipality is the 304th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Dønna is the 304th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,391. The municipality's population density is 7.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 2.8% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]

General information edit

Municipal history edit

The municipality of Dønna was established on 1 January 1962 due to the work of the Schei Committee. The new municipality was created by merging these areas:

  • the municipality of Nordvik (population: 1,293)
  • the part of the municipality of Herøy on the southern tip of the island of Dønna (population: 19)
  • the part of the municipality of Nesna on the island Løkta (population: 80)
  • the majority of the municipality of Dønnes (population: 1,348), except for the part located on the island of Tomma.

The borders of Dønna municipality have not changed since that time.[6]

Name edit

The municipality is named after the island of Dønna (Old Norse: Dyn). The name is probably derived from the Old Norse verb dynja which means to "rumble" or "roar" (referring to the swell of the waves on the island).[7]

Coat of arms edit

The coat of arms was granted on 29 May 1981. The official blazon is "Or a schnecke azure from base sinister to dexter" (Norwegian: Delt av gull og blått ved virvelsnitt). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line called a schnecke (a swirling clockwise spiral design that is looks like a wave). The field located 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 tincture below the line is blue. The arms are a canting symbol for the municipality since the Norwegian word dønning means "wave" or "swell". The arms were designed by Odd Fjordholm.[8][9][10]

Churches edit

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Dønna. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.

Churches in Dønna
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Dønna Dønnes Church Dønnes 13th century
Hæstad Church Hestad 1912
Løkta Church Sandåker 1968
Nordvik Church Nordvik 1877
Vandve Church Vandve 1956


Economy edit

Much of the industry focuses on fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing. There is also some agriculture, tourism, and some public services.

Government edit

All municipalities in Norway are 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.[11] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

Municipal council edit

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Dønna 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.

Dønna kommunestyre 2023–2027 [12]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Red Party (Rødt) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2019–2023 [13]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Red Party (Rødt) 3
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2015–2019 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 5
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2011–2015 [15]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 2
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2007–2011 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 4
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 2003–2007 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 3
  Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
 Cross-party Election (Tverrpolitisk Folkevalgte)2
Total number of members:17
Dønna kommunestyre 1999–2003 [14]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 8
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 6
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1995–1999 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Pensioners' Party and free voters (Pensjonister og frie velgere) 1
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)4
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1991–1995 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
 Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste)2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1987–1991 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 5
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1983–1987 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 9
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
 Dønna cross-party list (Dønna Tverrpolitiske liste)2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1979–1983 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 7
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1975–1979 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 6
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 6
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1971–1975 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 1
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1967–1971 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 4
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 4
Total number of members:21
Dønna kommunestyre 1963–1967 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 7
Total number of members:21

Mayors edit

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Dønna:

  • 1995-2003: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
  • 2003-2007: Steinar Horsgård (Sp)
  • 2007-2011: Ingunn Laumann (Ap)
  • 2011-2015: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
  • 2015-2019: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)
  • 2019–2023: Nils Jenssen (Sp)
  • 2024–present: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)[25]

Geography edit

Dønna is located in Outer Helgeland which also consists of the municipalities of Leirfjord, Alstahaug, and Herøy. The municipality is made up of a large archipelago consisting of islands, islets, and reefs. The three largest islands in the municipality are Dønna, Løkta, and Vandve. The Åsværet islands (and the Åsvær Lighthouse) lie in the western part of the municipality. The island municipality is situated at the mouth of the Ranfjorden.

View from Dønnesfjellet, Dønna. The strandflaten lowland in the foreground and several islands with unique mountain formations visible in the distance

Notable residents edit

 
Anton Chr. Bang

References edit

  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. ^ "Helgelands stedsnavn". Historisk tidsskrift (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Norske historiske forening: 70. 1871. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Dønna, Nordland (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 31 July 1981. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Ordfører - perioden 2023 - 2027" (in Norwegian). Dønna kommune. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Petter Dass" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. VI (9th ed.). 1878. p. 831.

External links edit