Lardal

For the municipality in Telemark, see Lårdal.

Lardal (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɑ̂rdɑːɫ]^[4]) is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 278-square-kilometre (107 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2018. The area is now part of Larvik Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Svarstad. The village of Steinsholt was also part of Lardal.^[5]

Lardal Municipality Lardal kommune
Former municipality
Lardal herred  (historic name)
View of the Svarstad area
Flag Coat of arms
Vestfold within Norway
Lardal within Vestfold
Coordinates: 59°22′56″N 9°54′19″E
Country	Norway
County	Vestfold
District	Larvik
Established	1 Jan 1838
• Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished	1 Jan 2018
• Succeeded by	Larvik Municipality
Administrative centre	Svarstad
Government
• Mayor (2015-2017)	Knut Olav Omholt (Sp)
Area  (upon dissolution)
• Total	278 km2 (107 sq mi)
• Land	271 km2 (105 sq mi)
Population  (2015)
• Total	2,463
• Density	8.9/km2 (23/sq mi)
Demonym	Lardøling[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Bokmål
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-0728[3]
Data from Statistics Norway

Pikstein, the highest point in Lardal, is located in western Lardal along the Buskerud county border.^[6]

General information

The parish of Laurdal (later spelled Lardal) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The municipality included the three sub-parishes of Svarstad, Styrvoll, and Hem. On 1 January 1983, an unpopulated area of Bergan, just south of Steinsholt, was transferred to Lardal from the neighboring municipality of Hedrum. On 9 January 1987, another unpopulated area was transferred to Lardal from the neighboring municipality of Hedrum.^[7] On 1 January 2018, the municipality of Lardal was merged into the neighboring Larvik Municipality.^[8]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Lardal valley (Old Norse: Lagardalr). The first element is the genitive case of lǫgr which means "water" or "river" (referring to the local river Numedalslågen). The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled "Laurdal". In 1889, the spelling was changed to "Lardal".^[9]

See also: Larvik and Lårdal

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 July 1992. The official blazon is "Gules, a hulder Or" (Norwegian: I rødt ei gull hulder). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a hulder. The hulder 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 hulder is a part of old Scandinavian folklore. This was chosen to represent the large forested areas in Lardal that were said to be inhabited by hulder. The arms were designed by Arvid Steen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[10][11][12]

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Lardal. It was part of the Larvik prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

Churches in Larvik

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Hem	Hem Church	Hem	c. 1100
Styrvoll	Styrvoll Church	Styrvoll	c. 1150
Svarstad	Svarstad Church	Svarstad	1657

• 
  Hem church
• 
  Styrvoll church
• 
  Svarstad church

Government

Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Lardal by country of origin in 2017^[13]

Ancestry	Number
Poland	41
Lithuania	35
Bosnia	22

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.^[14] The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Vestfold District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lardal was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Lardal kommunestyre 2016–2017 ^[15][16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	3
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	3
	Lardal Cross-Party List (Lardal Tverrpolitiske Liste)	3
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 2012–2015 ^[17]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 2008–2011 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	3
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 2004–2007 ^[16]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 2000–2003 ^[16][18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lardal kommunestyre 1996–1999 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		21

Lardal kommunestyre 1992–1995 ^[20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	1
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1988–1991 ^[21]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	5
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1984–1987 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	6
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1980–1983 ^[23]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1976–1979 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1972–1975 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1968–1971 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal kommunestyre 1964–1967 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	10
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal herredsstyre 1960–1963 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal herredsstyre 1956–1959 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	11
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		17

Lardal herredsstyre 1952–1955 ^[30]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	2
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	4
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		16

Lardal herredsstyre 1948–1951 ^[31]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
Total number of members:		16

Lardal herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[32]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	9
	Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet)	1
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
Total number of members:		16

Lardal herredsstyre 1938–1941* ^[33]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	2
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
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

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Lardal:^[34]

• 1838-1842: C.F. Blehr
• 1842-1845: Engebret L. Sverkholt
• 1845-1852: Jacob Schjerven
• 1852-1856: Nils Hem
• 1856-1861: Jacob Schjerven
• 1861-1863: K. Olafsen
• 1863-1865: Nils Hem
• 1865-1867: Jacob Schjerven
• 1867-1871: M.O. Aschjem
• 1871-1873: Christian Smukkestad
• 1873-1881: H.J. Aschjem
• 1881-1884: Halvor L. Sogn
• 1884-1886: Gullik Hogstvedt
• 1886-1897: O.J. Schjerven
• 1897-1898: M.O. Aschjem
• 1898-1901: Gullik Hogstvedt
• 1901-1907: Rasmus Lie
• 1907-1910: J. Stensholt
• 1910-1916: Olaf G. Hogstvedt
• 1920-1922: Nils Jakob Schjerven (H)
• 1923-1928: Hans J. Lie
• 1929-1931: Nils Jakob Schjerven (H)
• 1934-1940: Halvor Sogn
• 1945-1945: Halvor Sogn
• 1946-1951: Syvert H. Lie
• 1952-1975: Nefton S. Melås
• 1976-1981: Tjodolf Hoff (Sp)
• 1984-1987: Borger Steinsholt (Ap)
• 1987-1992: Dag Terje Andersen (Ap)
• 1992-1998: Dagfinn Gjerden (Ap)
• 1998-2003: Rune Høiseth (Ap)
• 2003-2007: Nils Røsholt (Sp)
• 2007-2015: Liv Grinde (Ap)
• 2015-2017: Knut Olav Omholt (Ap)

See also

• List of former municipalities of Norway

References

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. Berulfsen, Bjarne (1969). Norsk Uttaleordbok (in Norwegian). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co (W Nygaard). p. 194.
5. Thorsnæs, Geir; Lundbo, Sten, eds. (1 July 2022). "Lardal". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
6. Larsen, Erlend (2011). På Tur i Vestfold del 2 (in Norwegian). E-forlag. p. 172. ISBN 9788293057222.
7. Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
8. "Vedtak om sammenslåing av Lardal og Larvik kommuner, Vestfold fylke. Iverksetting og unntak fra kommuneloven, valgloven og enkelte særlover". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 2 May 2016.
9. Rygh, Oluf (1907). Norske gaardnavne: Jarlsberg og Larviks amt (in Norwegian) (6 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 367–368.
10. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
11. "Lardal, Vestfold (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
12. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 17 July 1992. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
13. "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
14. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
15. "Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Vestfold". Valg Direktoratet.
16. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
17. "Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Vestfold". Valg Direktoratet.
18. "Kommunestyrevalget 1999" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 2000. ISBN 8253748531. ISSN 0332-8023.
19. "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. ISBN 8253743351. ISSN 0332-8023.
20. "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. ISBN 8253737939. ISSN 0332-8023.
21. "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. ISBN 8253726325. ISSN 0332-8023.
22. "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. ISBN 8253720378. ISSN 0332-8023.
23. "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. ISBN 8253710836. ISSN 0332-8023.
24. "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. ISBN 8253705646.
25. "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. ISBN 8253701144.
26. "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967.
27. "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964.
28. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960.
29. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norge: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957.
30. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952.
31. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948.
32. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947.
33. "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938.
34. Wasberg, Gunnar Christie (1978). Lardal bygdebok (in Norwegian). Vol. 1. Larvik: Lardal kommune. ISBN 8299007046.

External links

• Media related to Lardal at Wikimedia Commons
• The dictionary definition of Lardal at Wiktionary
• Vestfold travel guide from Wikivoyage