Ramnes Municipality

Ramnes is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 138-square-kilometre (53 sq mi)^[5] municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2002. The area is now part of Tønsberg Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Ramnes (sometimes called Tingvoll). Other villages in Ramnes included Vivestad, Fon, Bergsåsen, and Linnestad.^[6]

Ramnes Municipality Ramnes kommune
Former municipality
Ramnes herred  (historic name)
Historic Ramnes Church
Flag Coat of arms
Vestfold within Norway
Ramnes within Vestfold
Coordinates: 59°20′50″N 10°15′07″E
Country	Norway
County	Vestfold
District	Jarlsberg
Established	1 Jan 1838
• Created as	Formannskapsdistrikt
Disestablished	1 Jan 2002
• Succeeded by	Re Municipality
Administrative centre	Ramnes
Area  (upon dissolution)
• Total	138 km2 (53 sq mi)
Demonym	Ramnessokning[1]
Official language [2]
• Norwegian form	Neutral[3]
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	NO-0718[4]
Data from Statistics Norway

General information

View of the Fon area

View of northern Ramnes

The parish of Ramnes was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 16 July 1873, a royal resolution approved transferring an uninhabited area of Vaale Municipality to the neighboring Ramnes Municipality.^[7] On 1 January 2002, Ramnes Municipality was merged with the neighboring Våle Municipality to form the new Re Municipality.^[8] Re Municipality became part of Tønsberg Municipality on 1 January 2020.^[9]

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ramnes farm (Old Norse: Rafnnes) since the first Ramnes Church was built there. The first element is hrafn which means "raven". The last element is nes which means "headland", which is likely referring to the area between two rivers.^[10]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 30 January 1976. The official blazon is "Argent, a raven passant wings elevated sable" (Norwegian: I sølv en svart ravn). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 charge is a raven passant with its wings elevated. They are canting arms since the name of the municipality is derived from the word "raven". The arms were designed by Sven Sköld. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[11][12][13]

Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Ramnes. It is part of the Nord-Jarlsberg prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.

Churches in Ramnes

Parish (sokn)	Church name	Location of the church	Year built
Fon	Fon Church	Fon	c. 1100
Ramnes	Ramnes Church	Ramnes	c. 1100
Vivestad	Vivestad Church	Vivestad	1914

Government

Ramnes 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 Horten District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Ramnes:

• 1838–1839: Tønnes Taralsen^[15]
• 1840–1843: Georg Taylor Faye^[16]
• 1844–1849: Frederik Ingier^[15]
• 1850–1851: Hans Morten Thrane Esmark^[15]
• 1852–1855: Hans A. Holdt^[15]
• 1856–1863: Hans Moss^[16]
• 1864–1865: Jørgen Forum^[15]
• 1866–1869: Christen Hansen Ramnæs^[15]
• 1870–1877: Ole Larsen Ramnæs^[15]
• 1878–1887: Hans Knudsen Horn^[15]
• 1888–1893: Karl M. Linnestad^[15]
• 1894–1898: Even Flaatten^[15]
• 1899–1913: Øystein Gåsland^[16]
• 1914–1920: Anders H. Teien^[16]
• 1920–1931: Hans Flåtten^[15] (Sp)
• 1932–1934: Lars J. Bjune^[15]
• 1935–1937: Thorvald O. Vivestad^[16]
• 1938–1940: Ole M. Gran^[15] (Sp)
• 1945-1945: Ole M. Gran^[15] (Sp)
• 1946–1947: Asbjørn Sviland^[15] (Sp)
• 1948–1951: Johan Borge^[15] (Sp)
• 1952–1967: Lars Melbostad (Sp)
• 1968–1987: Torstein Håland^[15] (Sp)
• 1988–1993: Eva Lian (Sp)
• 1993–1995: Johan Christian Haugen (Sp)
• 1995–1999: Aasta Kari Holm (Sp)

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ramnes was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Ramnes kommunestyre 1999–2001 ^[17][18]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	3
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1995–1999 ^[19]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	3
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1991–1995 ^[20]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet)	2
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	5
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	2
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1987–1991 ^[21]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	7
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1983–1987 ^[22]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	7
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1979–1983 ^[23]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	8
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	8
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		25

Ramnes kommunestyre 1975–1979 ^[24]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	2
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
	Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti)	1
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes kommunestyre 1971–1975 ^[25]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	3
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	10
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes kommunestyre 1967–1971 ^[26]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	8
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes kommunestyre 1963–1967 ^[27]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes herredsstyre 1959–1963 ^[28]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Centre Party (Senterpartiet)	9
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes herredsstyre 1955–1959 ^[29]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	7
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)	1
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	9
Total number of members:		21

Ramnes herredsstyre 1951–1955 ^[30]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	Conservative Party (Høyre)	4
	Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	9
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	1
Total number of members:		20

Ramnes herredsstyre 1947–1951 ^[31]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	4
	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)	11
	Local List(s) (Lokale lister)	4
Total number of members:		20

Ramnes herredsstyre 1945–1947 ^[32]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	6
	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)	13
Total number of members:		20

Ramnes herredsstyre 1937–1941* ^[33]  

Party name (in Norwegian)		Number of representatives
	Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)	5
	Liberal Party (Venstre)	2
	Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet)	7
	Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister)	6
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.

Geography

The landscape of Ramnes is dominated by the wide valleys of the river Aulielva. Around the village of Ramnes, the valley widens out into a large, cultivated plain known as Ramnessletta. Between the larger and smaller valley which generally run north-south are low, wooded hills. The hills are sparely covered with grass and trees, exposing weathered soil. The valleys are filled with a rich clay that is used for agriculture.^[6]

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. "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1932. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 453–471. 1932.
4. Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
5. Helland, Amund (1915). "Ramnes herred". VII. Jarlsberg og Larvik Amt. Tredje del. Norges land og folk (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norway: H. Aschehoug & Company. p. 393. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
6. Thorsnæs, Geir; Lundbo, Sten; Mæhlum, Lars, eds. (1 January 2024). "Ramnes". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
7. Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
8. "Sammenslåing av kommuner, Ramnes og Våle kommuner, Vestfold". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet. 1 January 2002. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
9. "Forskrift om sammenslåing av Tønsberg kommune og Re kommune til Tønsberg kommune, Vestfold". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges Kommunal- og moderniseringsdepartemente. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
10. Rygh, Oluf (1907). Norske gaardnavne: Jarlsberg og Larviks amt (in Norwegian) (6 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. pp. 129 and 135.
11. "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
12. "Re, Vestfold (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
13. "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 30 January 1976. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
14. Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
15. Ramnes Bygdebok (in Norwegian). Vol. 2–1. Ramnes kommune. 1970. pp. 28–30, 94, 172, 289, 361–362, 401, 445, 483–484, 561, & 663.
16. Ramnes Bygdebok (in Norwegian). Vol. 2–2. Ramnes kommune. 1970. pp. 907, 915, 920–921, 1091.
17. "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
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). Vol. I. 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.