Gjøvdal is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1908 until its dissolution in 1960. The area is now part of Åmli Municipality in the traditional district of Østre Agder in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Askland where Gjøvdal Church is located.
Prior to its dissolution in 1960, the municipality was the 258th largest by area out of the 743 municipalities in Norway. Gjøvdal Municipality was the 341st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had decreased by 3.3% over the previous 10-year period.
General information Administrative history The municipality of Gjevedal (later spelled "Gjøvdal") was established on 1 January 1908 when the large Aamli Municipality was divided into three: the northern district (population: ) became the new Gjevedal Municipality the western district (population: ) became the new Lille Topdal Municipality (later called "Tovdal Municipality") the eastern district (population: ) continued as a smaller Aamli Municipality
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1960, Gjøvdal Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form an enlarged Åmli Municipality: all of Gjøvdal Municipality (population: ) all of Åmli Municipality (population: )
In 1967, Tovdal Municipality was also merged into Åmli Municipality, recreating the old Åmli Municipality that existed prior to 1908.
Name The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Gjevedal valley (). The first element of the name comes from the name of the river Gjøv () which flows through the valley. That name comes from the verb which means "to give someone something". The last element is which means "valley" or "dale". Thus, "the valley that gives"
Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Gjevedal. On 18 September 1914, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Gjøvdal.
Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Gjøvdal Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Åmli prestegjeld and the Aust-Nedenes prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Gjøvdal MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtGjøvdalGjøvdal ChurchAskland1808
Geography The municipality included the Gjøv river valley and the surrounding moorland. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Trongedalsnuten. Fyresdal Municipality was located to the north (in Telemark county), Nissedal Municipality was located to the northeast (in Telemark county), Åmli Municipality was located to the east, and Tovdal Municipality was located to the south and west.
Government While it existed, Gjøvdal Municipality was 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 was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Nedenes District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Gjøvdal Municipality was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Mayors The mayor () of Gjøvdal Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1908–1910: Halvor Olstad 1911–1913: Eyvind Salvessen 1914–1916: G.G. Askeland 1917–1922: Eyvind Askeland 1923–1925: Nils Jørgenland 1926–1928: Halvor Jørgensen Smeland (Ap) 1929–1933: G.G. Askeland 1933–1940: Halvor Jørgensen Smeland (Ap) 1941–1942: Eyvind Askeland (NS) 1942–1945: Olav E. Omland (NS) 1945–1945: Halvor Jørgensen Smeland (Ap) 1946–1955: Gjermund Flaten (Ap) 1955–1957: Halvor Jørgensen Smeland (Ap) 1957–1959: Gunnar Støylen
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References