Hordaland

Overview

Hordaland was a county in Norway. It was known for its beautiful landscapes and rich history. It bordered several other counties, including Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland.

Main City

The main city and government center of Hordaland was Bergen. Bergen is famous for its old wooden houses and lively culture. Before 1972, Bergen had a special status as a separate county.

County Change

In 2020, Hordaland joined with Sogn og Fjordane to create a new county called Vestland. This change brought together two beautiful areas into one.

Name and symbols

Hordaland is an old name for a region in Norway that started being used again in 1919. The word "Hordaland" means "land" or "region," but no one knows for sure why it is called that! Before 1919, the area was called Søndre Bergenhus amt. This means the southern part of an older region called Bergenhus amt.

Hordaland’s flag and coat of arms show two golden axes crossed with a golden crown on a red background. These symbols come from an old seal used by people from Sunnhordland in 1344. They became the county’s symbols in 1961. They represent Saint Olav, an important king of Norway whose symbol is an axe.

History

Hordaland county had been around for more than one thousand years. In the 7th century, the area was made up of many petty kingdoms under the Gulating and was known as Hordafylke from around the year 900.

In the early 16th century, Norway was divided into four len. The Bergenhus len was headquartered in Bergen and included much of western and northern Norway.

In 1662, the lens were replaced by amts. Bergenhus amt originally included the areas of Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Sunnmøre and the far northern Nordlandene amt was under Bergenhus. In the 1680s, Nordlandene and Sunnmøre were split from Bergenhus. In 1763, the amt was divided into northern and southern parts: Nordre Bergenhus amt and Søndre Bergenhus amt. When the amt was split, the present-day Gulen Municipality was divided, with the southern part in Søndre Bergenhus amt. In 1773, the border was changed so that all of Gulen was in the northern part. Søndre Bergenhus amt was renamed Hordaland fylke in 1919.

The city of Bergen was a city-county (byamt) from 1831 to 1972. In 1972, the nearby municipalities of Arna, Fana, Laksevåg and Åsane joined Bergen, making the city larger. At the same time, Bergen lost its county status and became part of Hordaland county.

Government

A county is an important local area in Norway, and the country has 19 of them. In Hordaland, the local government was run by the Hordaland County Municipality. This group had 57 members who were chosen by votes to make decisions for the county. They were led by a county mayor, and the last one was Anne Gine Hestetun.

There was also a County Governor who represented the King and the Government of Norway. The last person in this role was Lars Sponheim. The county was divided into four district courts to handle local legal matters, and Hordaland was part of the Gulating Court of Appeal in Bergen.

Geography

Hordaland was shaped like a half-circle and sat along the western coast of Norway. A long, deep fjord named the Hardangerfjorden cut through it. This made it a popular spot for visitors. The area had parts of the Hardangervidda National park, beautiful waterfalls like Vøringsfossen, and glaciers such as Folgefonna and Hardangerjøkulen.

Most people lived in and around Bergen Municipality, with other smaller towns including Leirvik, Vossavangen, and Odda.

Municipalities

Hordaland had many towns and smaller areas. Each area had its own local government called a municipality. These municipalities helped take care of the county and provided services to the people who lived there. One of the bigger towns was Bergen. It was an important place for the whole county.

Districts

Hordaland had several districts, each with its own special culture and traditions. The main districts were Voss, known for its beautiful mountains and outdoor fun, and Hardanger, famous for its tasty fruit and amazing fjords. These districts made the county rich and interesting.

Cities

Main article: list of towns and cities in Norway

Hordaland had several important towns and cities. The largest was Bergen. It was the main city for the whole area. Other notable places included Leirvik, Stord, Kopervik, Odda, Os, Voss, Førde, Måløy, Sandviken, Ålesund, and Florø. These cities were important for trade, culture, and daily life for people in Hordaland.

Parishes

The area that was once Hordaland county in Norway included many local communities, known as parishes. These parishes helped organize local life. Each parish had its own church and brought people together for celebrations.

The county had many towns and villages, with Bergen being the largest city and an important center for the region. People there enjoyed beautiful landscapes and a rich history.

Main article: List of former parishes in Hordaland county

Villages

Main article: list of villages in Hordaland

Hordaland had many small towns and villages. These places were important to families and communities. Some well-known villages were Norheimsund, Os, and Tysse. Each village had its own charm and history, making Hordaland a special place to live and visit.

Former municipalities

Hordaland was a county in Norway. It shared borders with Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland. It was the third most populated county in Norway, after Akershus and Oslo. The main government office was in the city of Bergen.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway

Twin towns – Sister cities

Hordaland county had friendships with several places around the world, including:

• France Lower Normandy, France
• Lithuania Kaunas, Lithuania
• Wales Cardiff, Wales
• Scotland Orkney Islands, Northern Isles, Scotland

Christmas Tree

Since 1949, Hordaland has given a Christmas tree to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. This tradition began to thank the Scots for helping Norwegians during World War II. Even though the tree now comes from Scotland, it is still a gift from the people of Hordaland.

Notable people

Hordaland was home to many talented people. Ole Bull was a famous composer and violinist. Edvard Grieg was a well-known composer. Nordahl Grieg was a writer. Ludvig Holberg was also a famous writer from this area.

Other notable individuals include C. J. Hambro, a politician, and Leif Andreas Larsen, a military officer. Christian Michelsen and Johan Sebastian Welhaven were also important writers and politicians from Hordaland. Today, musicians like Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll and Alan Olav Walker come from this region.