Hordaland

Hordaland was a county in Norway, known for its beautiful landscapes and rich history. It bordered several other counties, including Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland. Hordaland was the third largest county in Norway by population, after Akershus and Oslo.

The main city and government center of Hordaland was Bergen, a famous place known for its old wooden houses and lively culture. Before 1972, Bergen had its own special status as a separate county. However, 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 was brought back into use in 1919. The word "Hordaland" means "land" or "region," but the first part of the name is a bit of a mystery! Before 1919, the area was called Søndre Bergenhus amt, meaning the southern part of an older region called Bergenhus amt.

Hordaland’s flag and coat of arms both 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 were officially adopted as the county’s symbols in 1961 and represent Saint Olav, a 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 encompassed much of western and northern Norway.

In 1662, the lens were replaced by amts. Bergenhus amt originally consisted of the present-day areas of Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane, and Sunnmøre and the far northern Nordlandene amt was subordinate to 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 split with the southern part ending up in Søndre Bergenhus amt. In 1773, the border was re-drawn so that all of Gulen was located in the northern part. Søndre Bergenhus amt was renamed Hordaland fylke in 1919.

The city of Bergen was classified as a city-county (byamt) from 1831 to 1972. In 1972, the neighbouring municipalities of Arna, Fana, Laksevåg and Åsane were annexed into the city of Bergen, creating a much larger Bergen Municipality. At that same time, the city of Bergen lost its county status, and became a part of Hordaland county.

Government

A county is an important local area in Norway, and the country is divided into 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 from southwest to northeast, making it a popular spot for visitors. The area also 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 was home to many towns and smaller areas, each with its own local government called a municipality. These municipalities worked together to help manage the county and provide services to the people living there. Some of the larger towns included Bergen, which was an important center for the whole county.

Districts

Hordaland was divided into several districts, each with its own unique culture and traditions. The main districts included Voss, which is known for its beautiful mountains and outdoor activities, and Hardanger, famous for its delicious fruit and stunning fjords. These districts helped give the county its rich and varied character.

Cities

Main article: list of towns and cities in Norway

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

Parishes

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

The county was home to many towns and villages, with Bergen being the largest city and an important center for the region. People living there enjoyed beautiful landscapes and a rich history that connected them to the past.

Main article: List of former parishes in Hordaland county

Villages

Main article: list of villages in Hordaland

Hordaland was home to many small towns and villages. These places were important to the lives of families and communities in the area. Some of the well-known villages included 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 that shared borders with several other counties, including Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark, and Rogaland. It was the third most populated county in Norway, after Akershus and Oslo. The main government office for the county was located in the city of Bergen.

International relations

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

Twin towns – Sister cities

Hordaland county was twinned 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 started 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, and Edvard Grieg was a well-known composer. Nordahl Grieg was a writer, and 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 in World War II. 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.