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Meråker Municipality

Coordinates: 63°26′17″N 11°50′58″E / 63.43806°N 11.84944°E / 63.43806; 11.84944
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Meråker Municipality
Meråker kommune
Municipality
Meraaker herred  (historic name)
Meraker herred  (historic name)
View of the Meråker valley
View of the Meråker valley
Flag of Meråker Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms of Meråker Municipality
Coat of arms
Trøndelag within Norway
Trøndelag within Norway
Meråker within Trøndelag
Meråker within Trøndelag
Coordinates: 63°26′17″N 11°50′58″E / 63.43806°N 11.84944°E / 63.43806; 11.84944
CountryNorway
CountyTrøndelag
DistrictStjørdalen
Established1 Jan 1874
 • Preceded byØvre Stjørdalen Municipality
Administrative centreMidtbygda
Government
 • Mayor (2023)Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)
Area
 • Total
1,273.94 km2 (491.87 sq mi)
 • Land1,188.06 km2 (458.71 sq mi)
 • Water85.88 km2 (33.16 sq mi)  6.7%
 • Rank#80 in Norway
Highest elevation
[1]
1,441.36 m (4,728.87 ft)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
2,454
 • Rank#259 in Norway
 • Density1.9/km2 (5/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
Decrease −3.9%
DemonymMeråkerbygg[2]
Official language
[3]
 • Norwegian formBokmål
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-5034[4]
WebsiteOfficial website
Data from Statistics Norway

Meråker is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Stjørdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Midtbygda which is about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Storlien in Sweden and 46 kilometres (29 mi) east of the town of Stjørdalshalsen in neighboring Stjørdal Municipality. Other villages in the municipality include Gudåa, Kopperå, and Stordalsvollen.

The 1,274-square-kilometre (492 sq mi) municipality is the 80th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Meråker is the 259th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,454. The municipality's population density is 1.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (4.9/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 3.9% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]

The municipality markets itself as a recreational area. The main areas of employment are in industry and agriculture. The municipality is noted for its characteristic dialect.

General information

[edit]

The municipality of Meråker was established on 1 January 1874 when the old Øvre Stjørdalen Municipality was divided into two: Hegra Municipality (population: 3,409) in the east and Meråker Municipality (population: 1,861) in the west. The municipal borders have not changed since then.[7] On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Nord-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county.

Name

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The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Meråker farm (spelled "Mørakre" around 1430) since the first Meråker Church was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain (maybe merr which means "mare" or mýrr which means "bog" or "marsh"). The last element is akr which means "field" or "acre".[8] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Meraker. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Meraaker.[9] On 21 December 1917, a royal resolution enacted the 1917 Norwegian language reforms. Prior to this change, the name was spelled Meraaker with the digraph "aa", and after this reform, the name was spelled Meråker, using the letter å was instead.[10][11]

Coat of arms

[edit]

The coat of arms was granted on 28 September 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, a cart argent" (Norwegian: I rødt en sølv vogn). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a mining cart. The mining cart has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This design was chosen to symbolize the fact that mining has traditionally played a major role in the area and has been of great economic importance for Meråker. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[12][13][14]

See also: Coat of arms of Evje og Hornnes

Churches

[edit]

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Meråker Municipality. It is part of the Stjørdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros.

Churches in Meråker
Parish (sokn) Church name Location of the church Year built
Meråker Meråker Church Midtbygda 1874
Kopperå Chapel Kopperå 1936
Stordalen Chapel Stordalsvollen 1863

History

[edit]

Meråker Smelter

[edit]

In 1898, a carbide factory was opened at Kopperå, later this factor was rebuilt as a silicon smelter. The smelter was in operation until June 2006. Its main product was microsilica which is used as an additive to cement.

Geography

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Meråker is a landlocked municipality in the central part of Trøndelag county. To the north is Verdal Municipality, to the west is Stjørdal Municipality, to the south is Selbu Municipality and Tydal Municipality, and to the east is Åre Municipality in Sweden.

There are three major lakes in Meråker: Feren, Fjergen, and Funnsjøen. The river Stjørdalselva runs through the municipality towards the Trondheimsfjord. The river Rotla begins in the southern part of Meråker. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,441.36-metre (4,728.9 ft) tall mountain Fongen, a tripoint on the border of Meråker Municipality, Selbu Municipality, and Tydal Municipality.[1]

Government

[edit]

Meråker Municipality is 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 is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.[15] The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

[edit]

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Meråker is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Meråker kommunestyre 2023–2027 [16]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 4
  Red Party (Rødt) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 5
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)		6
Total number of members:17
Meråker kommunestyre 2019–2023 [17]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 5
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 7
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)		5
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 2015–2019 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 6
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)		6
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 2011–2015 [19]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 7
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
 Meråker Cross-Party Local List
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)		3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 2007–2011 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker cross-party local list
 (Meråker tverrpolitiske bygdeliste)		2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 2003–2007 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Meråker Cross-party Local List
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske Bygdeliste)		2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1999–2003 [18]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 4
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 1
 Meråker Cross-party local list
 (Meråker Tverrpolitisk bygdeliste)		4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1995–1999 [20]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 10
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
 Meråker Cross-party local list
 (Meråker Tverrpolitiske bygdeliste)		4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1991–1995 [21]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1987–1991 [22]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 5
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1983–1987 [23]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 2
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1979–1983 [24]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 6
  Joint list of the New People's Party and independent voters
(Det Nye Folkepartiet og uavhengige velgere)		 1
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) 1
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1975–1979 [25]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
  Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1971–1975 [26]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 2
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Local List(s) (Lokale lister) 2
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1967–1971 [27]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Conservative Party (Høyre) 1
  Centre Party (Senterpartiet) 1
  Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) 3
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker kommunestyre 1963–1967 [28]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 15
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 1
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 2
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 1959–1963 [29]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 2
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 1955–1959 [30]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 13
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 3
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:21
Meråker herredsstyre 1951–1955 [31]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 1947–1951 [32]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 5
  Liberal Party (Venstre) 4
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 1945–1947 [33]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 11
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 6
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 3
Total number of members:20
Meråker herredsstyre 1937–1941* [34]  
Party name (in Norwegian) Number of
representatives
  Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) 12
  Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) 4
  Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) 5
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.

Mayors

[edit]

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Meråker is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:[35][36]

  • 1874–1877: Christian Erlandsen
  • 1878–1885: John Johnsen
  • 1886–1887: Iver Lie
  • 1888–1893: Fredrik Rø (V)
  • 1894–1897: O. Hugdahl
  • 1898–1907: Fredrik Rø (V)
  • 1908–1910: Carl Olaf Iversen (H)
  • 1911–1913: Olav Stubban (Ap)
  • 1914–1916: Ole E. Wollan (Ap)
  • 1917–1922: Peder J. Myrmo (Ap)
  • 1923–1925: Arne Bergsaas (Ap)
  • 1926–1937: Kristian Rothaug (Ap)
  • 1938–1939: Joar Eimhjellen (Ap)
  • 1939–1941: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
  • 1942-1942: Arild Solberg (NS)
  • 1943–1945: Alf Hembre (NS)
  • 1945–1966: Alf Karlsen (Ap)
  • 1967–1973: Johnny Stenberg (Ap)
  • 1973-1995: Svein Brækken (Ap)
  • 1995-2015: Bård Langsåvold (Ap)
  • 2015-2019: Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)
  • 2019–2023: Kjersti Kjenes (LL)
  • 2023-present: Kari Anita Furunes (Sp)[37]

Transportation

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The European route E14 highway runs east to west through the municipality connecting to Trondheim Airport, Værnes about 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the west. The Meråker Line railway follows the E14 through the municipality also, with stops at Kopperå Station, Meråker Station, and Gudå Station.

Media

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The newspaper Meråkerposten has been published in Meråker since 1982.[38]

Notable people

[edit]
Bård Langsåvold, 2013

Sport

[edit]
[edit]
  • Meråker, Norway
    Meråker, Norway
  • Meråker smelteverk Kopperå
    Meråker smelteverk Kopperå
  • Elven Kopperåa i Kopperå, Meråker
    Elven Kopperåa i Kopperå, Meråker
  • Grønbergdammen in Meråker
    Grønbergdammen in Meråker

References

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  1. ^ a b "Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune" (in Norwegian). Kartverket. 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  3. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  4. ^ Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (26 January 2023). "Kommunenummer". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget.
  5. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M)" (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Statistisk sentralbyrå. "09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M)" (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  8. ^ Rygh, Oluf (1903). Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt (in Norwegian) (15 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri. p. 2.
  9. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1057–1065. 1917.
  10. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 1000. 1917.
  11. ^ Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister (in Norwegian). Kristiania, Norge: Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri. 1918.
  12. ^ "Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Meråker, Nord-Trøndelag (Norway)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Godkjenning av våpen og flagg". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet. 9 December 1990. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  15. ^ Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Trøndelag Trööndelage". Valgdirektoratet. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  18. ^ a b c d "Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M)" (in Norwegian). Statistics Norway.
  19. ^ "Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nord-Trøndelag". Valg Direktoratet. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1995" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1996. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1991" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1993. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1987" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1988. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1983" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo-Kongsvinger: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1984. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Kommunestyrevalget 1979" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1979. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1975" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1977. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1972" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1973. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1967" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1967. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  28. ^ "Kommunevalgene 1963" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1964. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1960. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1957. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1952. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1948. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1947. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Oslo: Statistisk sentralbyrå. 1938. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  35. ^ Krogstad, Bjørn R. (1987). Bygdebok for Meråker (in Norwegian). Vol. 2. Meråker kommune.
  36. ^ Straume, Kaurin (1973). Meråker kommune 100 år 1874–1974 (in Norwegian). Meråker kommune. p. 7.
  37. ^ "Meråker: Senterpartiet får ordføreren". NRK (in Norwegian). 13 September 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  38. ^ Smith-Meyer, Trond, ed. (1 December 2016). "Meråkerposten". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

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