Birkenes
Encyclopedia
Birkenes is a municipality in Aust-Agder
county
, Norway
. It is located in the traditional district
of Sørlandet. The village of Birkeland is the administrative center and about half of the municipality's residents live there. Birkeland is 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from Kristiansand
and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Lillesand
.
The municipality borders Kristiansand and Vennesla
municipalities in Vest-Agder
county and Iveland
, Evje og Hornnes
, Froland
, Grimstad
, and Lillesand municipalities in Aust-Adger.
) is named after the old Birkenes farm (Old Norse
Birkines), since the first church was built there. The first element is birki which means "birch
wood" and the last element is nes which means "headland
".
is from modern times. They were granted on 5 December 1986. The arms are a canting
of bjørk or birch. The green color symbolizes agriculture
in the municipality. The three leaves symbolize the three villages in the municipality: Birkenes, Herefoss, and Vegusdal.
(See also coat-of-arms of Bjerkreim
and Lavangen
)
had to be divided into two formannskapsdistrikt
s on 1 January 1838 because the main part of Tveit belonged to the county of Vest-Agder
and the annex of Birkenæs belonged to the county of Aust-Agder. On 1 January 1883, an uninhabited part of Birkenes was transferred to the control of neighboring Landvik municipality.
Starting in the 1960s, Norway enacted many municipal reforms such as mergers and border adjustments, and on 1 January 1967, the neighboring municipalities of Herefoss
(population: 585) and Vegusdal
(population: 582) were merged into the municipality of Birkenes. The new municipality had a population of 3,050.
On 1 January 1970, two uninhabited areas of Neset and Råbudal in Froland (formerly in the municipality of Mykland
until 1967) were transferred to Birkenes. On 1 January 1979, the uninhabited area of Landheia in Froland was transferred to the control of Birkenes. Later, on 1 January 1986, the Lislevand farm area (population: 8) was transferred from Birkenes to the neighboring municipality of Evje og Hornnes. Then on 1 January 1991, the Dalen area of Birkenes (population: 60) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Froland.
, Nystølfjorden
, Ogge
, and Uldalsåna
.
are important sources of employment, but the municipality also has small industry with about 400 different work sites. The largest enterprise is Owens Corning
with approximately 180 employees. Other larger businesses include Uldal Vinduer og Dører, Foss Bad, Scanflex, KOAB Industrier, and Birkeland Trykkeri.
The Sørlandsbanen provides rail service at Herefoss station.
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is located in the traditional district
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Sørlandet. The village of Birkeland is the administrative center and about half of the municipality's residents live there. Birkeland is 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from Kristiansand
Kristiansand
-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Lillesand
Lillesand
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Lillesand.-General information:...
.
The municipality borders Kristiansand and Vennesla
Vennesla
Vennesla is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Vennesla was separated from Øvrebø in 1861. Øvrebø and Hægeland were merged with Vennesla again on 1 January 1964...
municipalities in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
county and Iveland
Iveland
Iveland is a village and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Birketveit.-General information:...
, Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes
Evje og Hornnes is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional region of Setesdal. Evje og Hornnes was created as a new municipality on 1 January 1960 after the merger of the two older municipalities of Evje and Hornnes....
, Froland
Froland
Froland is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Blakstad, which along with Osedalen form the main population center of the municipality....
, Grimstad
Grimstad
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Grimstad. Other notable places in Grimstad include Eide, Fevik, Fjære, Landvik, Prestegårdskogen, Reddal, and Roresanden.It is...
, and Lillesand municipalities in Aust-Adger.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the old Birkenes farm (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
Birkines), since the first church was built there. The first element is birki which means "birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
wood" and the last element is nes which means "headland
Headland
A headland is a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends out into a body of water.Headland can also refer to:*Headlands and bays*headLand, an Australian television series...
".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 5 December 1986. The arms are a canting
Canting arms
Canting arms are heraldic bearings that represent the bearer's name in a visual pun or rebus. The term cant came into the English language from Anglo-Norman cant, meaning song or singing, from Latin cantāre, and English cognates include canticle, chant, accent, incantation and recant.Canting arms –...
of bjørk or birch. The green color symbolizes agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the municipality. The three leaves symbolize the three villages in the municipality: Birkenes, Herefoss, and Vegusdal.
(See also coat-of-arms of Bjerkreim
Bjerkreim
Bjerkreim is a municipality in the Rogaland county, Norway. The parish of Birkrem was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 ....
and Lavangen
Lavangen
Lavangen is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tennevoll. The municipality is situated around the area of the river Spansdalelva og Lavangen fjord...
)
History
The historic parish of TveitTveit
Tveit is a village and a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Kristiansand. Tveit is home to Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik. Tveit is located on the east side of the Tovdalselva river...
had to be divided into two formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
s on 1 January 1838 because the main part of Tveit belonged to the county of Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
and the annex of Birkenæs belonged to the county of Aust-Agder. On 1 January 1883, an uninhabited part of Birkenes was transferred to the control of neighboring Landvik municipality.
Starting in the 1960s, Norway enacted many municipal reforms such as mergers and border adjustments, and on 1 January 1967, the neighboring municipalities of Herefoss
Herefoss
Herefoss is a village and former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Birkenes in the Sørlandet region....
(population: 585) and Vegusdal
Vegusdal
Vegusdal is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located within the present-day municipality of Birkenes in the Sørlandet region. Norwegian national road 405 runs from Vegusdal to Mosby.-Name:...
(population: 582) were merged into the municipality of Birkenes. The new municipality had a population of 3,050.
On 1 January 1970, two uninhabited areas of Neset and Råbudal in Froland (formerly in the municipality of Mykland
Mykland (village)
Mykland is a village and former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently part of the municipality of Froland in the traditional region of Sørlandet.-Name:...
until 1967) were transferred to Birkenes. On 1 January 1979, the uninhabited area of Landheia in Froland was transferred to the control of Birkenes. Later, on 1 January 1986, the Lislevand farm area (population: 8) was transferred from Birkenes to the neighboring municipality of Evje og Hornnes. Then on 1 January 1991, the Dalen area of Birkenes (population: 60) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Froland.
Geography
Birkenes is home to many lakes, including HerefossfjordenHerefossfjorden
Herefossfjorden is a lake in the municipality of Birkenes in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Tovdalselva river. The Gauslåfjorden and Uldalsåna lakes flow into Herefossfjorden near the village of Herefoss. The Uldalsåna lake is held back by a dam and the Gauslåfjorden flows over a...
, Nystølfjorden
Nystølfjorden
Nystølfjorden is a lake in the municipalities of Birkenes and Froland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Tovdalselva river drainage basin. It flows into the Vågsdalsfjorden and eventually the Uldalsåna before emptying into the Tovdalselva river....
, Ogge
Ogge
Ogge is a lake in the municipalities of Birkenes and Iveland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located about north of Kristiansand and has about 360 islands and reefs. The overall length of the lake is approximately . The Sørland Line runs along the west side of the lake.-Recreation:Ogge is a...
, and Uldalsåna
Uldalsåna
Uldalsåna is a lake in the municipalities of Birkenes and Froland in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the Tovdalselva river drainage basin. On the southeastern end of the lake, there is a hydroelectric dam which releases water into the waterfall, Hanefoss, on its way down to the...
.
Economy
Agriculture and timberingLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
are important sources of employment, but the municipality also has small industry with about 400 different work sites. The largest enterprise is Owens Corning
Owens Corning
Owens Corning Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of fiberglass and related products. It was formed in 1935 as a partnership between two major American glassworks, Corning Glass Works and Owens-Illinois. The company was spun off as a separate entity on November 1, 1938...
with approximately 180 employees. Other larger businesses include Uldal Vinduer og Dører, Foss Bad, Scanflex, KOAB Industrier, and Birkeland Trykkeri.
The Sørlandsbanen provides rail service at Herefoss station.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- Welcome to Birkenes - Tourist information
- Kultur i Birkenes på kart from Kulturnett.no
- Website about Birkenes
- Map of Birkenes