Osterøy
Encyclopedia
Osterøy is an island municipality
in the county
of Hordaland
, Norway
. It is located in the traditional district
of Nordhordland
. The administrative centre is located in Lonevåg
in the central part of the island, while the settlement with the largest population is Valestrandfossen
with 1,012 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.
Osterøy municipality covers the majority of the island of the same name
, although the mostly uninhabited north-eastern part is part of Vaksdal
municipality. Osterøy is located just northeast of Bergen
, and is surrounded by the fjords Osterfjorden
and Sørfjorden
. The 19th century musician and composer Ole Bull
had a home on the island at Valestrandfossen
. The Havrå
farm is located on the island.
(population: 2,327), the Bruvikbygda area of Bruvik
(population: 409), part of the municipality of Hosanger
(population: 1,616), and part of the municipality of Hamre
(population: 1,166) were merged to form the new municipality of Osterøy.
form of the name was "Óstr". The last element "øy" which means "island" was added later. The meaning of the name is unknown. It is possible that it comes from the word "óstr" which means "the arch of the neck"--words for parts of the body are common in Norwegian place names.
is at 868 metres above sea level the highest mountain in Osterøy.
, as defined by Statistics Norway
and as of 1 January 2008:
, finished in 1997, provides Osterøy with a permanent road connection to the mainland in Bergen municipality. The bridge has a main span of 595 metres, the third longest suspension bridge
main span in Norway, and a total span of 917 metres.
was granted on 20 December 1985. It shows three broad axes pointing downwards on a field of white, with two axes at the top and one beneath. Broad axes are used in the construction of timber houses, which has long traditions in the municipality. The designer was Egil Korsnes who based his design on the idea of Magnus Hardeland.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in the 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...
of Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, 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 Nordhordland
Nordhordland
Nordhordland is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, consisting of the northern portion of the county of Hordaland. It includes the municipalities Austrheim, Fedje, Lindås, Masfjorden, Meland, Modalen, Osterøy, Radøy and Vaksdal....
. The administrative centre is located in Lonevåg
Lonevåg
Lonevåg is a settlement in the municipality of Osterøy, of which it is the administration centre, Norway. The Lonevåg urban settlement, as defined by Statistics Norway, had a population of 557 on January 1, 2008.-References:...
in the central part of the island, while the settlement with the largest population is Valestrandfossen
Valestrandfossen
Valestrandfossen or Valestrandsfossen is a settlement on the island municipality of Osterøy, Hordaland, Norway.Valestrandfossen is the largest settlement on the island. It is located by the Sørfjorden fjord and is connected by the ferry MF Ole Bull to Åsane in Bergen on the other side of the fjord...
with 1,012 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.
Osterøy municipality covers the majority of the island of the same name
Osterøy (island)
Osterøy is an island situated north-east of Bergen in Hordaland county, Norway. With a total area of 328 km2, it is the largest Norwegian island not located directly adjacent to the ocean, and the second largest such island in Northern Europe. Osterøy is covered by two municipalities; the majority ...
, although the mostly uninhabited north-eastern part is part of Vaksdal
Vaksdal
is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordhordland. The administrative centre is the village of Dalekvam....
municipality. Osterøy is located just northeast of Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and is surrounded by the fjords Osterfjorden
Osterfjorden
Osterfjorden is one of three fjords surrounding the island Osterøy.The fiord runs between Lindås and Osterøy and is 27 km long, 1-3 km wide. The largest depth is 639 m....
and Sørfjorden
Sørfjorden
-Finnmark county:*Sørfjorden , arm of the Mehamnfjorden in Gamvik*Sørfjorden , fjord on Stjernøya island in Hasvik*Sørfjorden , arm of the Mårøfjorden in Lebesby*Sørfjorden , arm of the Nuvsfjorden in Loppa-Hordaland county:...
. The 19th century musician and composer Ole Bull
Ole Bull
Ole Bornemann Bull was a Norwegian violinist and composer.-Background:Bull was born in Bergen. He was the eldest of ten children of Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden . His brother, Georg Andreas Bull became a noted Norwegian architect...
had a home on the island at Valestrandfossen
Valestrandfossen
Valestrandfossen or Valestrandsfossen is a settlement on the island municipality of Osterøy, Hordaland, Norway.Valestrandfossen is the largest settlement on the island. It is located by the Sørfjorden fjord and is connected by the ferry MF Ole Bull to Åsane in Bergen on the other side of the fjord...
. The Havrå
Havrå
Havrå or Havre sometimes Havretunet or Havråtunet is a cluster of farm in Osterøy municipality in Hordaland, Norway. Havrå is one of the very last and best preserved of the common farm clusters on the Western coast of Norway. Havrå was the first cultural environment to be protected under section...
farm is located on the island.
History
Osterøy municipality was created on 1 January 1964. Part of HausHaus, Norway
Haus is a village and a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.The village is located at the south-western costline of the Osterøy island, at the Sørfjorden fiord....
(population: 2,327), the Bruvikbygda area of Bruvik
Bruvik
Not to be confused with Trygve Bruvik or Olav Bruvik.Bruvik is a village and former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The village is located in south-eastern costline of the Osterøy island, at the fjord of Sørfjorden....
(population: 409), part of the municipality of Hosanger
Hosanger
Hosanger is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.-History:The parish of Hosanger was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 ....
(population: 1,616), and part of the municipality of Hamre
Hamre, Osterøy
Hamre is a village and parish in Hordaland county, Norway. The village of Hamre is located near the extreme western point of Osterøy, across the fjord from Knarvik.-History:...
(population: 1,166) were merged to form the new municipality of Osterøy.
Name
The Old NorseOld 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....
form of the name was "Óstr". The last element "øy" which means "island" was added later. The meaning of the name is unknown. It is possible that it comes from the word "óstr" which means "the arch of the neck"--words for parts of the body are common in Norwegian place names.
Geography
HøgafjelletHøgafjellet
Høgafjellet is a mountain on the island and municipality of Osterøy, Hordaland, Norway. Høgafjellet marks the border between Osterøy and Vaksdal municipalities, and is at 868 metres above sea level the highest mountain on the island and in Osterøy municipality....
is at 868 metres above sea level the highest mountain in Osterøy.
Settlements
Osterøy contains four urban settlementsUrban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
, as defined by Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics 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...
and as of 1 January 2008:
- ValestrandfossenValestrandfossenValestrandfossen or Valestrandsfossen is a settlement on the island municipality of Osterøy, Hordaland, Norway.Valestrandfossen is the largest settlement on the island. It is located by the Sørfjorden fjord and is connected by the ferry MF Ole Bull to Åsane in Bergen on the other side of the fjord...
(1,012 inhabitants) - LonevågLonevågLonevåg is a settlement in the municipality of Osterøy, of which it is the administration centre, Norway. The Lonevåg urban settlement, as defined by Statistics Norway, had a population of 557 on January 1, 2008.-References:...
(557 inhabitants) - Hausvik (553 inhabitants)
- FotlandsvågFotlandsvågFotlandsvåg is a settlement in the municipality of Osterøy, Hordaland, Norway, located in the northern part of the municipality. As of January 1, 2008, the Fotlandsvåg urban settlement, as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of 230.-References:...
(230 inhabitants)
Transport
The Osterøy BridgeOsterøy Bridge
Osterøy Bridge connects Kvisti on the island of Osterøy in Hordaland County with the mainland at Herland east from Bergen, Norway.Osterøy Bridge is a suspension bridge and has a main span of 595 meter. The towers are 121.5 meters high. The bridge was completed October 3, 1997 and cost about 308...
, finished in 1997, provides Osterøy with a permanent road connection to the mainland in Bergen municipality. The bridge has a main span of 595 metres, the third longest suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
main span in Norway, and a total span of 917 metres.
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...
was granted on 20 December 1985. It shows three broad axes pointing downwards on a field of white, with two axes at the top and one beneath. Broad axes are used in the construction of timber houses, which has long traditions in the municipality. The designer was Egil Korsnes who based his design on the idea of Magnus Hardeland.
Administration and politics
Since 2007, the mayor of Osterøy has been Kari Foseid Aakre from the Norwegian Labour Party.People from Osterøy
- Tore Eikeland (1990-2011), politician
- Erlend HanstveitErlend HanstveitErlend Hanstveit is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Helsingborgs IF.Hailing from Osterøy, he joined Norwegian Premier League team Brann in June 1998 despite interest from big clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Leeds United and Manchester United, with whom he had a trial in December 1997...
(born 1981), footballer - Mons Ivar MjeldeMons Ivar MjeldeMons Ivar Mjelde is a former footballer and is currently head coach for the Norwegian Tippeliga club Start.- Player :...
(born 1967), footballer and coach - Sylvelin VatleSylvelin VatleSylvelin Vatle Sylvelin Vatle Sylvelin Vatle ((born 4 September 1957 in Osterøy) is a Norwegian novelist and children's writer. She made her literary début in 1991 with the novel Alle kjenner vel presten?, for which she was awarded the Tarjei Vesaas' debutantpris. Among her children's books are...
(born 1957), novelist and children's writer - Tom-Erik "TeXreX" Rolland (born 1991), PRO counter strike player won bylan 2008.