Trondenes
Encyclopedia
Trondenes is a parish and a former municipality
in Troms
county
in Norway
. It is located along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad
. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya
and part of the island of Hinnøya
as well as some smaller islands. Located just north of the town of Harstad, Trondenes church
is the northernmost medieval stone church in Norway. The Trondenes Historical Center
was built in 1997 near the church to teach about the history of the area. Trondenes Fort
is located on the Trondenes peninsula.
) was named after the old Trondenes farm (Norse Þróndarnes), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive of þróndr m 'hog
', the last element is nes n 'headland
'. The shape of the headland was probably compared with the snout
of a hog. (See also > Tronfjell
.)
). The town of Harstad
was separated from Trondenes on 1 January 1904 to become a separate municipality. This left Trondenes with 7,775 inhabitants. On 1 January 1912, part of Trondenes (population: 291) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Evenes
(in Nordland
county). The districts of Sandtorg
and Skånland
were separated from Trondenes on 1 July 1926 to become independent municipalities, leaving 3,429 inhabitants in the remaining areas of Trondenes. On 25 October 1956, a small border adjustment was made between Trondenes and Kvæfjord
. This resulted in 32 inhabitants becoming residents of Trondenes. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Trondenes and Sandtorg were merged together with the town of Harstad to form a new, larger municipality of Harstad. Prior to the merger, Trondenes had a population of 6,567.
Former municipalities of Norway
This is a list of former municipalities of Norway, i.e. municipalities that no longer exist.When the local council system was introduced in Norway in 1837-38, the country had 392 municipalities. In 1958 the number had grown to a total of 744 rural municipalities, 64 city municipalities as well as a...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
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...
in 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 along the Vågsfjorden in the present-day municipality of Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
. Trondenes includes the majority of the island of Grytøya
Grytøya
Grytøya is an island situated just north of Hinnøya and south of Bjarkøya in Northern Norway. It belongs to the municipalities of Harstad and Bjarkøy in Troms county, Norway. It is surrounded by the Vågsfjorden and the Andsfjorden. The island has an area of , and the highest peak is Nona at ...
and part of the island of Hinnøya
Hinnøya
-Geography and environment:Covering an area of , it is the fourth-largest island in the country, and the largest off the mainland. The western part of the island is in the Vesterålen district, while the southwestern part is in Lofoten. As of 2006, it had a population of 31,851, of which the only...
as well as some smaller islands. Located just north of the town of Harstad, Trondenes church
Trondenes Church
Trondenes Church is the northernmost Medieval stone church of Norway, situated in Harstad. Though frequently mentioned as a 13th century church, dating based on dendrochronology places its completion shortly after 1434. Compared to the other ten north Norwegian Medieval stone churches, Trondenes...
is the northernmost medieval stone church in Norway. The Trondenes Historical Center
Trondenes Historical Center
Trondenes Historical Center is a museum located in the town of Harstad, in Troms county, Norway.The museum covers the history of Trondenes and the surrounding areas. The museum displaying more than 2,000 years of history in the region, which was once a Viking Era power centre...
was built in 1997 near the church to teach about the history of the area. Trondenes Fort
Trondenes Fort
Trondenes Fort is a fort situated on Trondenes peninsula near Harstad in the Norwegian county of Troms.It has been the main base for the Norwegian Coastal Ranger Command since 2002. The fort was built in 1943 by the Nazis occupying Norway during World War II as a part of the Atlantic Wall.It was...
is located on the Trondenes peninsula.
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...
) was named after the old Trondenes farm (Norse Þróndarnes), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive of þróndr m 'hog
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
', the last element is nes n '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...
'. The shape of the headland was probably compared with the snout
Snout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
of a hog. (See also > Tronfjell
Tronfjell
Tronfjellet or just Tron is a prominent mountain close to Alvdal, Hedmark, Norway. It lies on the border to Tynset...
.)
History
The parish of Trondenes was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
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...
). The town of Harstad
Harstad
is the second largest city and municipality by population, in Troms county, Norway – the city is also the third largest in North Norway. Thus Harstad is the natural centre for its district. Situated approximately north of the Arctic Circle, the city celebrated its 100th anniversary in...
was separated from Trondenes on 1 January 1904 to become a separate municipality. This left Trondenes with 7,775 inhabitants. On 1 January 1912, part of Trondenes (population: 291) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Evenes
Evenes
Evenes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Ofoten region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bogen.The old municipality of Ofoten was split into Evenes and Ankenes on 1 January 1884...
(in Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county). The districts of Sandtorg
Sandtorg
Sandtorg is a village and a former municipality in Troms county in Norway. It is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Harstad.A large feature of Sandtorg is also the mountain Sætertind, which is high and located at...
and Skånland
Skånland
Skånland is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Evenskjer.- General information :...
were separated from Trondenes on 1 July 1926 to become independent municipalities, leaving 3,429 inhabitants in the remaining areas of Trondenes. On 25 October 1956, a small border adjustment was made between Trondenes and Kvæfjord
Kvæfjord
Kvæfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. It is part of the Hålogaland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Borkenes....
. This resulted in 32 inhabitants becoming residents of Trondenes. On 1 January 1964, the municipalities of Trondenes and Sandtorg were merged together with the town of Harstad to form a new, larger municipality of Harstad. Prior to the merger, Trondenes had a population of 6,567.