Frei

Infobox_Kommune
name=Frei
idnumber=1556
county=Møre og Romsdal
landscape=Nordmøre
capital=
governor=
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=
area=65
arealand=64
areapercent=0.02
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=
population=5,274
populationpercent=0.12
populationdensity=83
populationincrease=6.2
demonym=Freiøying
language=Neutral
lat_deg=63| lat_min=3| lat_sec=45| lon_deg=7| lon_min=48| lon_sec=11
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6993129 |utm_easting=0439509| geo_cat=adm2nd




munwebpage=www.frei.kommune.no

Frei is a former municipality in the county of Møre og Romsdal, Norway.

The municipality was established January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt) and was merged with Kristiansund January 1, 2008.

Frei is also the name of the main island of the former municipality with an area of 62.5 km².

Name

The municipality was named after the island of Frei (Old Norse "Freiðr"). The meaning of the name is unknown (maybe derived from "fríðr" 'good, beautiful'). Until 1889, the name was written "Fredø".

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987, designed by local architect and painter Nils Fiske). It shows two crowns - to represent the kings Haakon I of Norway and Haakon VII of Norway. (The Battle of Rastarkalv took place in the municiaplity in 955 - and Haakon VII visited the municipality and commemorated the battle in 1955.)

History

The Viking-era Battle of Rastarkalv, between Haakon I of Norway and the sons of Eric I of Norway, took place here in 955 AD.

Frei was merged into Kristiansund on January 1, 2008. The new municipality's name, as well as its administrative center, is Kristiansund.

Frei's largest and central community is Rensvik, but the municipality administration and health services are located near Omsundet.