Førde

Infobox_Kommune
name = Førde

---

idnumber = 1432
county = Sogn og Fjordane
landscape = Sunnfjord
capital = Førde
demonym = Førdianar
language = Nynorsk


munwebpage = www.forde.kommune.no
governor = Nils Asbjørn Gjerland (Sp)
governor_as_of = 2003
arearank = 186
area = 586
arealand = 553
areapercent = 0.18
population_as_of = 2007
populationrank = 80
population = 11,650
populationpercent = 0.24
populationdensity = 20
populationincrease = 19.2
lat_deg = 61 | lat_min = 26 | lat_sec = 35 | lon_deg = 5 | lon_min = 54 | lon_sec = 13
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6816078 | utm_easting = 0334920 | geo_cat = adm2nd

Førde is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative center is the town of Førde which in 2007 had 8,942 inhabitants. [cite web|title=Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality.|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/beftett_en/arkiv/tab-2007-06-07-01-en.html|date=1 January 2007|accessdaymonth=11 August|accessyear=2008|publisher=Statistics Norway]

Førde Airport, Bringeland is the regional airport (16 kilometres from the town centre) and flights connect Oslo and Bergen with Førde. The largest hospital in Sogn og Fjordane county is located here. The annual international Førde Folk Music Festival is held each summer. The local newspaper is called "Firda".

General information

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the "Førde" farm (Old Norse "Fjörðr" nominative and "Firði" dative) since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word "fjörðr" which means fjord (referring to the fjord now called Førdefjorden).

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1990). It shows three plowshares.

Background

Førde was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The original municipality was identical to the Førde parish "(prestegjeld)" with the sub-parishes "(sokn)" of Førde, Holsen, and Naustdal.cite web|url=http://www.sf-f.kommune.no/sff/emigration3.nsf/enduser?readform|title=Some historical data on the 26 Kommunes|date=9 Feb 2005|last=Natvik|first=Oddvar]

On 1 January 1896, the sub-parish of Naustdal (population: 2,543) was separated from Førde and it became a municipality of its own. This left Førde with 2,903 residents.cite web|first=Dag|last=Jukvam|publisher=Statistics Norway|title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen|date=1999|url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf no icon]

On 1 January 1964, the areas of Naustdal south of the Førdefjorden (population: 265) were transferred to Førde.

Churches

The Church of Norway has three churches within the municipality of Førde. It is part of the Diocese of Bjørgvin and the Rural Deanery "(Prosti)" of Sunnfjord.

Government

All municipalities in Norway, including Førde, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.

Municipal council

The municipal council "(Kommunestyre)" of Førde is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to every four years. For 2007–2011, the party breakdown is as follows: [cite web|publisher=Statistics Norway|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/01/20/kommvalgform_en/tab-2008-01-29-15-en.html|title=Members of the local councils|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008|date=2007] Infobox_Kommunestyre
name = Førde
start = 2007
end = 2011
Total = 27
Arbeiderpartiet = 7
Fremskrittspartiet = 2
Høyre = 5
Kristelig_Folkeparti = 2
Senterpartiet = 6
Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
Venstre = 2
Rødt =
Local_Lists = |

Mayor

The mayor "(ordførar)" of a municipality in Norway is a representative of the majority party of the municipal council who is elected to lead the council. Nils Asbjørn Gjerland of the Centre Party "(Senterpartiet)" was re-elected mayor for the 2007-2011 term. [cite web|publisher=Førde Kommune|title=Ordførar|url=http://www.forde.kommune.no|accessdaymonth=6 August|accessyear=2008 no icon]

Attractions

Waterfalls

*"Huldefossen": Located approximately 10 km from the town of Førde, it is a 90 meter waterfall into the peaceful valley below.
*"Halbrendsfossen": located a short walk from the Førde town center. It is a very powerful waterfall in the spring.

The Salmon

The Salmon is a 65 meter long stone sculpture which is Norway´s longest individual sculpture. It was created by Jørn Rønnau. It blends naturally in with the green surroundings on the banks of the river Jølstra, close to the Førdehouse.

Førdehuset

Førdehuset is a regional cultural centre, a cornerstone for cultural life in Western Norway. The centre is centrally located in the town of Førde, surrounded by a sports complex, amphitheatre, and is next door to the County Gallery. A multitude of cultural activities are gathered together under one roof - small and large attractions/events the whole year round.

National Tourist Road

Riksvei 13 (Rv13) is one of 18 national tourist roads in Norway because of the nearby waterfalls. From Førde, drivers start on a sightseeing journey with cultural attractions that date from the 19th century to the present day’s city environment. The districts of Holsen and Haukedalen are typical of Western Norwegian farming communities that have created a picturesque cultivated landscape.

Rørvik Mountain, the trail with the fascinating stone walls and a marvellous view over Haukedalen. Along Råheimsdalen and Eldalen to the Gaularfjell mountains, you will see a marvellous waterfall landscape that has been landscaped with paths for visitors. From the top of Gaularfjell mountains, hairpin bends wind down to the Vetlefjorden, an arm of the Sognefjord. The breathtaking contrasts of steep mountainsides, winding roads, and waterfalls are characteristic of Western Norway’s exceptional scenery.

unnfjord Museum

The museum is one of 4 district museums in Sogn og Fjordane County. The main courtyard of the outdoor museum, is a cluster of 25 restored antiquarian buildings sited in a cultural landscape representative of the same period. These buildings provide an insight into life and lifestyles in the Sunnfjord districts around the middle of the 19th century. The land tenant’s home is on its original site with the interior as it was then at the turn of the last century. In June, July and August, there are daily guided tours through the old buildings.cite web|url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/sogn%20and%20fjordane/førde/7637a9c257ef420/index.html|title=Førde Municipality in Norway|publisher=GoNorway.no|accessdaymonth=11 August|accessyear=2008]

ister City

flagicon|USA: Kent, Washington, United States. Each year two students ages 14-17 are exchanged between the two cities to be youth ambassadors of their country.

References

External links

* [http://www.nrk.no/sfj/leksikon/1121203.html NRK Municipality encyclopedia] no icon
* [http://www.fordefestival.no Førde Folk Music Festival] no icon
* [http://www.firda.no Firda (local newspaper)] no icon