Lenvik

Infobox_Kommune
name=Lenvik
county=Troms
idnumber=1931
landscape=
capital=Finnsnes
governor=Martin Ness (Ap)
governor_as_of=2008
arearank=125
area=893
arealand=849
areapercent=0.28
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=93
population=11,107
populationpercent=0.24
populationdensity=13
populationincrease=2.5
language=Neutral
lat_deg=69| lat_min=23| lat_sec=1| lon_deg=17| lon_min=58| lon_sec=3
utm_zone=33W| utm_northing=7699984 |utm_easting=0616578| geo_cat=adm2nd

munwebpage=www.lenvik.kommune.no

Lenvik is a municipality in the county of Troms, Norway.

Lenvik was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Målselv (1849) and Hillesøy (1855). (The northern part of Senja - belonging to Hillesøy - was, however, again merged with Lenvik January 1, 1964.)

The municipality is partly situated on the mainland, partly on the island of Senja. The municipal centre is at Finnsnes, where the Gisund Bridge connects Senja to the mainland by road. Other settlements include Gibostad, Botnhamn and Finnfjordbotn.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Lenvik (Norse "Lengjuvík"), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the rivername "Lengja", the last element is "vík" f 'inlet'. The rivername is derived from the word "langr" 'long'.

In the period 1889-1908 the name was written "Lenviken".

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times (1986). It shows three oars.

(See also the coat of arms of Fedje and Herøy.)

History

The first church was built around 1150, and for a century, this was the northernmost church in the world. The religious centre was at Bjorelvnes. Important local centres in the past include Klauva and Gibostad. However, in the 20th century Finnsnes took over as the centre, and has recently been declared a city.