Østre Gausdal Municipality
Østre Gausdal is a former municipality in the old Oppland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1879 until its dissolution in 1962. The area is now part of Gausdal Municipality in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre was the village of Segalstad bru.
Prior to its dissolution in 1962, the municipality was the 352nd largest by area out of the 731 municipalities in Norway. Østre Gausdal Municipality was the 214th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 3,977. The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 1.2% over the previous 10-year period.
The main church for the municipality was Østre Gausdal Church, a brick, Romanesque church built during the period 1250–1300. The church was renovated and enlarged in the 1700s.
General information
In 1879, the large Gausdal Municipality was divided into two separate municipalities: Vestre Gausdal Municipality and Østre Gausdal Municipality. Vestre Gausdal Municipality included the larger, more rural parts of the old municipality and Østre Gausdal Municipality was much smaller and more densely populated and it was located in the southwestern part of the old municipality. The border between the two municipalities was the river Jøra.During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, Vestre Gausdal Municipality and Østre Gausdal Municipality were reunited as Gausdal Municipality once again.
Name
When the large Gausdal Municipality was divided into two new municipalities in 1879, the eastern part was given the prefix which means "eastern". The municipality is named after the Gausdalen valley since the municipality is located in the valley. The first element is named after the river Gausa which flows through the valley. The river name comes from the verb which means to "gush", "burst out", or "stream forcefully". The last element is which means "valley" or "dale".Churches
The Church of Norway had two parishes within Østre Gausdal Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Østre Gausdal prestegjeld and the Sør-Gudbrandsdal prosti in the Diocese of Hamar.| Parish | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Østre Gausdal | Østre Gausdal Church | Prestgarden | 1250 |
| Follebu | Follebu Church | Follebu | 1260 |
Geography
The municipality was located in the Gausdalen valley and east of the Jøra river. Sør-Fron Municipality was to the northwest, Ringebu Municipality was to the north, Øyer Municipality was to the east, Fåberg Municipality was to the south, and Vestre Gausdal Municipality was to the west. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Storhøa, on the border with Sør-Fron Municipality.Government
While it existed, Østre Gausdal Municipality was responsible for primary education, outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.Municipal council
The municipal council of Østre Gausdal Municipality was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.Mayors
The mayor of Østre Gausdal Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:- 1879–1879: John Svendsen Waalen
- 1879–1883: Christian Gundersen Fougner
- 1884–1888: Even Hage
- 1888–1891: Erik Enge
- 1891–1895: Simen Wold
- 1896–1901: Erik Enge
- 1902–1911: Sjur Fedje
- 1912–1913: Johan Ferdinand Bøhmer
- 1913–1919: Kristian Lien
- 1919–1940: Ivar Bjørge
- 1941–1945: Simen Thallaug
- 1945–1945: Ivar Bjørge
- 1946–1961: Reidar Engjom