Gjøvik Municipality


Gjøvik is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik. Some of the villages in Gjøvik include Biri, Bybrua, Hunndalen, Snertingdal, and Vardal.
The municipality is the 169th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Gjøvik Municipality is the 35th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 31,175. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 4.2% over the previous 10-year period.
WWW gjovik.kommune.noFB stoltavgjovikIG gjovikkommune

General information

Historically, the village of Gjøvik was part of Vardal Municipality. On 1 January 1861, the village was granted kjøpstad status. At that time, the village was separated from Vardal Municipality to form a separate municipality given its new status as a town. Initially, the new town and municipality of Gjøvik had 626 residents. On 1 July 1921, a part of Vardal Municipality located just outside the town of Gjøvik was annexed into the town. Again, on 1 January 1955, another part of Vardal Municipality was transferred to the town.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the following areas were merged to form a new, larger Gjøvik Municipality with 23,608 residents:
Historically, this municipality was part of the old Oppland county. On 1 January 2020, the municipality became a part of the newly-formed Innlandet county.

Etymology

The municipality is named after the old Gjøvik farm. The first element is which means "deep". The last element is which means "small bay" or "inlet".

Coat of arms

The original coat of arms was granted in 1922 and it was in use until 2 September 1960 when a new coat of arms was put into use. The diagonal division of the shield shows green and white to symbolise the dark forests around the city. The vertical wavy pale symbolises the Hunnselva river that runs into the lake Mjøsa. At the same time the pale also symbolizes a linden tree. The linden tree has yellow leaves over the green background and red leaves over the white background. The arms included the statement Vis et voluntas on the lower part of the shield. The base of the design was meant to look like both water and also a so-called "potpourri" vase, the most significant design of the glassworks factory that was the founding industry of the town. of the old arms.
The current coat of arms was granted on 2 September 1960 to replace an older coat of arms. The official blazon is "Azure, a swan naiant argent". This means the arms have a blue field and the charge is a swimming swan. The swan has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The swan is a symbol for the side-wheel steamer Skiblander, often called the "white swan of Mjøsa", which is usually docked in the town harbor. The arms were designed by Finn Krafft. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway has seven parishes within Gjøvik Municipality. It is part of the Toten prosti in the Diocese of Hamar.
Parish Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BiriBiri ChurchBiri1777
BråstadBråstad ChurchBråstad1963
EngehaugenEngehaugen ChurchGjøvik1994
GjøvikGjøvik ChurchGjøvik1882
HunnHunn ChurchHunndalen1968
SnertingdalNykirkeÅlset in Snertingdalen1872
SnertingdalSeegård ChurchSeegård1997
VardalVardal ChurchØverbygda1803

Gjøvik Church is the main church for the municipality. It was designed by architect Jacob Wilhelm Nordan. The wooden structure was built between 1881 and 1882. Both the church buildings and fixtures are designed in Gothic Revival architecture. The exterior of the church has contrasting colors on wall surfaces and bearing structures. The altarpiece was painted by artist, Asta Nørregaard. The churchyard has a monument dedicated to the memory of Lutheran missionary, Paul Olaf Bodding. The church was restored during 1927, 1960, 2004-2005 and in 2009.

Geography

Along with Hamar, Lillehammer, Brumunddal, and Moelv, Gjøvik is one of the many towns bordering Norway's biggest lake, Mjøsa. The municipality includes the town of Gjøvik plus the suburb area Hunndalen and the rural villages of Biri, Snertingdal, and Vardal.
Gjøvik Municipality is bordered on the north by Lillehammer Municipality, in the south by Østre Toten Municipality and Vestre Toten Municipality, and in the west by Søndre Land Municipality and Nordre Land Municipality. Across Lake Mjøsa to the east lies Ringsaker Municipality.
The highest point in the municipality is the tall mountain Ringsrudåsen, located on the border with Nordre Land Municipality.

Economy

Gjøvik Municipality owes much of its early growth to the local glassworks, which were established there by Caspar Kauffeldt in 1807. In the early 19th century, there was considerable immigration there from Valdres and Western Norway, aiding Gjøvik's growth. The village of Gjøvik was granted kjøpstad status in 1861, making it a town and self-governing municipality. Later, O. Mustad & Son became one of the world's largest manufacturers of fish hooks.
Today dolphitech, Hoff Potetindustrier, Hunton Fiber, and Natre Vinduer are some of the industrial companies operating from Gjøvik. The town is also a port for the former traffic ship, Skibladner, which is now a tourist ship.
The local paper is the Oppland Arbeiderblad. It was formerly a Labour Party newspaper. Defunct newspapers include Oplændingen and Velgeren, Samhold and Ny Dag.
Gjøvik has two notable hotels, the Grand hotel and the Strand hotel.
There have been three notable concerts held in Gjøvik's history, which starred Toto, Robbie Williams and Bryan Adams.

Government

Gjøvik Municipality is 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 is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Vestoppland og Valdres District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council of Gjøvik Municipality is made up of 41 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors

The mayor of Gjøvik Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:
  • 1861–1872: Adolph Martin Lund
  • 1873–1873: Peter Soelberg
  • 1874–1874: Martin Opsahl
  • 1875–1879: Adolph Martin Lund
  • 1879–1884: Haagen Skattum
  • 1885–1888: Mathias Wildaasen
  • 1889–1889: Hans O. Eger
  • 1890–1890: Andreas Slettum
  • 1891–1893: Fredrik Fischer
  • 1894–1894: Christian Nygaard
  • 1895–1896: Anders Østbye
  • 1897–1898: Fredrik Fischer
  • 1898–1899: Anders Østbye
  • 1900–1900: Fredrik Fischer
  • 1901–1901: Anders Østbye
  • 1902–1904: Alf Mjøen
  • 1905–1905: Fredrik Fischer
  • 1906–1906: Adolf Houg
  • 1907–1907: Fredrik Fischer
  • 1908–1908: Leif Castberg
  • 1909–1909: Adolf Skattum
  • 1910–1916: Leif Castberg
  • 1917–1922: Johan Granvin
  • 1923–1941: Niels Ødegaard
  • 1941–1945: John Lærum
  • 1945–1967: Niels Ødegaard
  • 1968–1978: Nils Røstadstuen
  • 1978–1981: Alf Iversen
  • 1982–1991: Martin Stikbakke
  • 1992–2000: Tore Hagebakken
  • 2000–2001: Kåre Haugen
  • 2001–2005: Tore Hagebakken
  • 2005–2007: Kåre Haugen
  • 2007–2019: Bjørn Iddberg
  • 2019–2023: Torvild Sveen
  • 2023–present: Anne Bjertnæs

Attractions

Notable people

Public Service & public thinking

The Arts

Sport

Twin towns – sister cities

Gjøvik is twinned with: