Østre Toten Municipality


Østre Toten is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Toten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lena. Other villages in the municipality include Kapp, Kolbu, Kraby, Lensbygda, Nordlia, Skreia, and Sletta.
The municipality is the 192nd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Østre Toten Municipality is the 85th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 0.4% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The parish of Østre Toten was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. On 1 January 1875, there was a minor border change between Vestre Toten Municipality and Østre Toten Municipality. On 1 January 1896, a small area of Østre Toten Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Vardal Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring Kolbu Municipality was merged with Østre Toten Municipality to form a new, larger Østre Toten Municipality.
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 Østre Toten after the district of Toten. The name is identical with the word Þótn which has an uncertain meaning, but it might be from the word þóttr which means "the pleasant district" or "something one likes". The parish of Toten was divided into two parts in 1825 and the first word, was added to signify that this was the "eastern" part, thus the name was Østre Toten which means " eastern Toten".

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 27 March 1987. The official blazon is "Vert, a potato plant argent". This means the arms have a green field and the charge is a potato plant. The potato plant 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 green color in the field symbolizes the importance of agriculture in the municipality and the potato was chosen since that is a particularly important crop that is grown in the municipality. The arms were designed by Arne Løvstand. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway has five parishes within Østre Toten Municipality. It is part of the Toten prosti in the Diocese of Hamar.
Parish Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
BalkeBalke ChurchSkreia1170
BalkeTotenviken ChurchTotenvika1896
HoffHoff ChurchKrabyc. 1175
KappKapp ChurchKapp1939
KolbuKolbu ChurchKolbu1730
NordlienNordlien ChurchNordlia1901

Geography

Østre Toten Municipality is bordered to the west by Vestre Toten Municipality, to the northwest by Gjøvik Municipality, to the northeast by Ringsaker Municipality, to the east by Stange Municipality, to the southeast by Eidsvoll Municipality, and to the south by Hurdal Municipality. The highest point in the municipality is the tall mountain Torsæterkampen.
Settlement in Østre Toten Municipality is predominantly dispersed. In January 2015, 42.6% of the population lived in areas defined as urban settlements by Statistics Norway, compared to 81% for Norway as a whole. The urban settlements in Østre Toten are Kapp, Kolbu, Lena, Lensbygda, Nordlia, Skreia, and Sletta.

History

According to the sagas, Halfdan Hvitbeinn was the first Yngling in Norway. He conquered Romerike, part of Hedmark, part of Vestfold, and Toten. He was killed in Toten around the year 740.
In 1021, according to saga, King Olaf converted Toten to Christianity. Also, King Håkon IV came to Toten around the year 1226 to settle local unrest.
Christian II was a Danish monarch and King of Denmark and Norway from 1513–1523 and also the King of Sweden from 1520–1521, under the Kalmar Union. Prior to becoming king, Duke Christian was sent to Norway in 1506 by John II, King of Norway to take charge of the kingdom. In 1507, he became aware of a revolt in Hedmark. In early 1508, he took a force there, routing the rebellion. He then rowed across lake Mjøsa to Toten, capturing residents, imprisoning them in the vaulted cellar of the rectory in Østre Toten and torturing them there. As a result, he determined that Bishop Karl of Hamar had been behind the rebellion. With Bishop Karl as his captive, he was able to suppress the unrest.
Toten was a part of Akershus county until 1756, when it became part of Christians county. Lauritz Weidemann, Corporal Peder Balke, and Niels Dyhren from Toten attended the 1814 constitutional convention at Eidsvold.

Government

Østre Toten 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 Østre Toten Municipality is made up of 29 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 Østre Toten 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:
  • 1838–1847: Peder Fauchald
  • 1848–1849: Ole Larsen Hammerstad
  • 1850–1856: Peder Fauchald
  • 1856–1861: Ole Larsen Hammerstad
  • 1862–1865: Jacob Brager
  • 1866–1869: Hans Henrik Thaulow Borchgrevink
  • 1870–1871: Ole Larsen Hammerstad
  • 1872–1875: Carl Schjøll
  • 1876–1877: Hans Laurits O. Hammerstad
  • 1878–1893: Martin Adolf Andersen
  • 1894–1897: Peder Madsen Wang
  • 1898–1907: Adolf Rogneby
  • 1908–1910: Peder Madsen Wang
  • 1911–1913: Even Fodstad
  • 1914–1922: Ole Weflen
  • 1923–1925: Kristian Ørud
  • 1926–1928: Even Fodstad
  • 1929–1931: Ole Aass
  • 1932–1934: Ole Festad
  • 1935–1940: Einar Hermanrud
  • 1941–1943: Hans Rognerud
  • 1943–1945: Nils Lundbæk
  • 1945–1945: Per Gjestvang
  • 1945–1967: Einar Hermanrud
  • 1968–1975: Fredrik Bredli
  • 1976–1983: Johan Nygaard
  • 1984–1991: Helge Røragen
  • 1992–1995: Hans Bjerregård
  • 1996–2003: Tor Finstad
  • 2004–2015: Hans Seierstad
  • 2015–2019: Guri Bråthen
  • 2019–present: Bror Helgestad

Climate

Østre Toten has a subarctic climate (Dfc). It is very close to a continental climate as September averages and May averages. Summer is the wettest time of year and winters are cold and snowy.

Economy

Østre Toten Municipality is one of the Innlandet county's most productive farming municipalities. Østre Toten is Norway's largest producers of potatoes and onions. This is reflected in the municipality's coat of arms, which displays a potato plant. The KiMs factory is located at Skreia.

Attractions

Among the town's most notable landmarks are the old Hoff Church and the rock carvings at Glemmestad near Kapp, now displayed in the Toten Museum.

Notable people

Public Service

The Arts

Sport

Sister cities

Østre Toten has sister city agreements with the following places: