Snertingdal Municipality


Snertingdal is a former municipality in the old Oppland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1910 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Gjøvik Municipality in the traditional district of Vestoppland. The administrative centre was the village of Seegård. Other villages in the municipality included Ålset, Snertingdal, and Audenstad.
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the municipality was the 351st largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Snertingdal Municipality was the 367th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 2,491. The municipality's population density was and its population had decreased by 3.9% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

Snertingdal Municipality was established on 1 January 1910 when the large Biri Municipality was divided in two. The western part became Snertingdal Municipality and the eastern part continued as a smaller Biri Municipality.
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:
The municipality is named after the Snertingdalen valley which runs through the municipality. The first element of the valley name is Snartheimr which comes from the old "Snartum" farm and church site in the valley. The farm name is likely derived from an old river name with the suffix which means "home". The last element of the valley name is which means "valley" or "dale".
Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Snertingdalen. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Snertingdal, removing the definite form ending -en.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish within Snertingdal Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Biri prestegjeld and the Toten prosti in the Diocese of Hamar.

Geography

Snertingdal Municipality encompassed the Snertingdalen valley, east of the large lake Mjøsa. Fåberg Municipality was located to the north, Biri Municipality was located to the east, Vardal Municipality was located to the south, Fluberg Municipality was located to the southwest, Nordre Land Municipality was located to the west, and Torpa Municipality was located to the northwest. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Ringsrudåsen, located along the border with Torpa Municipality.

Government

While it existed, Snertingdal 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 Snertingdal Municipality was made up of 17 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 Snertingdal Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
  • 1910–1911: Kristian Oudenstad
  • 1911–1913: Kristian Markeng
  • 1914–1916: Kristian Oudenstad
  • 1917–1928: Anton E. Haugen
  • 1929–1931: Johannes Kirkerud
  • 1932–1938: Lars Ødegårdstuen
  • 1938–1940: Anders Tandberg
  • 1941–1945: Arne Fladsrud
  • 1945–1963: Anders Tandberg