Sparbu Municipality


Sparbu is a former municipality in the old Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. It encompassed the southwestern part of what is now Steinkjer Municipality, south of the town of Steinkjer, east of the Børgin bay off the Trondheimsfjorden, and southwest of the Ogndalen valley. The administrative centre was the village of Sparbu.
Prior to its dissolution in 1963, the municipality was the 317th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Sparbu Municipality was the 217th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 3,995. The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 7.2% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The parish of Sparbu was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. The eastern Ogndalen valley was separated from Sparbu Municipality on 1 January 1885 to form the new Skei Municipality. This left Sparbu Municipality with 2,842 residents.
On 1 January 1964, a large municipal merger took place involving six rural municipalities and the town of Steinkjer. The following places were merged to form a new, larger Steinkjer Municipality:
  • the town of Steinkjer
  • Sparbu Municipality
  • Egge Municipality
  • Ogndal Municipality
  • Beitstad Municipality
  • Stod Municipality
  • Kvam Municipality

    Name

The municipality is named an old name for the area. The first element is which has an uncertain meaning, however it is possible that it means "something excellent" or "something one saves for". The last element is which means "household" or "farm". Historically, the name was spelled Sparbuen.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish within Sparbu Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Sparbu prestegjeld and the Nord-Innherad prosti in the Diocese of Nidaros.
Parish Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
HenningHenning ChurchHenning1872
MæreMære ChurchMærec. 1150

Geography

Sparbu Municipality was located south of the town of Steinkjer. It was bordered by Ogndal Municipality to the north, Verdal Municipality to the southeast, Røra Municipality to the south, and Inderøy Municipality and Sandvollan Municipality to the west. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Selisteinen, near the border with Verdal Municipality.

Government

While it existed, Sparbu 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 Frostating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council of Sparbu 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 Sparbu Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who held this position:
  • 1837–1836: Johan Christian Schiefloe
  • 1840–1843: Andreas Erlandsen
  • 1844–1845: Lars Smith
  • 1846–1849: Andreas Erlandsen
  • 1850–1851: Erik Dalum
  • 1852–1857: Johan Nøst
  • 1858–1861: Erik Dalum
  • 1862–1869: Johan Petter Brandsegg
  • 1870–1871: Andreas Schult
  • 1872–1877: Johan Petter Brandsegg
  • 1878–1889: Peter O. Skjeflo
  • 1890–1891: Lornts G. Strugstad
  • 1892–1893: Jakob Oksur
  • 1894–1895: Johan Kr. Braset
  • 1896–1898: Hilmar Lønnum
  • 1899–1900: Johannes Bragstad
  • 1900–1901: Ole M. Eid
  • 1902–1904: Johannes Okkehaug
  • 1905–1907: Bertinus Rannem
  • 1908–1910: Johannes Okkehaug
  • 1911–1913: Bertinus Rannem
  • 1914–1916: Johannes Okkehaug
  • 1917–1919: Peer M. Schiefloe
  • 1920–1922: John Tanem
  • 1923–1923: Bertinus Rannem
  • 1923–1925: Per Lein
  • 1926–1928: Fridtjof Rannem
  • 1929–1931: Eystein Utheim
  • 1932–1934: Fridtjof Rannem
  • 1935–1935: Hans Ystgaard
  • 1935–1937: Ole K. Nordgård
  • 1938–1940: Eystein Utheim
  • 1945–1945: Fridtjof Rannem
  • 1945–1945: Erling Moen
  • 1946–1947: Hans Ystgaard
  • 1948–1959: Harald Nordberg
  • 1960–1963: Karl Tørhaug