Syvde Municipality


Syvde is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1918 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Vanylven Municipality in the traditional district of Sunnmøre. The administrative centre was the village of Myklebost, at the end of the Syvdsfjorden. Syvde Church was the municipal church.
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the municipality was the 468th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Syvde Municipality was the 538th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 1,482. The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 2.5% over the previous 10-year period.

General information

The municipality of Søvde was established on 1 February 1918 when the old Vanylven Municipality was split into two municipalities: Vanyvlen Municipality in the west and the new Søvde Municipality in the east.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Syvde Municipality was dissolved and the following areas were merged to form a new, larger Vanylven Municipality:
The municipality is named after the local fjord, Syvdsfjorden. The name is likely derived from the word which means "to swerve" or "to drift", probably referring to the crooked or bent shape of the fjord. Historically, the name was spelled Søvde.

Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish within Syvde Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Vanylven prestegjeld and the Søre Sunnmøre prosti in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Parish Church nameLocation of the churchYear built
SyvdeSyvde ChurchSyvde1837

Geography

The municipality included the areas surrounding the Syvdsfjorden. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Storeblæja. Rovde Municipality was located to the northeast, Dalsfjord Municipality was located to the east and south, Vanylven Municipality was located to the west, and Sande Municipality was located to the northwest.

Government

Syvde 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 Syvde 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 Syvde Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
  • 1918–1928: Kristian Sandnes
  • 1928–1937: Ola Larsen Vik
  • 1937–1944: Peter Vik
  • 1945–1947: Asbjørn Øye
  • 1947–1951: Kristoffer Sørdal
  • 1951–1959: Simon Eikrem
  • 1959–1963: Botolv Holsvik