Helgøy
Encyclopedia
Helgøy is an island
(sometimes written Helgøya) and a former municipality
in Troms
county
in Norway
. It is located in the western part of the present-day municipality of Karlsøy
. The municipality included the islands of Helgøya, Grøtøya, and Nord-Kvaløya
, large parts of the nearby islands of Rebbenesøya
and Ringvassøy
, and many smaller surrounding islands.
The island of Helgøy today is a more or less abandoned village
of picturesque wooden houses and an old church. No one has permanently lived on Helgøy since 1999 when the post office was closed and regular ferry service was ended. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry
rides are organized. The church, originally built in 1741, was bought and moved from Hamn on Senja
in January 1888. It came to Hamn around 1877. Previously it stood on Hemnes
in Helgeland
. The church it replaced had stood for 225 years.
: Helgøy). The name means den hellige øy or "the holy island" since the first element helgi means "sanctuary
" or "holy" and the second part øy is identical for the word "island".
), and Helgøy was put into the municipality of Karlsøy. Helgøy grew as a trading post under Christian Figenschou, but residents soon became dissatisfied with the municipal government based in Karlsøy.
The municipality of Helgøy was established on 1 September 1886 when the western part of the old municipality of Karlsøy was separated to form a municipality of its own. Helgøy had an initial population of 828. The two municipalities still had a common priest
, sheriff
, and doctor, but all these were resident in Karlsøy. From 1886 to 1892, Christian Figenschou was the mayor of the municipality. After 1886, residents began developing a local town center for Helgøy, with the church, rectory, farm, and flourishing trade. A small village grew up on the former church site and a permanent school in the parish were added on Helgøya. Steam ships regularly stopped here and a post office was established. After 1928, a doctor and sheriff were permanently located here.
On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged together with most of Karlsøy (except the mainland areas which became part of Lyngen
). Prior to the merger, Helgøy had a population of 1,495.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
(sometimes written Helgøya) and a former municipality
Former municipalities of Norway
This is a list of former municipalities of Norway, i.e. municipalities that no longer exist.When the local council system was introduced in Norway in 1837-38, the country had 392 municipalities. In 1958 the number had grown to a total of 744 rural municipalities, 64 city municipalities as well as a...
in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is located in the western part of the present-day municipality of Karlsøy
Karlsøy
Karlsøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population of 70.- General information :Karlsøy was...
. The municipality included the islands of Helgøya, Grøtøya, and Nord-Kvaløya
Nord-Kvaløya
Nordkvaløya is an uninhabited island in Karlsøy municipality, Troms county, Norway. The island is situated north of Ringvassøya and west of Helgøy. Nord-Kvaløya has an area of . The highest point is Storalangen at ....
, large parts of the nearby islands of Rebbenesøya
Rebbenesøya
Rebbenesøya is an island in Troms county, Norway. Its area is . It is situated in Karlsøy and Tromsø municipalities. The highest point on the island is Geittinden at a height of .-References:...
and Ringvassøy
Ringvassøy
Ringvassøya is a large island in Troms county, Norway. It is divided between the municipalities of Tromsø and Karlsøy.With an area of , Ringvassøy is the sixth largest island in mainland Norway. The island's highest point, Soltindan, has a height of above sea level. The long Skogsfjordvatnet...
, and many smaller surrounding islands.
The island of Helgøy today is a more or less abandoned village
Abandoned village
An abandoned village is a village that has, for some reason, been deserted. In many countries, and throughout history, thousands of villages were deserted for a variety of causes...
of picturesque wooden houses and an old church. No one has permanently lived on Helgøy since 1999 when the post office was closed and regular ferry service was ended. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
rides are organized. The church, originally built in 1741, was bought and moved from Hamn on Senja
Senja
Senja is the second largest island in Norway . It is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town. Senja is connected to the mainland by the Gisund Bridge. The municipalities located on Senja are Lenvik , Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy...
in January 1888. It came to Hamn around 1877. Previously it stood on Hemnes
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen.- Municipality history :...
in Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. The district covers an area of about , with nearly 79,000 inhabitants...
. The church it replaced had stood for 225 years.
Name
The municipality is named after the island Helgøya (Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Helgøy). The name means den hellige øy or "the holy island" since the first element helgi means "sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
" or "holy" and the second part øy is identical for the word "island".
History
From ancient times, a Helgøy parish has existed. In 1838, municipal self-government was introduced in Norway (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
), and Helgøy was put into the municipality of Karlsøy. Helgøy grew as a trading post under Christian Figenschou, but residents soon became dissatisfied with the municipal government based in Karlsøy.
The municipality of Helgøy was established on 1 September 1886 when the western part of the old municipality of Karlsøy was separated to form a municipality of its own. Helgøy had an initial population of 828. The two municipalities still had a common priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, and doctor, but all these were resident in Karlsøy. From 1886 to 1892, Christian Figenschou was the mayor of the municipality. After 1886, residents began developing a local town center for Helgøy, with the church, rectory, farm, and flourishing trade. A small village grew up on the former church site and a permanent school in the parish were added on Helgøya. Steam ships regularly stopped here and a post office was established. After 1928, a doctor and sheriff were permanently located here.
On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Helgøy was merged together with most of Karlsøy (except the mainland areas which became part of Lyngen
Lyngen
Lyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
). Prior to the merger, Helgøy had a population of 1,495.