Løvstakksiden
Encyclopedia
Løvstakksiden, commonly shortened to Løvstakken or simply Stakken, is a neighbourhood in the city of Bergen, Norway, currently it is part of the borough of Årstad. Up until 2000 it was however part of a borough called "Løvstakken" which covered the eastern and western part of the mountain Løvstakken
, and consisted of Fyllingsdalen
in the west and Løvstakksiden in the east.
The neighbourhood does not have any official boundaries, however it can roughly be said to compromise the urban area to the north-east of the mountain Løvstakken, or parts of western Årstad. Løvstakksiden is perhaps not considered as a "traditional" neighbourhood of Bergen, mostly because of its location outside the core borough of Bergenhus
, even so it remains inside Bergen's urban area, only to be found in the borough of Årstad.
Løvstakksiden also makes up a local parish
in Bergen with two churches, Solheim Kirke and St. Markus Kirke.
neighbourhood. In the 1970s many industrial workingplaces was however closed down, and it could no longer be described as a working class neighbourhood. With many smaller apartments in the area, it became more attractive for senior citizens and low-income families, and other young single people.
Housing was up until recently cheap, however with the northern parts being close to the university
and other schools, an amount of students moved in, thus increasing the rental prices. Løvstakksiden does anyway have a large amount of housing projects, totalling one third of buildings in the area being owned by the municipality
, the highest concentration in all of Bergen. When the working class families started moving out of these, the municipality would place more needy individuals in them, many with drug
-related problems.
In the local newspaper BA
in the 1990s, the leader of the child protection services, was once quoted with saying that there shouldn't be any children living in the neighborhood. He meant it was too much drug abuse
, violence
and policeraids there. The residents was after this protesting, saying the whole neighbourhood was being stigmatized, when it was just a part of it that actually had the problems.
In the later years, the neighbourhood has also been increasingly populated with various immigrants. In 2000 the number of immigrants was 11,7%, more than doubled from 1990 with a 4,1% share. In 1990 the largest immigrant group came from Chile
, and in 2000 most came from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq
.
It is also the neighbourhood in Bergen which has the largest immigrant population. In 2000 one third of all arriving refugee
s to Bergen were placed in the neighbourhood.
Løvstakkens Jægerkorps is the local buekorps
of Løvstakksiden, started for the first time in 1903. Krohnvikens Bataljon
, a now defunct buekorps probably founded before 1854 was however a predecessor of Løvstakkens Jægerkorps.
agency, the only one in Bergen other than the main police agency. This was moved from Landås
in 1999, to Løvstakksiden due to the relative higher crime rates in the area. This was for the first 2 years, until 2001, a very effective move which helped reduce the crime rates, however after this the crime had again started increasing. The main types of criminal activity is in the area of drugs, robbery and violence.
Løvstakken
Løvstakken is one of the Seven Mountains that surround the city centre of Bergen, Norway. The mountain is located between the Fyllingsdalen and Bergensdalen valleys. Løvstakken and the forests nearby are popular hiking areas among the locals...
, and consisted of Fyllingsdalen
Fyllingsdalen
Fyllingsdalen is a borough of the city of Bergen, Norway, located south-west of the city centre in the valley to the west of Løvstakken. The early name of the valley, Fynö dalen, was the origin of the name of the farm which gave Fyllingsdalen its name, Fyllingen...
in the west and Løvstakksiden in the east.
The neighbourhood does not have any official boundaries, however it can roughly be said to compromise the urban area to the north-east of the mountain Løvstakken, or parts of western Årstad. Løvstakksiden is perhaps not considered as a "traditional" neighbourhood of Bergen, mostly because of its location outside the core borough of Bergenhus
Bergenhus
Bergenhus is a borough of the city of Bergen, Norway.-Location:Named after the historic Bergenhus Fortress, Bergenhus makes up the city centre and the neighborhoods immediately surrounding it, including Sandviken and Kalfaret, as well as the mountains to the north and east of the city centre...
, even so it remains inside Bergen's urban area, only to be found in the borough of Årstad.
Løvstakksiden also makes up a local parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in Bergen with two churches, Solheim Kirke and St. Markus Kirke.
History
Løvstakksiden was at first, in the early 20th century, predominantly a traditional working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
neighbourhood. In the 1970s many industrial workingplaces was however closed down, and it could no longer be described as a working class neighbourhood. With many smaller apartments in the area, it became more attractive for senior citizens and low-income families, and other young single people.
Housing was up until recently cheap, however with the northern parts being close to the university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and other schools, an amount of students moved in, thus increasing the rental prices. Løvstakksiden does anyway have a large amount of housing projects, totalling one third of buildings in the area being owned by the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
, the highest concentration in all of Bergen. When the working class families started moving out of these, the municipality would place more needy individuals in them, many with drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
-related problems.
In the local newspaper BA
Bergensavisen
Bergensavisen , usually shortened to BA, is the second largest newspaper in Bergen, Norway. It is published in tabloid format. The newspaper webpage ba.no is Bergen's largest local newspaper webpage....
in the 1990s, the leader of the child protection services, was once quoted with saying that there shouldn't be any children living in the neighborhood. He meant it was too much drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
, violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
and policeraids there. The residents was after this protesting, saying the whole neighbourhood was being stigmatized, when it was just a part of it that actually had the problems.
In the later years, the neighbourhood has also been increasingly populated with various immigrants. In 2000 the number of immigrants was 11,7%, more than doubled from 1990 with a 4,1% share. In 1990 the largest immigrant group came from Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and in 2000 most came from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Demographics
In 2000, the neighbourhood was cited with a poulation of about 3,435, though it could vary depending on what is counted as a part of the neighbourhood, as the area of Løvstakksiden is unofficial, and also for example often reaches somewhat further to the south than in this instance. The areas named "Solheim nord" and "Solheim sør" in the Municipality living standards report of 2008 (identified as roughly corresponding to Løvstakksiden) however had a combined population of 7965 (in turn 5422 and 2543).It is also the neighbourhood in Bergen which has the largest immigrant population. In 2000 one third of all arriving refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s to Bergen were placed in the neighbourhood.
Buekorps
Løvstakkens Jægerkorps is the local buekorps
Buekorps
Buekorps are traditional marching neighbourhood youth organizations in Bergen, Norway.The tradition, which is unique to Bergen, dates back at least to the 19th century when children would imitate the adult militia soldiers performing close order drill...
of Løvstakksiden, started for the first time in 1903. Krohnvikens Bataljon
Krohnvikens Bataljon
Krohnvikens Bataljon was a buekorps in Bergen which existed from probably before 1854 to 1916. The proof of its early foundation is because of the fact that the man who allegedly painted its first banner died in that year, 1854. It was the local brigade for a working-class area called Krohnviken,...
, a now defunct buekorps probably founded before 1854 was however a predecessor of Løvstakkens Jægerkorps.
Education
The main school of Løvstakksiden is the combined elementary and lower secondary school, Ny Krohnborg skole. Because of the relatively large immigrant population of Løvstakksiden, Ny Krohnborg is home to a large diversity of pupils. In 1998 the share of pupils of minority backgrounds was 34%. In 2005, about 75% of the pupils in the first grade were of a minority background.Economy
The average income by inhabitants of Løvstakksiden was in 1999, merely 138,526 NOK, which was clearly lower than the city of Bergen as a whole at that time. In the Municipality living standards report of 2008 the area Solheim nord had an average income of 194,800, while Solheim sør had an average income of 220,100. This was practically the areas with the lowest average incomes of the whole city.Crime
Løvstakksiden is also home to Løvstakken Nærpoliti, which is a local policePolice
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
agency, the only one in Bergen other than the main police agency. This was moved from Landås
Landås
Landås is a neighbourhood in the city of Bergen, Norway. Landås is located by the western side of the Ulriken mountain massif, from south-east of Haukeland University Hospital to Nattland almost 3 km further south. It was the last part of former Årstad municipality to be urbanised, the...
in 1999, to Løvstakksiden due to the relative higher crime rates in the area. This was for the first 2 years, until 2001, a very effective move which helped reduce the crime rates, however after this the crime had again started increasing. The main types of criminal activity is in the area of drugs, robbery and violence.
Municipality living standards report
In January 2009, Bergen municipality released a report of living standards in different parts of the city. The areas of "Solheim nord" and "Solheim sør", which roughly overlap with Løvstakksiden, achieved poor scores in almost every aspect of the report. Of the 51 areas in the report, "Solheim nord" achieved a total rank of 50, while "Solheim sør" ranked 40.Economy
Only Fantoft, dominated by student housing, had a lower average income.| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"> | Rank | Area | Income |
|---|---|---|
| 49. | Solheim sør | 220,100 NOK |
| 50. | Solheim nord | 194,800 NOK |
Receivers of social security
Solheim nord had 10 times more receivers of social security benefits than the area with the smallest number.| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"> | Rank | Area | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 50. | Solheim sør | 10.1 |
| 51. | Solheim nord | 14.4 |
Percentage of residents with a criminal background
| Rank | Area | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Solheim sør | 3.0 |
| 2. | Solheim nord | 2.9 |