Meland
Encyclopedia
Meland is a municipality in the county of Hordaland
, Norway
.
Meland municipality was created when it was separated from Alversund
municipality on 15 October 1923. Meland was one of many municipalities that were created for geographical reasons: the future municipality was separated from the rest of Alversund by the fjord, and transportation between the different parts of the municipality was unreliable and time-consuming. The creation of the municipality was approved in 1922, and the first election for the municipal council was held 23 August 1923. Meland encompassed all of Holsnøy except for the northernmost part, which belonged to Herdla
municipality. An area in the north-east of Askøy
also belonged to Meland municipality.
In 1962, the Schei Committee
concluded its survey of the organization of Norway's municipalities. The committee recommended enlarging Meland municipality, transferring the northern part of Holsnøy as well as the minor island of Øpsøy from Herdla municipality to Meland, as well as Flatøy
and Håøy from Hamre
municipality. Simultaneously, Meland would lose the parts of the municipality located on Askøy to Askøy municipality
. Hordaland county approved the move, and the border changes came into effect on 1 January 1964. A proposal to change the name of Meland municipality to "Holsenøy" was rejected. Hamre and Herdla municipalities ceased to exist, and their territory was divided between Lindås, Osterøy and Meland, and Askøy, Øygarden and Meland, respectively.
in Bergen to its east, Askøy to its south and the archipelago of Øygarden to its west. It is surrounded by fjords, namely (clockwise from north) Mangersfjorden, Radfjorden, Salhusfjorden
, Herdlefjorden and Hjeltefjorden
. The second largest island is Flatøy, located west of Holsnøy. The municipality also encompasses a number of minor islands.
The administration centre of the municipality is Frekhaug
, which is its largest settlement. Frekhaug is located in the south-eastern part of Holsnøy, and its urban area
had a population of 1688 as of 2009. An additional two urban areas are located in the municipality: Krossneset on Flatøy (population 446) and Holme (population 646).
, which spans Salhusfjorden
between Flatøy and Klauvaneset in Bergen, connects Meland to the mainland. The bridge is the main road northwards from Bergen, and is part of European route E39
. The Krossnessundet Bridge
, which is part of Rv
564, connects Flatøy to Holsnøy, the largest island of the municipality. The Krossnessundet Bridge opened in 1977, while the Nordhordland Bridge dates from 1994.
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, 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...
.
History
The municipality is named after the farm of Meland. The norse name of the farm was "Meðalland". "Meðal" means "middle", while "land" means "farm" or "land", so that the name as a whole roughly means "the farm that is located in the middle".Meland municipality was created when it was separated from Alversund
Alversund
Alversund is a village in Lindås municipality in Hordaland county, Norway.Alversund was formerly a municipality. Alversund was separated from Hamre January 1, 1885 - and the annex of Seim was transferred from Hosanger to Alversund the same date. Meland was separated from Alversund October 15, 1923...
municipality on 15 October 1923. Meland was one of many municipalities that were created for geographical reasons: the future municipality was separated from the rest of Alversund by the fjord, and transportation between the different parts of the municipality was unreliable and time-consuming. The creation of the municipality was approved in 1922, and the first election for the municipal council was held 23 August 1923. Meland encompassed all of Holsnøy except for the northernmost part, which belonged to Herdla
Herdla
Herdla is an island in Askøy, Norway, at the north end of the island of Askøy. The island was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds...
municipality. An area in the north-east of Askøy
Askøy (island)
Askøy is an island in Western Norway. Since the opening of the Askøy Bridge leading to the mainland in Bergen in 1992, the population has increased rapidly. In north lay the island Herdla....
also belonged to Meland municipality.
In 1962, the Schei Committee
Schei Committee
The Schei Committee was a committee named by the Government of Norway to look into the organization of municipalities in Norway post-World War II.It convened in 1946, and its formal name was...
concluded its survey of the organization of Norway's municipalities. The committee recommended enlarging Meland municipality, transferring the northern part of Holsnøy as well as the minor island of Øpsøy from Herdla municipality to Meland, as well as Flatøy
Flatøy
Flatøy is one of two smaller islands that together with the larger island Holsnøy make up the municipality Meland Kommune, in the district of Nordhordland, north of Bergen, in western Norway....
and Håøy from Hamre
Hamre, Osterøy
Hamre is a village and parish in Hordaland county, Norway. The village of Hamre is located near the extreme western point of Osterøy, across the fjord from Knarvik.-History:...
municipality. Simultaneously, Meland would lose the parts of the municipality located on Askøy to Askøy municipality
Askøy
Askøy is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Since the opening of the Askøy Bridge leading to the mainland in Bergen in 1992, the population has increased rapidly. Its population growth is as of 2008 among the highest in Norway...
. Hordaland county approved the move, and the border changes came into effect on 1 January 1964. A proposal to change the name of Meland municipality to "Holsenøy" was rejected. Hamre and Herdla municipalities ceased to exist, and their territory was divided between Lindås, Osterøy and Meland, and Askøy, Øygarden and Meland, respectively.
Geography
Meland consists of a number of islands. The largest is Holsnøy, which has an area of 89 km2, out of a total area of 93 km2 for the entire municipality. Holsnøy is located between Radøy and Lindås to its north, ÅsaneÅsane
Åsane is a borough of the city of Bergen, Norway, making up the northwestern part of the city.It was a municipality in Hordaland county, from January 1, 1904, when it was separated from Hamre, until January 1, 1972 when it was merged with Bergen . The area was developed from mostly farmland to a...
in Bergen to its east, Askøy to its south and the archipelago of Øygarden to its west. It is surrounded by fjords, namely (clockwise from north) Mangersfjorden, Radfjorden, Salhusfjorden
Salhusfjorden
Salhusfjorden is a long fjord and sound between Bergen and Meland in Hordaland, Norway. To the west, it starts between Salhus and Frekhaug, where Byfjorden meets Herdlefjorden. To the east, the fjord ends between Knarvik and Hordvikneset, where Osterfjorden runs northeast, while Sørfjorden runs...
, Herdlefjorden and Hjeltefjorden
Hjeltefjorden
Hjeltefjorden is a fjord in Hordaland in Norway. Its name is derived from Hjaltland, the Old Norse name for Shetland - the routes to Shetland ran through Hjeltefjorden. It is a major route into Bergen, and runs from Fedje in the north to Byfjorden in the south...
. The second largest island is Flatøy, located west of Holsnøy. The municipality also encompasses a number of minor islands.
The administration centre of the municipality is Frekhaug
Frekhaug
Frekhaug is the administrative centre of Meland municipality, Norway. The population of the urban area Frekhaug, which also encompasses Vikane, is 1,602 ....
, which is its largest settlement. Frekhaug is located in the south-eastern part of Holsnøy, and its urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
had a population of 1688 as of 2009. An additional two urban areas are located in the municipality: Krossneset on Flatøy (population 446) and Holme (population 646).
Transport
As an island municipality, the road network of Meland depends upon bridges. The Nordhordland BridgeNordhordland Bridge
The Nordhordland Bridge is a combined cable-stayed and pontoon bridge which crosses Salhusfjorden between Klauvaneset and Flatøy in Hordaland, Norway. It is long, of which the pontoon section is long. The cable-stayed section consists of a single tall H-pylon which has a length of and a main...
, which spans Salhusfjorden
Salhusfjorden
Salhusfjorden is a long fjord and sound between Bergen and Meland in Hordaland, Norway. To the west, it starts between Salhus and Frekhaug, where Byfjorden meets Herdlefjorden. To the east, the fjord ends between Knarvik and Hordvikneset, where Osterfjorden runs northeast, while Sørfjorden runs...
between Flatøy and Klauvaneset in Bergen, connects Meland to the mainland. The bridge is the main road northwards from Bergen, and is part of European route E39
European route E39
E 39 is the designation of a 1330 km long north-south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Orkanger, Vinjeøra, Halsa ... Straumsnes, Krifast, Batnfjordsøra, Molde ... Vestnes, Skodje, Ålesund ... Volda ... Nordfjordeid ... Sandane, Førde,...
. The Krossnessundet Bridge
Krossnessundet Bridge
Krossnessundet Bridge is a cantilever bridge which connects Holsnøy with Flatøy in Meland, Norway. Opened in 1978, it is part of National Road 564. It is long and has a main span of ....
, which is part of Rv
Norwegian national road
Norwegian national road , are roads thus categorized by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration which also maintains them...
564, connects Flatøy to Holsnøy, the largest island of the municipality. The Krossnessundet Bridge opened in 1977, while the Nordhordland Bridge dates from 1994.