Overhalla
Encyclopedia
Overhalla is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Namdalen
region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ranemsletta
(also called Overhalla). Other villages include Melen, Skage
, Skogmo
, Svalia
, and Øysletta
.
The population is concentrated in the relatively broad Namsen
river valley at the center. Public services
, agriculture
, and tourism
are the main sources of income. Overhallahus (a house building company) and Pharmaq (a fish vaccine factory) are located in the municipality.
). On 1 January 1964, the Galguften and Hauknes area (population: 15) of Høylandet
was transferred to Overhalla.
form of the name was œfri halfa which means "the upper half (of Namdalen)". Historically, the Namdalen
district was divided in two parts: "the upper half" and "the lower half". The municipality of Overhalla today is, however, just a fraction of the old part of œfri halfa.
from 1344. It shows seven red greek cross
es arranged in a circle on a gold background.
has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Overhalla. It is part of the Namdal deanery
in the Diocese of Nidaros
.
The municipality includes part of the lake Eidsvatnet
, from which the river Bjøra flows into the river Namsen
, which runs from the east to the west. By the time it reaches the border to Namsos, Namsen is already brackish and influenced by the tides the ocean. The river Nordelva also empties into the estuary here. On the south side of Namsen, there is an area of mountains, including Reinsjøfjell and mountain lakes; the Bangsjøene
lakes form the border with Snåsa
. The western approaches to Geitfjell lies in Overhalla, while the summit lies in Grong
. The southern tip of the lake Storgrønningen
lies in Overhalla, while the vast majority of the lake lies in Høylandet
.
to Namsos
, but the line was closed to passenger traffic in 1978. Freight traffic on the line was discontinued in 2002. The Norwegian County Road 17 also crosses the municipality.
Nord-Trøndelag
is a county constituting the northern part of Trøndelag in Norway. As of 2010, the county had 131,555 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth-least populated county. The largest municipalities are Stjørdal, Steinkjer—the county seat, Levanger, Namsos and Verdal, all with between 21,000 and...
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...
, 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 part of the Namdalen
Namdalen
Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Fosnes, Nærøy, Høylandet, Namdalseid, Flatanger, Lierne, Leka, Namsskogan, and Vikna, all in Nord-Trøndelag county. The district has two towns: Kolvereid and Namsos...
region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ranemsletta
Ranemsletta
Ranemsletta is the administrative centre of the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the north shore of the river Namsen, along the now-defunct Namsos Line railway. The villages of Svalia and Skogmo are neighboring villages to the north and...
(also called Overhalla). Other villages include Melen, Skage
Skage
Skage or Skage i Namdalen is a village in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the northern shore of the river Namsen, about west of the municipal center, Ranemsletta, and about east of the town of Namsos. The village has a population of 651. The...
, Skogmo
Skogmo
Skogmo is a village in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located about northeast of the municipal centre, Ranemsletta. Its population in 2003 was 262, but since 2004 it has not been considered an urban settlement by Statistics Norway, and its data is therefore...
, Svalia
Svalia, Norway
Svalia is a village in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located about north of the municipal centre, Ranemsletta. The village has a population of 217. The population density is ....
, and Øysletta
Øysletta
Øysletta is a village in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the south shore of the river Namsen, along the now-defunct Namsos Line railway. The municipal center, Ranemsletta lies about to the northwest and the municipal border with Grong lies about ...
.
The population is concentrated in the relatively broad Namsen
Namsen
Namsen is the biggest river in Nord-Trøndelag county, in the central part of Norway. The long river flows through the municipalities of Røyrvik, Namsskogan, Grong, Overhalla, and Namsos. It traditionally has been used for floating timber down from the forests to the town of Namsos, where the...
river valley at the center. Public services
Public services
Public services is a term usually used to mean services provided by government to its citizens, either directly or by financing private provision of services. The term is associated with a social consensus that certain services should be available to all, regardless of income...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
are the main sources of income. Overhallahus (a house building company) and Pharmaq (a fish vaccine factory) are located in the municipality.
General information
The municipality of Overhalla was established on 1 January 1838 (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...
). On 1 January 1964, the Galguften and Hauknes area (population: 15) of Høylandet
Høylandet
Høylandet is a village and a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Høylandet. Other villages include Kongsmoen and Vassbotna....
was transferred to Overhalla.
Name
The 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....
form of the name was œfri halfa which means "the upper half (of Namdalen)". Historically, the Namdalen
Namdalen
Namdalen is a traditional district in the central part of Norway, consisting of the municipalities Namsos, Grong, Overhalla, Røyrvik, Fosnes, Nærøy, Høylandet, Namdalseid, Flatanger, Lierne, Leka, Namsskogan, and Vikna, all in Nord-Trøndelag county. The district has two towns: Kolvereid and Namsos...
district was divided in two parts: "the upper half" and "the lower half". The municipality of Overhalla today is, however, just a fraction of the old part of œfri halfa.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1989, but is inspired by an old seal for the district by King Håkon MagnussonHaakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
from 1344. It shows seven red greek cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
es arranged in a circle on a gold background.
Churches
The Church of NorwayChurch of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Overhalla. It is part of the Namdal deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
in the Diocese of Nidaros
Diocese of Nidaros
Nidaros is a diocese in the Lutheran Church of Norway. It covers Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag counties and its cathedral city is Trondheim, which houses the well-known Nidaros Cathedral. The diocese is divided into 12 deaneries . Finn Wagle was the bishop from 1991 to 2008...
.
| Parish (Sokn) | Church Name | Location of the Church | Year Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranem | Ranem Church Ranem Church Ranem Church is a parish church in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Ranemsletta. The church is part of the Ranem parish in the Namdal deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros. The white stone church was originally constructed in 1187. It... |
Ranemsletta Ranemsletta Ranemsletta is the administrative centre of the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the north shore of the river Namsen, along the now-defunct Namsos Line railway. The villages of Svalia and Skogmo are neighboring villages to the north and... |
1187 |
| Skage | Skage Church Skage Church Skage Church is a parish church in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located in the village of Skage. The church is part of the Skage parish in the Namdal deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros. The white, wooden church was built in 1903, and it seats about 300... |
Skage Skage Skage or Skage i Namdalen is a village in the municipality of Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is located on the northern shore of the river Namsen, about west of the municipal center, Ranemsletta, and about east of the town of Namsos. The village has a population of 651. The... |
1903 |
Geography
Eidsvatnet
Eidsvatnet is a lake on the border of the municipalities of Høylandet and Overhalla in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The lake lies about northeast of Skogmo. The lake empties into the river Bjøra which flows a short distance into the river Namsen....
, from which the river Bjøra flows into the river Namsen
Namsen
Namsen is the biggest river in Nord-Trøndelag county, in the central part of Norway. The long river flows through the municipalities of Røyrvik, Namsskogan, Grong, Overhalla, and Namsos. It traditionally has been used for floating timber down from the forests to the town of Namsos, where the...
, which runs from the east to the west. By the time it reaches the border to Namsos, Namsen is already brackish and influenced by the tides the ocean. The river Nordelva also empties into the estuary here. On the south side of Namsen, there is an area of mountains, including Reinsjøfjell and mountain lakes; the Bangsjøene
Bangsjøene
Bangsjøene is a series of lakes that straddle the borders of the municipalities of Snåsa, Grong, Overhalla, and Steinkjer in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The southwestern lake is called Ytter-Bangsjøen, the middle lake is Midter-Bangsjøen, and the northeastern lake is Øyster-Bangsjøen...
lakes form the border with Snåsa
Snåsa
Snåsa is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherred region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Snåsa. Other villages include Agle and Jørstad....
. The western approaches to Geitfjell lies in Overhalla, while the summit lies in Grong
Grong
is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Medjå. Other villages in the municipality include Bergsmoen, Formofoss, Gartland, and Harran....
. The southern tip of the lake Storgrønningen
Storgrønningen
Storgrønningen is a lake in the municipality of Høylandet in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The extreme southern tip of the lake crosses over the border into Overhalla municipality. It lies about west of the municipal center of Høylandet....
lies in Overhalla, while the vast majority of the lake lies in Høylandet
Høylandet
Høylandet is a village and a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Høylandet. Other villages include Kongsmoen and Vassbotna....
.
Transportation
The historic Namsos Line railway traversed the municipality on its way from GrongGrong
is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Medjå. Other villages in the municipality include Bergsmoen, Formofoss, Gartland, and Harran....
to Namsos
Namsos
is a town and municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Namsos. Other villages in the municipality include Bangsund, Klinga, Ramsvika, Skomsvoll, and Spillum....
, but the line was closed to passenger traffic in 1978. Freight traffic on the line was discontinued in 2002. The Norwegian County Road 17 also crosses the municipality.
Notable residents
- Hans Andersen Barlien (1772–1842), Norwegian politician, credited with the establishment of a Norwegian-American immigrant settlement in Sugar Creek, Iowa
- Bjarne BrøndboBjarne BrøndboBjarne Arnstein Brøndbo , is the vocalist and the front figure in the Norwegian rock group D.D.E. since the start in 1992. Brøndbo has previously played in the bands Humanic and After Dark ....
(born 1964) and Eskil BrøndboEskil BrøndboEskil Brøndbo is the drummer in the band D.D.E. where his brother, Bjarne Brøndbo is the vocalist. From 1985 - 1986 he was the deputy drummer for After Dark, who were the forerunners for D.D.E., but their regular drummer, Knut Håvard Lysberg, left the group. In 1990 Lysberg left and Eskil Brøndbo...
(born 1970) rock musicians - Gunhild FølstadGunhild FølstadGunhild Følstad was a Norwegian football defender from Overhalla near Namsos. The daughter of a football trainer, she played for Trondheims-Ørn and the Norwegian Women's National Football Team for which she has 75 appearances...
(born 1981) international women's footballer - Alf HildrumAlf HildrumAlf Ivar Hildrum is a Norwegian media executive and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Overhalla. A siv.øk. by education, he worked as an information secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Shipping from 1977 to 1978...
(born 1948), media executive and politician - Johannes RianJohannes RianJohannes "Johs" Rian was a Norwegian painter.He was born in Overhalla as a son of farmers Peter Rian and Elen Blengslien . Johs Rian also worked at the family farm, but left this career in 1927 to pursue painting.He studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts from 1928 to 1930 under...
(1891–1981), painter
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...