Strand, Norway
Encyclopedia
Strand is a municipality
in Rogaland
county
, Norway
. It is part of the region of Ryfylke
. Strand was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). Høle
(with Forsand
) was separated from Strand in 1842.
To the north, lies Fiskå
. Strand produces fruit, vegetables and dairy products, along with Fiskå Mølle (Fiskå Mill). To the south, Tau
is the communication hub with ferry connections to Stavanger
and bus services to Hjelmeland
and deeper into Ryfylke. About 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southeast, Jørpeland is the largest settlement with about 5,500 people. Following the road southwards one passes Botne before entering into Forsand. To the east Bjørheimsbygd is a thriving agricultural site.
The famous biker Gunn-Rita Dahle comes from Bjørheimsbygd. She has won a gold medal in the Summer Olympics 2004, in Athens. Holtaheia was the mountain behind Holta
farm where 34 school boys, 2 teachers and 3 crew died, when the Cunard Viking flight 'Papa Mike' crashed into the mountain, en route to Stavanger.
) is named after the old Strand farm (Old Norse
: Strönd), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word strönd which means "strand" or "beach
".
was granted on 25 May 1973. The arms show three red water wheel
s on a gray background. The wheels are a symbol for the hydropower
, which has been of importance to the municipality, first (since 1850) by using watermill
s, and now using modern hydro-electric plants
.
were made here. About 220 workers.
Comrod Communication ASA, manufacturer of radio communication aerials. Deliveries to fisheries, shipping, oil and gas and also military defence. About 65 employees.
Strand experienced a strong influx of newcomers from Stavanger and Jæren
starting in the late 1970s. The original social fabric was divided into factory workers at the iron mill, farmers, and the strong Lutheran tradition. The divides were in many ways exclusive, and only limited movement between the social groups was seen. In later years these divides have become significantly weaker.
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
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 region of Ryfylke
Ryfylke
Ryfylke is a traditional district in Norway, located northeast of Stavanger and east of Haugesund. In the east it borders Setesdal and Sirdal.Ryfylke comprises the contemporary municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, Finnøy, Hjelmeland, Forsand, Strand, Kvitsøy and Rennesøy...
. Strand was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
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...
). Høle
Høle
Høle is a borough and former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.The municipality was separated from Strand as Høgsfjord formannskapsdistrikt in 1842. On 1 January 1871 the district Forsand was divided from Høgsfjord to form a municipality of its own...
(with Forsand
Forsand
Forsand is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Forsand was separated from Høle on 1 January 1871. In 1999, evidence of a population here dating back to around 7500 BC was located....
) was separated from Strand in 1842.
To the north, lies Fiskå
Fiskå, Rogaland
Fiskå is a village in Ryfylke in Rogaland county, Norway. The village is located in Strand municipality, about 10 kilometres north of Tau....
. Strand produces fruit, vegetables and dairy products, along with Fiskå Mølle (Fiskå Mill). To the south, Tau
Tau, Norway
Tau is a village in the municipality of Strand. Tau has about 3000 inhabitants and is connected to Stavanger by ferry.The name might come from the Norse word taufr meaning 'witchcraft', as one believes there was a sacrificial field here in the Iron age....
is the communication hub with ferry connections to Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and bus services to Hjelmeland
Hjelmeland
is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Hjelmeland was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Two other municipalities were later separated from it: Årdal and Fister , but these were both again merged with Hjelmeland on 1 January 1965.Hjelmeland is known for their fruit and fish...
and deeper into Ryfylke. About 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southeast, Jørpeland is the largest settlement with about 5,500 people. Following the road southwards one passes Botne before entering into Forsand. To the east Bjørheimsbygd is a thriving agricultural site.
The famous biker Gunn-Rita Dahle comes from Bjørheimsbygd. She has won a gold medal in the Summer Olympics 2004, in Athens. Holtaheia was the mountain behind Holta
Holta
Holta is a farm in Strand municipality in Rogaland, Norway. The farm is situated on the northern hills overlooking Bjørheimsvatn Lake. It is approximately 10 kilometres from Stavanger, with a 14-kilometre journey by sea....
farm where 34 school boys, 2 teachers and 3 crew died, when the Cunard Viking flight 'Papa Mike' crashed into the mountain, en route to Stavanger.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
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...
) is named after the old Strand farm (Old Norse
Old 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....
: Strönd), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word strönd which means "strand" or "beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was granted on 25 May 1973. The arms show three red water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
s on a gray background. The wheels are a symbol for the hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
, which has been of importance to the municipality, first (since 1850) by using watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s, and now using modern hydro-electric plants
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
.
Industry
Scana Steel Stavanger AS is the largest company in Strand. Main activities are special steel alloys and casting for the shipping and oil/gas industry. Propellers of RMS Queen Mary 2RMS Queen Mary 2
RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line....
were made here. About 220 workers.
Comrod Communication ASA, manufacturer of radio communication aerials. Deliveries to fisheries, shipping, oil and gas and also military defence. About 65 employees.
Culture
There are several festivals in Strand, including Ryfylke Ungdomsfestival (Ryfylke Youth Festival), Strandadagane (Strand Days) and Melting Pot (art seminar, mostly making decorative art out of scrap-iron). The annual race between Jørpeland and Tau, Strandamila, is an event which attracts hundreds of people. The race is along the highway, either by bike or on foot. Strand also has many sport facilities: There are a lot of football pitches spread around the municipality, as well as local fitness centres. Tau also has two tennis courts, a beach-volleyball field, and a basketball court, as well as Ryfylkehallen, the largest indoor football arena in the county of Rogaland.Strand experienced a strong influx of newcomers from Stavanger and Jæren
Jæren
Jæren is a traditional district in the county of Rogaland. The others are Dalane, Ryfylke and Haugalandet.Jæren is the largest flat lowland area in Norway, stretching from the municipality of Randaberg in the north to Hå in the south. The coast is flat compared to the rest of the Norwegian coast,...
starting in the late 1970s. The original social fabric was divided into factory workers at the iron mill, farmers, and the strong Lutheran tradition. The divides were in many ways exclusive, and only limited movement between the social groups was seen. In later years these divides have become significantly weaker.
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...
- http://www.ryfylke.com