Øyestad
Encyclopedia
Øyestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder
county
, Norway
. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal
in the Sørlandet region
. The municipality of Øyestad encompassed most of the coastline between the towns of Grimstad
and Arendal, along with the forested areas along the Nidelva
river.
) is named after the old Øiestad farm (Old Norse
: Øyjarsstaðir), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
of the male name Øyjarr and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm
".
of Øiestad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). In 1846, the area of Fjære
(population: 2,806) was split off to form a separate municipality. The municipality was again split when the area of Froland
(population: 1,976), leaving Øiestad with 5,215 inhabitants. On 1 January 1875, an area of neighboring Arendal
municipality (population: 52) was transferred to Øyestad. Then on 1 January 1881, the area of Hisøy
(population: 2,652) was separated to form a municipality of its own. This left Øyestad with a population of 4,474. In 1936, an area of Øyestad (population: 33) was transferred to neighboring Moland
municipality.
On 1 January 1962, the uninhabited area of Salvestjønn was transferred from Øyestad to Landvik
. On 1 January 1992, Øyestad was incorporated into the municipality of Arendal
, along with Hisøy, Tromøy
, and Moland
. Prior to the merger Øyestad had a population of 8,679.
Aust-Agder
is a county in Norway, bordering Telemark, Rogaland, and Vest-Agder. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which is 2.2% of the total population in Norway. Its area is . The administrative center of the county is in Arendal....
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 located in the present-day municipality of Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
in the Sørlandet 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 municipality of Øyestad encompassed most of the coastline between the towns of Grimstad
Grimstad
is a town and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It belongs to the geographical region of Sørlandet. The administrative center of the municipality is the town of Grimstad. Other notable places in Grimstad include Eide, Fevik, Fjære, Landvik, Prestegårdskogen, Reddal, and Roresanden.It is...
and Arendal, along with the forested areas along the Nidelva
Nidelva (Aust-Agder)
Nidelva in Aust-Agder is the main river in the Arendal drainage basin. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Nisserelva and Fyreselv. The river flows into the Skagerak at Arendal. The total length of the system is , the watershed covers...
river.
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 Øiestad 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....
: Øyjarsstaðir), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case
Genitive case
In grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of the male name Øyjarr and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
".
History
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...
of Øiestad 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...
). In 1846, the area of Fjære
Fjære
Fjære is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Fjære municipality was located to the north of the town of Grimstad, and the name is still used to refer to that area, which is now a part of Grimstad.-Name:...
(population: 2,806) was split off to form a separate municipality. The municipality was again split when the area of Froland
Froland
Froland is a municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Sørlandet. The administrative center is the village of Blakstad, which along with Osedalen form the main population center of the municipality....
(population: 1,976), leaving Øiestad with 5,215 inhabitants. On 1 January 1875, an area of neighboring Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
municipality (population: 52) was transferred to Øyestad. Then on 1 January 1881, the area of Hisøy
Hisøy
Hisøy is an island and a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. Today, the island is a part of the municipality of Arendal. Hisøy is an island separated from the mainland by the river Nidelv. The village of Kolbjørnsvik is located across the harbor from the town of Arendal...
(population: 2,652) was separated to form a municipality of its own. This left Øyestad with a population of 4,474. In 1936, an area of Øyestad (population: 33) was transferred to neighboring Moland
Moland
Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region. Eydehavn was the centre of the municipality, which had a population of 6,011 in 1967 and 8,148 in 1992.-Name:...
municipality.
On 1 January 1962, the uninhabited area of Salvestjønn was transferred from Øyestad to Landvik
Landvik
Landvik is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It was located to the west of the town of Grimstad in southern Norway. Today, the name Landvik is still used to designate the westernmost part of the town of Grimstad, near the Prestegårdskogen housing development.-Name:The...
. On 1 January 1992, Øyestad was incorporated into the municipality of Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
, along with Hisøy, Tromøy
Tromøy
Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway, a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, and is currently an important part of the present-day municipality of Arendal.-Location:...
, and Moland
Moland
Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region. Eydehavn was the centre of the municipality, which had a population of 6,011 in 1967 and 8,148 in 1992.-Name:...
. Prior to the merger Øyestad had a population of 8,679.
Notable residents
- Peter Munch BragerPeter Munch BragerPeter Munch Brager was a Norwegian priest and politician.He was elected to the Parliament of Norway in 1845, representing the constituency of Finmarkens Amt. He only served one term....
(born 1806), vicarVicarIn the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Øyestad - Brit HoelBrit HoelBrit Hoel is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Aust-Agder in 1981, and was re-elected on three occasions...
(born 1942), politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...