The 640-square-kilometre (250 sq mi) municipality is the 182nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Øyer is the 180th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,161. The municipality's population density is 8.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (22/sq mi) and its population has increased by 1.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
General information
Øyer town hall.Painting of the Hov farm in Øyer by Fredrik Borgen (1895)
The parish of Øier (later spelled Øyer) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1867, a small area of Øier (population: 40) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Gausdal. The borders of Øyer have not changed since that time.[6]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Øier farm (Old Norse: Øyja / accusative case and dative case) since the first Øyer Church had been located there for centuries. The name comes from the word øyi (nominative case). Two lakes in Norway had the name Øyi(r) in Old Norse times (now called Øymark and Øyeren), and these names are derived from the word eyrr which means "flat and fertile land along the edge of the water". This name is probably given to this area because the Gudbrandsdalslågen river widens out in the central part of the municipality and creates two river-lakes (called the Jemnefjorden and Gildbusfjorden). Øyi was probably the old name of one (or both) of these "fjords".[7] Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Øier. On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Øyer.[8]
Coat of arms
View of a hegd which is the basis for the coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 29 April 1983. The official blazon is "Vert, a wooden stapleargent" (Norwegian: I grønt ei sølv helder). This means the arms have a green field (background) and the charge is a wooden stapleNorwegian: hegd or helder). The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This is a type of ring or staple that was historically made of wood and it was used to fasten a tree trunk to a rope in order to haul it over the land. Similar devices were used all over Norway, but this particular shape is typical for this area. The arms were designed by Ola T. Rybakken. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms, but the staple design is off-center on the flag.[9][10][11][12]
The Black Death reached Norway in the winter of 1349-1350. Øyer was one of the parishes that was most severely impacted. Estimates based on tax payments suggest that between 66 and 75% of all residents died. Many of the farms there became deserted farms (ødegårder), which remained vacant until the late 17th century. The Tretten Church parish (which had been a separate parish from Øyer) was merged with the Øyer Church parish after the Black Death, because the decimated population of Tretten no longer could maintain their own priest.
Economy
Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Øyer by country of origin in 2017[13]
Øyer has traditionally been a farming and logging municipality.
Recreation is increasingly important economically. Since it opened in 1989, Øyer's Hafjell Alpine Ski Center has grown to include 15 lifts (with an additional in construction) and 28 runs as wells as extensive cross-country skiing runs. It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the town of Lillehammer, making it very accessible to a larger population. Tobogganing, luge, and bobsled racing (on the 1994 Olympic course) are also found in the area.
The municipal council(Kommunestyre) of Øyer is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
The municipality is located in the Gudbrandsdal valley, through which the Gudbrandsdalslågen river flows. The lake Losna is partially located in the municipality.
Image from the municipality of Øyer in Innlandet county
^ abcHolmen, Lars; Stensrud, Oddvar; Korslund, Geir, eds. (2003). "I gamle fotefar"(PDF) (in Norwegian). Øyer og Tretten Historielag. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^"Ordførervalg". Gudbrandsdalens Blad. 10 January 1902. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
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