# Søgne

Søgne is a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until 2020 when it was merged with the municipalities of Songdalen and Kristiansand into the "new" Kristiansand municipality in what is now Agder county. It was located in the traditional district of Sørlandet, just outside of the city of Kristiansand. The administrative centre of the municipality was the hamlet of Tangvall. Hamlets and areas in Søgne include Ausviga, Eig, Høllen, Langenes, Lohne, Lunde, Ny-Hellesund, Trysnes, Vedderheia, Ålo, and Åros.
Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 151-square-kilometre (58 sq mi) municipality was the 354th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Søgne is the 103rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 11,321. The municipality's population density is 78.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (204/sq mi) and its population has increased by 16.2% over the last decade.

## General information

The parish of Sygne (later spelled Søgne) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). on 1 July 1913, the northern half of Søgne (population: 822) was separated to form the new municipality of Greipstad. This left Søgne with 2,609 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. Søgne municipality remained generally the same during this time, however, there were a couple of small changes to the municipal boundaries. On 1 January 1964, the Stubstad area of neighboring Holum municipality (population: 9) and the Brunvatne area of neighboring Øyslebø municipality (population: 44) were both transferred to Søgne municipality. Then on 1 January 1965, the unpopulated Svalemyren area of neighboring Mandal municipality was transferred to Søgne.
On 1 January 2020, the three neighboring municipalities of Kristiansand, Songdalen, and Søgne merged to form one large municipality called Kristiansand.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Søgne farm (Old Norse: Sygna) since the Old Søgne Church was built there. The name comes from the local river Sygna (now called Søgneelva). The river name is derived from the verb súga which means "to suck". The municipality was historically spelled Sygne until the 1880s when it was changed to Søgne.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 24 May 1985 and they were in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Per fess urdy azure and argent, two points to the chief" (Norwegian: Delt av blått og sølv ved gråverksnitt (med to spisser oppover)). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line that follows a geometric "urdy" pattern. Below the line, the field has a tincture of azure (blue). Above the line, the field has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design of the line is meant to symbolize two stone road markers (varder), which in historical times were used to mark the paths and tracks that people followed. Two of the largest of these signs are found in the municipality, and were mentioned in historical records in the early 17th century. According to legend, they were built by King Olaf II of Norway (Hellige-Olav), in the 11th century. A local tradition says they represent two girls standing on top of the hill looking for their lovers to return from fishing. The fishermen drowned and the girls remained waiting there. The stone markers are named "jentene på Hellerøya" (the girls on Heller island). The original stone markers were destroyed by Germans during World War II and afterwards they were rebuilt in concrete. The arms were designed by Ulf Skauge based on idea by Nols Th. Finstad.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Søgne. It is part of the Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.
Churches in Søgne :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Søgne | Søgne Church | Lunde | 1861 |
| Søgne | Old Søgne Church | Søgne | 1604 |

## Government

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Kristiansand District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Søgne was made up of 27 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Søgne kommunestyre 2016–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Søgne kommunestyre 2012–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 9 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Søgne kommunestyre 2008–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Søgne kommunestyre 2004–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 2000–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1996–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne bygdeliste) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1992–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne bygdelist) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1988–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 10 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne Bygdeliste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1984–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 10 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne Bygdeliste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1980–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 9 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne bygdeliste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1976–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Anders Lange's Party (Anders Langes parti) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Søgne local list (Søgne Bygdeliste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1972–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1968–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Søgne kommunestyre 1964–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1960–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1956–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1952–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1948–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 10 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 1 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 8 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Søgne herredsstyre 1938–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 10 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
| Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |||

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Søgne (incomplete list):
* 1838–18??: Otto Joachim Moltke Hansen
* 1853-18??: Peder Bjørnson
* 1888–1901: Jakob Brunvatne (V)
* 1902–1904: Hans Jensen Try (H)
* 1905–1907: Jakob Brunvatne (V)
* 1908–1916: Hans Jensen Try (H)
* 1916-1922: S. Sverdrup (V)
* 1922–1925: Harald Brunvatne (Bp)
* 1926–1928: Hans Jensen Try (H)
* 1929–1931: Harald Brunvatne (Bp)
* 1932–1941: Tarald Eg (V)
* 1945-1945: Tarald Eg (V)
* 1946–1951: Jørgen H. Lohne (V)
* 1952–1955: Tarald Eg (V)
* 1956–1963: Jørgen H. Lohne (V)
* 1964-1967: Syvert Tallaksen (V)
* 1968-1971: Thorbjørn Odd Olsen (V)
* 1972-1975: Syvert Tallaksen (V)
* 1976–1991: Bjarne Nesheim (H)
* 1992–2001: Anne Berit Andersen (H)
* 2001–2007: Eli Løite (H)
* 2007–2011: Solveig Kjelland Larsen (Ap)
* 2011–2015: Åse R. Severinsen (H)
* 2015–2019: Astrid Hilde (Ap)

## Media

The newspaper Søgne og Songdalen Budstikke has been published in Søgne since 1999.

## Geography

Søgne was a small, coastal municipality, with a long stretch of coastline and islands to the south. To the east, it bordered the municipality of Kristiansand, to the north and northeast it bordered the municipalities of Marnardal and Songdalen, and to the west it bordered the municipality of Mandal.
The municipality had a couple main rivers running through it: Lundeelva and Søgneelva. The Trysfjorden cuts into the shoreline in the west part of the municipality. There are also many islands to the south of the mainland. Ny-Hellesund is a small cluster of three populated islands that were an important outport in the history of Søgne. The Songvår Lighthouse is located in the far south part of the municipality on the small island of Hellersøya.

### Climate

Climate data for Søgne :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) | −0.5 (31.1) | 1.7 (35.1) | 5.0 (41.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.9 (57.0) | 15.5 (59.9) | 15.1 (59.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 8.7 (47.7) | 4.3 (39.7) | 1.5 (34.7) | 7.3 (45.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 137 (5.4) | 90 (3.5) | 99 (3.9) | 66 (2.6) | 89 (3.5) | 81 (3.2) | 93 (3.7) | 127 (5.0) | 154 (6.1) | 177 (7.0) | 176 (6.9) | 131 (5.2) | 1,420 (55.9) |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute ||||||||||||||

## Notable people

* Dina Larsen (1873-1961), domestic science teacher and civil servant
* Hans Try (1934–1990), archivist and historian