# Ramnes Municipality

Ramnes is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 138-square-kilometre (53 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2002. The area is now part of Tønsberg Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Ramnes (sometimes called Tingvoll). Other villages in Ramnes included Vivestad, Fon, Bergsåsen, and Linnestad.

## General information

The parish of Ramnes was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 16 July 1873, a royal resolution approved transferring an uninhabited area of Vaale Municipality to the neighboring Ramnes Municipality. On 1 January 2002, Ramnes Municipality was merged with the neighboring Våle Municipality to form the new Re Municipality. Re Municipality became part of Tønsberg Municipality on 1 January 2020.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ramnes farm (Old Norse: Rafnnes) since the first Ramnes Church was built there. The first element is hrafn which means "raven". The last element is nes which means "headland", which is likely referring to the area between two rivers.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 30 January 1976. The official blazon is "Argent, a raven passant wings elevated sable" (Norwegian: I sølv en svart ravn). This means the arms have a field (background) 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 charge is a raven passant with its wings elevated. They are canting arms since the name of the municipality is derived from the word "raven". The arms were designed by Sven Sköld. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Ramnes. It is part of the Nord-Jarlsberg prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.
Churches in Ramnes :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Fon | Fon Church | Fon | c. 1100 |
| Ramnes | Ramnes Church | Ramnes | c. 1100 |
| Vivestad | Vivestad Church | Vivestad | 1914 |

## Government

Ramnes 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 Horten District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Ramnes:
* 1838–1839: Tønnes Taralsen
* 1840–1843: Georg Taylor Faye
* 1844–1849: Frederik Ingier
* 1850–1851: Hans Morten Thrane Esmark
* 1852–1855: Hans A. Holdt
* 1856–1863: Hans Moss
* 1864–1865: Jørgen Forum
* 1866–1869: Christen Hansen Ramnæs
* 1870–1877: Ole Larsen Ramnæs
* 1878–1887: Hans Knudsen Horn
* 1888–1893: Karl M. Linnestad
* 1894–1898: Even Flaatten
* 1899–1913: Øystein Gåsland
* 1914–1920: Anders H. Teien
* 1920–1931: Hans Flåtten (Sp)
* 1932–1934: Lars J. Bjune
* 1935–1937: Thorvald O. Vivestad
* 1938–1940: Ole M. Gran (Sp)
* 1945-1945: Ole M. Gran (Sp)
* 1946–1947: Asbjørn Sviland (Sp)
* 1948–1951: Johan Borge (Sp)
* 1952–1967: Lars Melbostad (Sp)
* 1968–1987: Torstein Håland (Sp)
* 1988–1993: Eva Lian (Sp)
* 1993–1995: Johan Christian Haugen (Sp)
* 1995–1999: Aasta Kari Holm (Sp)

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ramnes was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Ramnes kommunestyre 1999–2001 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 9 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 11 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 13 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Ramnes herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
| 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. |||

## Geography

The landscape of Ramnes is dominated by the wide valleys of the river Aulielva. Around the village of Ramnes, the valley widens out into a large, cultivated plain known as Ramnessletta. Between the larger and smaller valley which generally run north-south are low, wooded hills. The hills are sparely covered with grass and trees, exposing weathered soil. The valleys are filled with a rich clay that is used for agriculture.