# Hof Municipality (Vestfold)

Hof is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 163-square-kilometre (63 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2018. The area is now part of Holmestrand Municipality in the traditional district of Jarlsberg. The administrative centre was the village of Hof. Other villages in the municipality included Eidsfoss and Sundbyfoss.

## General information

The parish of Hof was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The borders of the municipality were never changed. On 1 January 2018, Hof Municipality was merged into the neighboring Holmestrand Municipality.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hof farm (Old Norse: Hof) since the first Hof Church was built there. The name is identical with the word hof which means "pagan temple", a place for worshiping the old Norse Gods.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 July 1992. The official blazon is "Gules, three water lily leaves Or" (Norwegian: I rødt tre gull sjøblad, 2-1). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a seeblatt which is a water lily leaf design. The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The design is meant to symbolize the many lakes in the municipality. There are three leaves in the design to symbolize the three church parishes in Hof: Hof, Vassås, and Eidsfoss. The arms were designed by Geir Helgen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Hof. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Nord-Jarlsberg prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.
Churches in Hof :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Hof, Vassås og Eidsfoss | Eidsfoss Church | Eidsfoss | 1904 |
| Hof, Vassås og Eidsfoss | Hof Church | Hof | c. 1150 |
| Hof, Vassås og Eidsfoss | Vassås Church | Vassås | c. 1200 |

## Geography

The municipality of Hof covered 164 square kilometres (63 sq mi), of which 140 square kilometres (54 sq mi) was land. Of the land in the municipality, 17.9 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) was farmland and 125.1 square kilometres (48.3 sq mi) was forests. Hof Municipality consisted of the three parishes: Hof, Eidsfoss, and Sundbyfoss. Mountains in Hof included: Buaren, Vestfjellet, Skibergfjell, and Grøntjernkollen. The large lake Eikeren was partially located in Hof. Approximately

## Government

Hof 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.

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Hof:
* 1838-1843: Morten Smith Petersen
* 1844-1849: Ole Hansen Hafsrud
* 1850-1853: Sven Pedersen Goverud, Sr.
* 1854-1855: Torger Olsen Korby
* 1856-1859: Sven Pedersen Goverud, Sr.
* 1860-1863: Torger Olsen Korby
* 1864-1875: Thomas E. Herstad
* 1876-1879: Per Svensen Goverud
* 1880-1887: Ole Svendsen Goverud
* 1888-1889: Edvard Halvorsen Sundby
* 1890-1898: Thorvald O. Gran
* 1899-1902: Jacob Olsen Lindseth
* 1902-1902: Christian Olsen Thon (H)
* 1903-1907: Sven Pedersen Goverud, Jr.
* 1908-1916: Christian Olsen Thon (H)
* 1917-1922: Nils Unnemark (Bp)
* 1923-1928: Ole Bertil Grennæs (Bp)
* 1929-1930: Ludvig Lørdal (Ap)
* 1931-1931: Olaf M. Tormodsrud
* 1931-1931: Ludvig Lørdal (Ap)
* 1932-1934: Ole Bertil Grennæs (Bp)
* 1935-1937: Olaf M. Tormodsrud
* 1938-1940: Hans Klaussen (Ap)
* 1940-1941: Ole Lindseth (NS)
* 1941-1942: Olaf Frich (NS)
* 1943-1945: Gunnar Reggestad (NS)
* 1945-1963: Hans Klaussen (Ap)
* 1964-1971: Per Båstad
* 1972-1979: Arne Solli
* 1980-1983: Roar Kristian Nordby (Sp)
* 1984-1985: Gunnar Lindseth (KrF)
* 1986-1987: Gunnar Haavik (H)
* 1988-1991: Arne Gravdal (Sp)
* 1992-1993: Åse Fjellestad (H)
* 1994-1999: Kari Akerholt (Sp)
* 2000-2012: Olav Bjørnli (H)
* 2012-2015: Ragnar Lindås (H)
* 2015-2017: Mette Måge Olsen (Ap)

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Hof was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Hof kommunestyre 2015–2017 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne) and the Red Party (Rødt) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
| Note: On 1 January 2018, Hof Municipality was merged into Holmestrand Municipality. |||
Hof kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 9 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| 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) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre), Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti), and Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof herredsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Hof herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Hof herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Hof herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Hof herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
| 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. |||

## Economy

Hof Municipality was a typical community based on agriculture and forestry. Its largest industry was a lumber mill. Hof was located in the climate zone best suited for agriculture in Norway. Therefore, wheat was one of the most important agricultural products of the municipality. However, between 1998 and 2008, 40% of the municipal farms become inactive, and the agricultural employment rate dropped to about 5%.
Hof was known for its great hunting and fishing resources as well. With 120,000 acres (490 km$^2$) of forest open for hunting, it was quite popular and there were commercial hunting opportunities. About 75 landowners in Hof united in a land owner union (Hof Utmarkslag), and hunters were required to purchase permits from them (mainly small game hunting) in order to use their land.
In the first decade of the 21st century, hunters typically harvested the following amounts of game animals annually in Hof: over 100 moose, 1-5 red deer, 80-90 roe deer, and 0-10 beaver.