# Eiken, Norway

Eiken is a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1916 until its dissolution in 1963. It was located in the northern half of the present-day municipality of Hægebostad in what is now Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Eiken where Eiken Church is located. The municipality included the far northern end of the Lyngdalen valley from the lake Lygne to the mountains in the north.

## History

The municipality of Eiken was established on 1 January 1916 when the municipality of Hægebostad was divided into two separate municipalities: Eiken (population: 932) and Hægebostad (population: 867). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1963, the two municipalities were reunited and together formed the municipality of Hægebostad. Before the merger the population of Eiken was 784.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Eiken farm (Old Norse: Æke). The name is the plural genitive case of the word eik which means "oak tree".

## 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.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Eiken 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.
Eiken herredsstyre 1960–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 13 |
Eiken herredsstyre 1956–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 13 |
Eiken herredsstyre 1952–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 12 |
Eiken herredsstyre 1948–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 12 |
Eiken herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 12 |
Eiken herredsstyre 1938–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 12 |
| 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. |||