# Kolbu Municipality

Kolbu is a former municipality in the old Oppland county, Norway. The 132-square-kilometre (51 sq mi) municipality existed from 1908 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Østre Toten Municipality in the traditional district of Toten. The administrative centre was the village of Kolbu.

## History

The municipality of Kolbu was established on 1 January 1908 when the old Vestre Toten Municipality was divided in three. The southwestern part (population: 1,173) became Eina Municipality, the southeastern part (population: 2,412) became Kolbu Municipality, and the northern part (population: 4,027) continued as Vestre Toten Municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Kolbu Municipality (population: 2,906) was merged with Østre Toten Municipality (population: 10,661) to form a new, larger Østre Toten Municipality.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Kolbu farm (Old Norse: Kolabú) since the first Kolbu Church was built there. The first element is kol which means "coal". The last element is bú which means "house" or "dwelling".

## 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 Kolbu was made up of 17 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:
Kolbu herredsstyre 1960–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
| Note: On 1 January 1964, Kolbu became part of Østre Toten Municipality. |||
Kolbu herredsstyre 1956–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Kolbu herredsstyre 1952–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kolbu herredsstyre 1948–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kolbu herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Kolbu herredsstyre 1938–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 9 |
| 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 of Kolbu:
* 1908-1916: Hans Sethne (LL)
* 1917-1919: Olaf Holthe(LL)
* 1920-1922: Johannes Hoel (LL)
* 1923-1925: Olaf Holthe (LL)
* 1926-1928: Johannes Hoel (Bp)
* 1929-1934: Paul J. Narum (Bp)
* 1935-1936: Erik Gaardløs (RF)
* 1937-1937: Claus Smedsrud (Ap)
* 1937-1937: Paul J. Narum (Bp)
* 1938-1944: Hans D. Nøkleby (Bp)
* 1945-1945: Per P. Røise
* 1946-1947: Paul J. Narum (Bp)
* 1948-1951: Bernt Dysthe (Bp)
* 1952-1956: Karl Lund (Ap)
* 1957-1960: Mathias Molstad (Sp)
* 1961-1963: Kristian O. Narum (Sp)