# Steigen Municipality

Steigen (Norwegian pronunciation:) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Salten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Leinesfjorden. Other villages include Leirvikbogen, Leines, Nordfold, Nordskot, and Sørskot. Engeløy Airport, Grådussan is located in the northern part of the municipality. Måløy–Skarholmen Lighthouse is located in the Vestfjorden in the western part of the municipality. The only road access to the municipality is via the Steigen Tunnel.
The 1,009-square-kilometre (390 sq mi) municipality is the 114th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Steigen is the 245th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,672. The municipality's population density is 2.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (6.7/sq mi) and its population has increased by 3.6% over the previous 10-year period.

## General information

The municipality of Steigen was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The southern part of Steigen Municipality was separated on 1 September 1900 to form the new Ledingen Municipality. This left 2,216 residents in Steigen Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, a major municipal merger took place. A new Steigen Municipality was created by the merging the following areas:
* all of Steigen Municipality (population: 1,829)
* all of Leiranger Municipality (population: 1,397)
* most of Nordfold Municipality except the Mørsvikbotn area (population: 1,212)
* the small Brennsund area of Kjerringøy Municipality (population: 30)
* the part of Hamarøy Municipality that was south of the Sagfjorden and between the lake Storvatnet and the Veggfjellan mountain area (population: 77)
Prior to the merger, the population of Steigen Municipality was 1,843, and after the merger, the new municipality had 4,545 residents.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Steigen farm (Old Norse: Steig) since the first Steigen Church was built there. The name is derived from the verb stíga which means "mount" or "rise". This is referring to the high and steep mountain Steigtinden (-tinden means "the peak") behind the farm.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 12 October 1988, but they were not formally approved by the government until 11 January 1991. The official blazon is "Or three axe blades sable in bend" (Norwegian: I gull tre svarte øksehoder i skrå rekke). This means the arms have a field (background) that 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 charge is three axe heads from the Viking Age that are lined up diagonally. The design was chosen to represent the Viking history of the municipality. There are three axe heads to represent that three municipalities were merged in 1964 to form the present municipality. The arms were designed by Henry Tømmerås, the municipal cultural secretary at the time.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within Steigen Municipality. It is part of the Salten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
Churches in Steigen :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Leiranger | Leiranger Church | Leines | 1911 |
| Leiranger | Leinesfjord Chapel | Leinesfjorden | 1912 |
| Leiranger | Sørskot Chapel | Sørskot | 1953 |
| Nordfold | Nordfold Church | Nordfold | 1976 |
| Steigen | Steigen Church | Steigen (Engeløya) | 1250 |
| Steigen | Bogen Chapel | Leirvikbogen | 1926 |
* Part of the old garden at Løvøy
* Steigen Sagaspill (historical play), based on an old tale
* Løvøy old trading centre in Steigen

## Geography

The municipality is located along the coast of the Vestfjorden, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of the town of Bodø, well inside the Arctic Circle. The road to Steigen departs from European route E6 and makes use of the 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) long Steigentunnelen (see World's longest tunnels). Steigen borders Hamarøy Municipality in the north and Sørfold Municipality to the south. The Vestfjorden and Lofoten are located west of Steigen. The Sagfjorden lies on the north and the Folda fjord in the south.
The municipality is mainly located on a peninsula dissected by many fjords. Steigen also includes several islands. The largest island is Engeløya, where there are ancient burial mounds (such as Sigarshaugen) and the world's most northerly naturally occurring Hazel forest in Prestegårdsskogen Nature Reserve. The largest glacier is Helldalsisen encircling a 1,361 metres (4,465 ft) mountain. The island of Engeløya is connected to the mainland by the Engeløy Bridges and just to the north of that lies the uninhabited island of Lundøya. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,351.15-metre (4,432.9 ft) tall mountain Helldalisen.
Steigen has fertile lowlands in between the mountains and the sea. There are several archeological sites showing settlements from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Viking Age. Lakes in the region include Forsanvatnet, Hopvatnet, Makkvatnet, and Straumfjordvatnet.

### Climate

The monthly 24-hr averages range from −1 °C (30 °F) in January and February to 13 °C (55 °F) in July and August, with precipitation ranging from 49 millimetres (1.9 in) in May to 146 millimetres (5.7 in) in October; annual average is 970 millimetres (38.2 in) and mean annual temperature is 5.1 °C (41 °F).

## Government

Steigen Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Salten og Lofoten District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Steigen is made up of 17 representatives that are elected for four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Steigen kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 1 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Pensioners' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) | 2 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen 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) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Cross-party list for Steigen (Tverrpolitisk liste for Steigen) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| 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) | 7 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk list) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 11 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Free voters non-party list (Frie velgeres upolitiske liste) | 3 |
| | Fishing industry non-party list (Fiskerinæringens upolitiske liste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 14 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 8 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 13 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 16 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Steigen herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 3 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 |
| 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 mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Steigen is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:
* 1838–1839: Christian B. Stoltenberg
* 1839–1840: Hans P. Meisler
* 1840–1847: Martin Adolph Sigholt
* 1848–1851: Thomas Aagesen
* 1852–1864: Peder Hansen
* 1865–1868: Fredrik Nikolai Jensen
* 1869–1870: Thomas Aagesen
* 1871–1878: Peder Hansen
* 1878–1879: Jonas Svensen
* 1879–1880: Gerhard Schøning
* 1881–1884: Johan C.R. Wisløff
* 1885–1886: Ole Nilssen
* 1887–1892: Johan C.R. Wisløff
* 1893–1894: Lars Fremmerlid
* 1895–1896: Peter M. Kristiansen
* 1897–1901: Kristian B. Kristensen
* 1902-1913: Søren S. Svendsen
* 1914-1916: Hartvig Olsen
* 1917-1928: Søren S. Svendsen
* 1929-1931: Peder Hansen
* 1932-1937: Søren S. Svendsen
* 1938-1941: Sigurd Vik (NS)
* 1941-1945: Johan Beck (NS)
* 1945-1945: Jakob Aalstad
* 1946-1955: Gudmund Storsæther (LL)
* 1956-1959: Ludvig Fjellbakk (Ap)
* 1960-1963: Sverre Kristiansen (Ap)
* 1964-1965: Trygve Aasjord (H)
* 1966-1967: Erling J. Vindenes (V)
* 1968-1971: Johan O. Skjelstad (Ap)
* 1972-1979: Jan A. Laxaa (Sp)
* 1980-1985: Tor Johan Aalstad (Sp)
* 1985-1991: Ragnar Kildahl (Sp)
* 1991-1999: Svein Benoni (Sp)
* 1999-2003: Arne Marhaug (Ap)
* 2003-2007: Berit Woie Berg (V)
* 2007-2019: Asle Schrøder (Sp)
* 2019–present: Aase Refsnes (SV)

## Notable people

* Marit Elveos (born 1965 in Steigen), a cross-country skier who competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics
* Tom Erik Breive (born 1980 in Steigen), a retired football midfielder with over 100 club caps