# Samnanger

Samnanger (Urban East Norwegian:) is a municipality in the Midhordland region of Vestland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tysse. Other main villages in the municipality include Haga and Bjørkheim in Nordbygda. The municipality is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the city of Bergen, Norway's second largest city. It surrounds the inner part of the Samnangerfjorden and the surrounding valleys. There are mountains that surround the municipality. The development of hydroelectric power plants started here in 1909.
The 269-square-kilometre (104 sq mi) municipality is the 274th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Samnanger is the 251st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,495. The municipality's population density is 9.7 inhabitants per square kilometre (25/sq mi) and its population has increased by 2.5% over the previous 10-year period.
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Samnanger be closed.

## General information

The municipality of Samnanger was established on 1 January 1907 when it was separated from the municipality of Os. Initially, Samnanger had 3,025 residents. The borders of the municipality have not changed since that time.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Samnangerfjorden (Old Norse: Samnangr) since it is a central geographic feature in the area. The first element is likely the old name for a local river, possibly derived from the word sǫmn which has an unknown meaning. The last element is angr which means "bay" or "inlet".

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 27 April 1990. The official blazon is "Gules, six gouttes Or in annulo" (Norwegian: På raud grunn seks gule dråpar som lagar ein sirkel). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a set of six gouttes (drops of water) arranged in a circle. 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. Water was chosen as a symbol on the arms because of the wet climate and the source of hydroelectricity that is prevalent in the area. The arms were designed by Even Jarl Skoglund. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Samnanger. It is part of the Hardanger og Voss prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Churches in Samnanger :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Samnanger | Haga Church | Haga | 1995 |
| Samnanger | Samnanger Church | Ådland | 1851 |

## Government

Samnanger 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 Hordaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Samnanger is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Samnanger kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 5 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 8 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Local List (Bygdalista) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local list (Bygdalista) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local list for Samnanger (Bygdelista for Samnanger) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 10 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Samnanger heradsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 10 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| 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 (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Samnanger:
* 1907–1916: Nils S. Røsseland
* 1916–1928: Knut Tvedt (V)
* 1929–1943: Johannes Gaupholm (LL)
* 1943–1945: Johannes Tveiterås (NS)
* 1945–1945: Nils K. Langeland
* 1946–1959: Ingjald Tveit (LL)
* 1960–1963: Mons Tveit (LL)
* 1964–1967: Martin K. Nilsen (Ap)
* 1968–1971: Ragnvald Brigsten (KrF)
* 1972–1975: Martin K. Nilsen (Ap)
* 1976–1977: Knut N. Langeland (LL)
* 1978–1979: Martin K. Nilsen (Ap)
* 1980–1981: Knut N. Langeland (LL)
* 1982–1991: Brynjulv Hernes (KrF)
* 1991–1999: Brigt Olav Gåsdal (Ap)
* 1999–2015: Marit A. Aase (KrF)
* 2015–2023: Knut Harald Frøland (LL)
* 2023-present: Karl Bård Kollbotn (FrP)

## Geography

Samnanger lies at the inner end of the Samnangerfjorden. Bjørnafjorden Municipality lies to the south, Bergen Municipality is to the west, Vaksdal Municipality is to the north, and Kvam Municipality is to the east. Samnanger lies on the mainland of Norway, but its western parts lie on the Bergen Peninsula—a large peninsula connected to the mainland by a small isthmus of land running between Trengereid in Bergen and Trengereidfjorden in Samnanger.
The Gullfjellet mountains lie along the western border of the municipality. The mountain Sveningen lies at the tripoint border with Samnanger, Bergen, and Bjørnafjorden municipalities. The Kvamskogen mountain plateau lies along the eastern border of the municipality.

## Population

Historical population :
| Year | 1907 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1946 | 1951 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2023 |
| Pop. | 3,025 | 3,025 | 2,664 | 2,588 | 2,440 | 2,503 | 2,493 | 2,180 | 2,305 | 2,412 | 2,282 | 2,375 | 2,485 | 2,495 |
| ±% p.a. | — | +0.00% | −1.26% | −0.29% | −0.37% | +0.51% | −0.04% | −1.33% | +0.56% | +0.45% | −0.55% | +0.40% | +0.45% | +0.13% |
| Source: Statistics Norway and Norwegian Historical Data Centre |||||||||||||||

## Notable people

* Knud Langeland (1813–1886), an American editor, farmer, and politician who emigrated in 1843
* Gustav Indrebø (1889–1942), a Norwegian philologist who was interested in toponymy
* Jarle Høysæter (1933–2017), a Norwegian journalist who worked with NRK and Eurovision