# Seljord

Seljord is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Upper Telemark and Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. Other villages in the municipality include Flatdal and Åmotsdal.
The 715-square-kilometre (276 sq mi) municipality is the 161st largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Seljord is the 229th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,939. The municipality's population density is 4.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (11/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 0.2% over the previous 10-year period.
Seljord is famous for its sea serpent, Selma, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet).
The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60,000 to 80,000 visitors each year. The large fair started as a show of farm animals. More recently, it also includes a huge market with vendors selling a variety of goods including base layer clothing, Bergans outdoors equipment, crafts, and food. Amusement rides are also featured.
Seljord folk high school is located in Seljord. The school offers a variety of courses including outdoor adventure, theater, music, and art.

## General information

The parish of Sillejord (later spelled Seljord) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 11 October 1873, an unpopulated area of Kviteseid Municipality was transferred to Seljord. On 1 January 1883, an area of southeastern Seljord (population: 235) was transferred to the neighboring Bø Municipality. On 23 January 1905, an unpopulated part of Hjartdal Municipality was transferred to Seljord.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Seljord farm (Old Norse: Seljugerði) since the first Seljord Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow". The last element is gerði which means "field". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled Silgjord or Sillejord.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 15 September 1989. The official blazon is "Gules, a sea serpent Or" (Norwegian: På raud grunn ein gull sjøorm). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a sea serpent. 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 symbolizes the local legend of a sea serpent named Selma who allegedly lives in the lake Seljordsvatn. The arms were designed by Trygve Magnus Barstad. 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 Seljord. It is part of the Øvre Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.
Churches in Seljord :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Seljord | Flatdal Church | Flatdal | 1654 |
| Seljord | Mandal Chapel | Mandal | 1954 |
| Seljord | Seljord Church | Seljord | 1180 |
| Seljord | Åmotsdal Church | Åmotsdal | 1792 |

## Government

Seljord 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 Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Seljord (incomplete list):
* 1878-1884: Jørund Telnes
* 1886-1886: Jørund Telnes
* 2004-2007: John Kleivstaul (Sp)
* 2007-2013: Solveig Sundbø Abrahamsen (H)
* 2013-2015: Jon Svartdal (KrF)
* 2015-2019: Halfdan Haugan (Ap)
* 2019–2023: Beate Marie Dahl Eide (Sp)
* 2023-present: Solveig Sundbø Abrahamsen (H)

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Seljord is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Seljord kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Red Party (Raudt) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Seljord kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Seljord kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Green Party (Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Seljord kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Seljord kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Seljord kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 8 |
| | Cross-party local list (Tverrpolitisk Bygdeliste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 13 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 14 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 13 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 11 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 13 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 3 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 12 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 24 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Seljord heradsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 10 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| | Joint list of the Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) and the Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
| 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. |||

## Media gallery

* Memorial to Magnus Brostrup Landstad
* Mandal Chapel
* Åmotsdal Church
* Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet)
* Flooded boathouse in Seljord

## Notable people

* Anne Godlid (1773-1863), a 19th-century Norwegian storyteller
* Jacob Andreas Wille (1777–1850), a priest, teacher, and Mayor of Seljord
* Daniel Bremer Juell (1808-1855), the Bishop of Tromsø from 1849-1855
* Jørund Telnes (1845-1892), a farmer, teacher, writer, and Mayor of Seljord
* Halvor J. Sandsdalen (1911-1998), a writer and folklore collector
* Ingebjørg Kasin Sandsdalen (1915-2003), a poet
* Aslaug Høydal (1916-2007), a schoolteacher, novelist, poet, and children's writer
* Terje Grøstad (1925–2011), a painter and illustrator who lived in Flatdal
* Hallvard Flatland (born 1957), a TV personality
* Kim Leine (born 1961), a Danish-Norwegian author
* Helga Flatland (born 1984), a novelist and children's writer who was brought up in Flatdal