# Dønna Municipality

Dønna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative centre of the island municipality is the village of Solfjellsjøen. Other villages include Bjørn, Dønnes, Hestad, Sandåker, and Vandve. The main island of Dønna is connected to the neighboring Herøy Municipality to the south by the Åkviksundet Bridge.
The 193-square-kilometre (75 sq mi) municipality is the 305th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Dønna is the 305th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,427. The municipality's population density is 7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.5% over the previous 10-year period.

## General information
### Municipal history

The municipality of Dønna was established on 1 January 1962 due to the work of the Schei Committee. The new municipality was created by merging these areas:
* all of Nordvik Municipality (population: 1,293)
* the part of Herøy Municipality on the southern tip of the island of Dønna (population: 19)
* the part of Nesna Municipality on the island Løkta (population: 80)
* the majority of Dønnes Municipality (population: 1,348), except for the part located on the island of Tomma.
The borders of Dønna Municipality have not changed since that time.

### Name

The municipality is named after the island of Dønna (Old Norse: Dyn). The name is probably derived from the Old Norse verb dynja which means to "rumble" or "roar" (referring to the swell of the waves on the island).

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 29 May 1981. The official blazon is "Or a schnecke azure from base sinister to dexter" (Norwegian: Delt av gull og blått ved virvelsnitt). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line called a schnecke (a swirling clockwise spiral design that is looks like a wave). The field located above the line 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 tincture below the line is blue. The arms are a canting symbol for the municipality since the Norwegian word dønning means "wave" or "swell". The arms were designed by Odd Fjordholm.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within Dønna Municipality. It is part of the Nord-Helgeland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
Churches in Dønna :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Dønna | Dønnes Church | Dønnes | 13th century |
| Dønna | Hæstad Church | Hestad | 1912 |
| Dønna | Løkta Church | Sandåker | 1968 |
| Dønna | Nordvik Church | Nordvik (near Solfjellsjøen) | 1877 |
| Dønna | Vandve Church | Vandve | 1956 |
* The old trading house at Lauvøy, surrounded by Sitka spruce
* Dønnes Church
* View of the Dønnmannen mountain

## Economy

Much of the industry focuses on fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing. There is also some agriculture, tourism, and some public services.

## Government

Dønna 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 Helgeland District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Dønna 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.
Dønna kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Red Party (Rødt) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Cross-party Election (Tverrpolitisk Folkevalgte) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Pensioners' Party and free voters (Pensjonister og frie velgere) | 1 |
| | Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Cross-party list (Tverrpolitisk liste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Red Electoral Alliance (Rød Valgallianse) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Dønna cross-party list (Dønna Tverrpolitiske liste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Conservative Party (Høyre) and Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Dønna kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |

### Mayors

The mayor (Norwegian: ordfører) of Dønna 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:
* 1995-2003: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
* 2003-2007: Steinar Horsgård (Sp)
* 2007-2011: Ingunn Laumann (Ap)
* 2011-2015: Anne Sofie Sand Mathisen (Ap)
* 2015-2019: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)
* 2019–2023: Nils Jenssen (Sp)
* 2024–present: John-Erik Skjellnes Johansen (Ap)

## Geography

Dønna is located in the outer, coastal part of Helgeland which also consists of Leirfjord Municipality, Alstahaug Municipality, and Herøy Municipality. The municipality is made up of a large archipelago consisting of islands, islets, and reefs. The three largest islands in the municipality are Dønna, Løkta, and Vandve. The Åsværet islands (and the Åsvær Lighthouse) lie in the western part of the municipality. The island municipality is situated at the mouth of the Ranfjorden. The highest point in the municipality is the 855.1-metre (2,805 ft) tall mountain Dønnmannen on the island of Dønna.

## Notable people

* Gjeble Pederssøn (ca.1490 at Teigstad – 1557), a priest who was the first Lutheran bishop in Norway
* Petter Dass (ca.1647 – 1707), a Lutheran priest and poet; (birthplace disputed).
* Erasmus Zahl (1826 in Nordvika – 1900), a privileged trader and figure of the social hierarchy
* Anton Christian Bang (1840 on Dønna – 1913), a theologian, historian, politician, and Bishop of Oslo from 1896 to 1912
* Fredrikke Tønder-Olsen, (Norwegian Wiki) (1856 on Dønna - 1931), a feminist pioneer
* Julius J. Olson (1875 on Dønna – 1955), a Minnesota Supreme Court justice
* Ole Edvart Rølvaag (1876 on Dønna – 1931), a Norwegian-American author
* Axel Coldevin (1900 on Dønna – 1992), a historian who wrote about trade and industry
* Steinar Bastesen (born 1945 on Dønna), a Norwegian politician, fisherman, and whaler
* Roy Jacobsen (born 1954), a novelist and short-story writer who lives periodically on Dønna
* Odd Eriksen (born 1955), a politician who stopped an Algerian hijacker; brought up on Dønna
* Jostein Pedersen (born 1959 in Dønna), a musical journalist, reporter, and TV commentator