# Meløy Municipality

Meløy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ørnes. Other villages include Eidbukt, Neverdal, Glomfjord, Halsa, Reipå, Støtt, and Ågskardet.
The municipality is situated just to the north of the Arctic Circle on Norway's west coast. It encompasses the island of Meløya and some 700 other islands of various sizes around the Meløyfjorden, Glomfjorden, and Holandsfjorden in the south, along with a stretch of mainland coast.
The 874-square-kilometre (337 sq mi) municipality is the 133rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Meløy is the 157th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,180. The municipality's population density is 7.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (18/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 4.8% over the previous 10-year period.

## General information

The municipality of Meløy was established on 1 January 1884 when the large Rødøy Municipality was divided into two: Rødøy Municipality (population: 1,945) in the south and Meløy Municipality (population: 2,696) in the north. The municipal borders have not changed since then.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the island of Meløya (Old Norse: Mjǫlva) since the first Meløy Church was built there. The first element comes from the word mjǫl which means "flour" or "meal" (referring to fine sand on the beaches of the island). The last element (which was added to the name around the year 1500) is øy which means "island". Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled Melø. On 6 January 1908, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Meløy.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 7 December 1984. The official blazon is "Azure, a poppy plant Or" (Norwegian: I blått en gull valmueplante). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a subspecies of the arctic poppy plant locally known as Svartisvalmue (Papaver radicatum subglobosum). The poppy plant 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 municipality is located near the second largest glacier in continental Norway, the Svartisen (black ice), and the plant is one of the plants found growing closest to the ice. The colors symbolize the blue glacial ice and the yellow flowers. The arms were designed by Rolf Tidemann after the original ideda by Knut Sørensen.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within Meløy Municipality. It is part of the Bodø domprosti (arch-deanery) in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland.
Churches in Meløy :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Fore og Meløy | Fore Church | Reipå | 1909 |
| Fore og Meløy | Meløy Church | Meløya | 1867 |
| Fore og Meløy | Ørnes Church | Ørnes | 1990 |
| Glomfjord | Glomfjord Church | Glomfjord | 1957 |
| Halsa | Halsa Church | Halsa | 1960 |

## History

Meløy has been inhabited for many centuries and still possesses various relics from the Viking Age. The Benkestok family, one of Norway's original noble families, established one of its seats at Meløy gård (farm) on the island of Meløya in the 16th century.
Due to the expansion of the population during the 19th century, the area of Meløy was split from its southern neighbour, Rødøy Municipality, in 1884. Its administrative centre was originally on Meløya, but it was later moved to the mainland coastal village of Ørnes. Ørnes is one of the stops on the route of the Hurtigruten (coastal express boat), with a notably scenic entrance via the fjord.
The second largest glacier in Norway, Svartisen, is a target for passenger visits. The mountains around Glomfjord are popular for fishing and hunting as well as skiing in the winter time.

## Government

Meløy 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 Meløy is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Meløy kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Meløy Free Voters (Meløy Frie Folkevalgte) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 23 |
Meløy kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | 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: | 23 |
Meløy kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 23 |
Meløy kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 25 |
Meløy kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Common list (Samlingslista) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Meløy kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Coastal Party (Kystpartiet) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 31 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 8 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 10 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 10 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 14 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 11 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 11 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Glomfjord list (Glomfjordlisten) | 1 |
| | Free voters (Frie Velgere) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| | Socialist common list (Venstresosialistiske felleslister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 35 |
Meløy kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 7 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 15 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 3 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 12 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 27 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 11 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Meløy herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 1 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
| 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 Meløy 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 (incomplete list):
* 1884-1904: Ole P. Dahl
* 1904-1908: Peder A. Thostrup
* 1908-1910: Fredrik Meyer
* 1911-1913: Conrad Helgesen
* 1914-1916: Fredrik Meyer
* 1917-1920: Ludvig Daae
* 1920-1934: Christian Edvard Tidemann
* 1935-1937: Martin Kvalnes (H)
* 1938-1940: Martinus Nystad (Ap)
* 1941-1942: Martin Kvalnes (H)
* 1943-1945: Johan Kristensen
* 1945-1951: Martinus Nystad (Ap)
* 1952-1953: Ole Bang
* 1953-1963: Anton Henrik Swensen
* 1964-1968: Karl L. Kildal (KrF)
* 1968-1975: Ole Hillestad (Ap)
* 1975-1991: Konrad Fjellgård (H)
* 1991-1993: Tor Schiller Lekanger (H)
* 1994-1999: Fredrik Gransjøen (Sp)
* 1999-2003: Oddleiv Roald Torsvik (H)
* 2003-2011: Arild Kjerpeseth (Ap)
* 2011-2015: Per Swensen (H)
* 2015–present: Sigurd Stormo (Ap)

## Geography

The municipality of Meløy is a coastal community that includes many of the surrounding islands. Many parts of the mainland were fairly isolated until road tunnels were built during the 20th century that connected them to the rest of Norway. Some of the main islands of Meløy are Åmøya, Meløya, Bolga, Mesøya, Grønøya, and Støtt. Åmøya is connected to the mainland via the Brattsund Bridge. The other islands are all accessible by boat or ferry only. The Kalsholmen Lighthouse is located in the southwestern part of the municipality.
The Vestfjorden passes Meløy in the northwest, and the Meløyfjorden, Glomfjorden, and Holandsfjorden cut into the mainland from the west. The Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park is located in the southeast in the Saltfjellet mountain range, surrounding the Svartisen glacier. The highest point in the municipality is the 1,636.81-metre (5,370.1 ft) tall mountain Skjelåtinden, on the border with Beiarn Municipality.

### Farms of Meløy

Historically, the land of Meløy was divided up into named farms. These farms were used in census and tax records and are useful for genealogical research.
Coordinates on the maps are approximate. Each map has a maximum number of listings it can display, so the map has been divided into parts consistent with the enumeration districts (Norwegian: tellingskrets) in the 1920 census of Norway. This map will include one farm name per farm number; other farm names or subdivision numbers may exist.

#### Farm names and numbers

Following are the farms in the Meløy municipality, as they are listed in O. Rygh's series Norske Gaardnavne (lit. 'Norwegian farm names'), the Nordland volume of which was published in 1905.
    See also: Digital version of Norske Gaardnavne - Nordland (in Norwegian)
The farm numbers are used in some census records, and numbers that are near each other indicate that those farms are geographically proximate. Handwritten Norwegian sources, particularly those prior to 1800, may use variants on these names. For recorded variants before 1723, see the digital version of O. Rygh. Note that the 1920 census records mapped above may not match O. Rygh.
Farm names were often used as part of Norwegian names, in addition to the person's given name and patronymic or inherited surname. Some families retained the farm name, or toponymic, as a surname when they emigrated, so in those cases tracing a surname may tell you specifically where in Norway the family was from. This tradition began to change in the mid to late 19th century, and inherited surnames were codified into law in 1923.
| Farm Name | Farm Number |
| Sneen | 1 |
| Bolgen | 2 |
| Harfjeld | 3 |
| Harfjeldstrand | 4 |
| Kjørhaugvik | 5 |
| Kjørhaug | 6 |
| Aamnes | 7 |
| Stavnes | 8 |
| Skaret | 9 |
| Herstad | 10 |
| Haugvik søndre | 11 |
| Aabotsvik | 12 |
| Engevik | 13 |
| Aag | 14 |
| Korsvik | 15 |
| Arhaug | 16 |
| Rendalsvik | 17 |
| Fondalen | 18 |
| Fonnøren | 19 |
| Snelandslien | 20 |
| Holand | 21 |
| Braset | 22 |
| Sommersæt | 23 |
| Skaalsvik, 1 | 24 |
| Skaalsvik, 2 | 25 |
| Halsa | 26 |
| Æsøen | 27 |
| Forøen | 27, 2 |
| Halsosen | 28 |
| Grønaasen | 29 |
| Breivik | 30 |
| Bjærangen | 31 |
| Kjeldal, 1 | 32 |
| Kjeldal, 2 | 33 |
| Oldra | 34 |
| Saura | 35 |
| Osa | 36 |
| Enga | 37 |
| Valla nedre | 38 |
| Grønøen | 39 |
| Valla øvre | 40 |
| Jenslund | 41 |
| Vasdal | 42 |
| Sandvik | 43 |
| Reindalen | 44 |
| Glommen | 45 |
| Haugvik nordre | 46 |
| Sætvik | 47 |
| Selstad | 48 |
| Næverdal | 49 |
| Sandaa | 50 |
| Øbugt, 1 | 51 |
| Øbugt, 2 | 52 |
| Borvik | 53 |
| Vaatvik | 54 |
| Spilderen, 1 | 55 |
| Spilderen, 2 | 56 |
| Spilderdalen | 57 |
| Digermulen | 58 |
| Vinterveien | 59 |
| Djupvik | 60 |
| Mosvold, 1 | 61 |
| Mosvold, 2 | 62 |
| Torsvik | 63 |
| Gjerset | 64 |
| Teksmoen | 65 |
| Stien | 66 |
| Sørfore, 1 | 67 |
| Sørfore, 2 | 68 |
| Marken | 69 |
| Dalen | 70 |
| Øisund | 71 |
| Kunna | 72 |
| Støtt | 73 |
| Gaasvær | 74 |
| Otervær | 75 |
| Meløskagen | 76 |
| Meløen | 77 |
| Venvik | 78 |
| Røshagen | 79 |
| Fagervik | 80 |
| Risvik | 81 |
| Meløsund | 82 |
| Mesøen | 83 |
| Sildvik | 84 |
| Ballsetvatnet | 85 |
| Ballset | 86 |

## Economy

The industrial development—and thus the main contributor to the economic development and growth of the Meløy community—started around the time of World War I. It was based on electrical power production in then new Glomfjord power plant from water coming from the Svartisen glacier and the lake Storglomvatnet and gathered in the mountains. In the bottom of Glomfjorden, Norsk Hydro (today YARA) started out producing fertilizers in Glomfjord, today yara is Meløy's biggest workplace with 190 people working there
A conglomerate of industries is found there today in Glomfjord Industry Park. The municipality's overall industries are some light industry, agriculture, forestry, fishing, salmon production, and tourism.
Meløy Energi, an electrical power company, is one of the most important employers in the municipality (as of Q4 2022).

## Notable people

* Eindride Sommerseth (1918 – 2010), a trade unionist and politician
* Arne Pettersen (1906 - 1981), a sailor who was the last person to leave Ellis Island.