# Etne

Etne is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland, although it is also sometimes considered to be part of the district of Haugaland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Etnesjøen. Other villages in the municipality include Skånevik and Fjæra. The two largest villages in the municipality are Etnesjøen with 1,159 residents and Skånevik with 594 residents (all figures from 1 January 2015).
The 735-square-kilometre (284 sq mi) municipality is the 154th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Etne is the 201st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 4,073. The municipality's population density is 5.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (15/sq mi) and its population has increased by 0.8% over the previous 10-year period.
Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad, Ullensvang, Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord, the latter three are located in the neighboring county of Rogaland.
A Norwegian motion picture called United was shot in Etne with local people as actors.

## General information

Etne was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Originally, Etne encompassed the area around the Etnefjorden and the surrounding valleys. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the neighboring municipality of Skånevik was dissolved and merged into its neighboring municipalities. All of Skånevik located south of the Åkrafjorden and east of the village of Åkra on the north side of the fjord (population: 1,493) was merged into Etne.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Etnefjorden (Old Norse: Eðni). The name is likely derived from the old name for the river "Etneelvi", Atn or Etn. The meaning of the old river name may come from etja which means "to drive forward" or "to goad" or it might come from eta which means "to eat".

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 16 December 1983. The official blazon is "Per pale dovetailed azure and argent" (Norwegian: Kløyvt av blått og kvitt med duestjertsnitt). This means the arms have are divided with a vertical line that is dovetailed. The field (background) to the left of the line has a tincture of blue. To the right of the line, the field has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design was chosen to represent the strong unity between the two former municipalities of Skånevik and Etne that were joined to form one municipality in 1965. The arms were designed by Magnus Hardeland and John Digernes. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Etne. It is part of the Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin.
Churches in Etne :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Etne | Gjerde Church | Etnesjøen | 1676 |
| Etne | Grindheim Church | Etnesjøen | 1728 |
| Etne | Stødle Church | Etnesjøen | 1160 |
| Skånevik | Skånevik Church | Skånevik | 1900 |
| Skånevik | Fjæra Chapel | Fjæra | 1913 |

## Geography

Etne is situated south of the city of Bergen and it borders the municipalities of Kvinnherad and Ullensvang in Vestland county and the municipalities of Sauda, Suldal, and Vindafjord in Rogaland county.
Etne has a varied landscape, extending from the Etnefjorden, Skånevikfjorden, and Åkrafjorden at sea level, through the villages up to the high mountains. In the far north, there is a barren and heavily eroded mountain glacier, Folgefonna, where the municipality's highest point rises 1,638 metres (5,374 ft) above sea level. Folgefonna National Park is partially located in Etne. In addition to that national park, Etne has three nature reserves: Brattholmen, Skåno, and Langebudalen. Lakes in the area include Løkjelsvatnet. The famous waterfall Langfossen is located in northern Etne.

## Climate

Climate data for Etne II (8 m, precipitation 2005-2024, extremes 2016-2024) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.7 (60.3) | 16.2 (61.2) | 23.2 (73.8) | 32.7 (90.9) | 30.2 (86.4) | 34.8 (94.6) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.6 (87.1) | 21.7 (71.1) | 18.3 (64.9) | 12.8 (55.0) | 34.8 (94.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) | 0.8 (33.4) | 2.8 (37.0) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.3 (59.5) | 15.1 (59.2) | 12.2 (54.0) | 7.7 (45.9) | 3.6 (38.5) | 1.2 (34.2) | 7.5 (45.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.8 (1.8) | −17.9 (−0.2) | −17.2 (1.0) | −7.3 (18.9) | −2.8 (27.0) | 1.8 (35.2) | 4.1 (39.4) | 2.5 (36.5) | 0.7 (33.3) | −5.8 (21.6) | −12.2 (10.0) | −14.5 (5.9) | −17.9 (−0.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 230 (9.1) | 194 (7.6) | 162 (6.4) | 110 (4.3) | 98 (3.9) | 115 (4.5) | 143 (5.6) | 169 (6.7) | 206 (8.1) | 226 (8.9) | 228 (9.0) | 250 (9.8) | 2,131 (83.9) |
| Source: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute ||||||||||||||

## History

Recent archeological findings indicate that the area was already inhabited around 500 BC.

## Population

| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1845 | 2,416 | — |
| 1855 | 2,553 | +0.55% |
| 1865 | 2,610 | +0.22% |
| 1875 | 2,599 | −0.04% |
| 1890 | 2,324 | −0.74% |
| 1900 | 2,113 | −0.95% |
| 1910 | 2,078 | −0.17% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1920 | 2,118 | +0.19% |
| 1930 | 2,035 | −0.40% |
| 1946 | 2,416 | +1.08% |
| 1951 | 2,452 | +0.30% |
| 1960 | 2,512 | +0.27% |
| 1970 | 3,930 | +4.58% |
| 1980 | 3,980 | +0.13% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1990 | 4,037 | +0.14% |
| 2000 | 3,917 | −0.30% |
| 2010 | 3,882 | −0.09% |
| 2020 | 4,062 | +0.45% |
| 2023 | 4,073 | +0.09% |
Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1965, causing a significant change in the population. Source: Statistics Norway and Norwegian Historical Data Centre :

## Government

Etne 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 Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Etne 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.
Etne kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 3 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Industry and Business Party (Industri‑ og Næringspartiet) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Etne kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 2 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Etne kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 4 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne 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) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local list (Krinslista) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 4 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local list (Krinslista) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 4 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| | Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 2 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 9 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 1 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 6 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Etne local list (Etne bygdeliste) | 2 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Framstegspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Non-party list (Upolitisk liste) | 2 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 5 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Non-party list (Upolitisk liste) | 1 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 7 |
| | New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local list for Skånevik (Krinsliste for Skånevik) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 29 |
Etne kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne heradsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristeleg Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne heradsstyre 1955–1959 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høgre) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Etne heradsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 11 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Etne heradsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 14 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Etne heradsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 7 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 3 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 14 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 24 |
Etne heradsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Nynorsk) | Party name (in Nynorsk) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeidarpartiet) | 6 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 11 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgarlege Felleslister) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 5 |
| 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. |||

### Mayors

The mayors (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Etne (incomplete list):
* 2000–2007: Amund Enge (H)
* 2007–2015: Sigve Sørheim (Sp)
* 2015–2019: Siri Klokkerstuen (Ap)
* 2019–present: Mette Heidi Bergsvåg Ekrheim (Sp)

## Transportation

The European route E134 highway runs the length of the municipality connecting it to the city of Haugesund in the southwest and to Oslo in the east. The highway runs through Etnesjøen and then northeastwards along the Åkrafjorden before crossing into the neighboring municipality of Odda. There are many tunnels along the route, some quite long, including the Åkrafjord Tunnel, Fjæra Tunnel, Markhus Tunnel, and Rullestad Tunnel.
The Eintveitbrua is a bridge in rural Etne that is not connected to the road network. It is considered to be a bridge to nowhere.

## Notable people

* Erling Skakke (1115 at Etne – 1179), a Norwegian Jarl (Earl) during the 12th century
* Magnus V of Norway (1156 at Etne – 1184), the King during the Civil war era in Norway
* Jacob Børretzen (1900 in Etne – 1989), a hymnwriter and linguist
* Ingvar Moe (1936 in Etne - 1993), a poet, novelist, and children's writer
* Hans Olav Tungesvik (1936 in Skånevik – 2017), a physician and politician
* Osmund Kaldheim (born 1964), a businessman, civil servant, and politician who grew up in Etne
* Ivar Bjørnson (born 1977 in Etne), a composer and guitarist for the progressive black metal band Enslaved
* Anne Lise Frøkedal (born 1981 in Etne), a folk-pop singer-songwriter known by her stage name Frøkedal