# Lardal

Lardal (Urban East Norwegian:) is a former municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The 278-square-kilometre (107 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2018. The area is now part of Larvik Municipality. The administrative centre was the village of Svarstad. The village of Steinsholt was also part of Lardal.
The highest point in Lardal is Pikstein, which is located in western Lardal along the Buskerud county border.

## General information

The parish of Laurdal (later spelled Lardal) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The municipality included the three sub-parishes of Svarstad, Styrvoll, and Hem. On 1 January 1983, an unpopulated area of Bergan, just south of Steinsholt, was transferred to Lardal from the neighboring municipality of Hedrum. On 9 January 1987, another unpopulated area was transferred to Lardal from the neighboring municipality of Hedrum. On 1 January 2018, the municipality of Lardal was merged into the neighboring Larvik Municipality.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Lardal valley (Old Norse: Lagardalr). The first element is the genitive case of lǫgr which means "water" or "river" (referring to the local river Numedalslågen). The last element is dalr which means "valley" or "dale". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled "Laurdal". In 1889, the spelling was changed to "Lardal".

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 17 July 1992. The official blazon is "Gules, a hulder Or" (Norwegian: I rødt ei gull hulder). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a hulder. The hulder 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 hulder is a part of old Scandinavian folklore. This was chosen to represent the large forested areas in Lardal that were said to be inhabited by hulder. The arms were designed by Arvid Steen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

### Churches

The Church of Norway had three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Lardal. It was part of the Larvik prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Tunsberg.
Churches in Larvik :
| Parish (sokn) | Church name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Hem | Hem Church | Hem | c. 1100 |
| Styrvoll | Styrvoll Church | Styrvoll | c. 1150 |
| Svarstad | Svarstad Church | Svarstad | 1657 |
* Hem church
* Styrvoll church
* Svarstad church

## Government

Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Lardal by country of origin in 2017 :
| Ancestry | Number |
| Poland | 41 |
| Lithuania | 35 |
| Bosnia | 22 |
While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Vestfold District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Lardal was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Lardal kommunestyre 2016–2017 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 3 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 3 |
| | Lardal Cross-Party List (Lardal Tverrpolitiske Liste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 2012–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 2008–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 3 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 2004–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 2000–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 3 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1996–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1992–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 1 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1988–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Joint list of the Centre Party (Senterpartiet) and the Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1984–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1980–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1976–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and New People's Party (Nye Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1972–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1968–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal kommunestyre 1964–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1960–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 5 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1956–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1952–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1948–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 1 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Lardal herredsstyre 1938–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 2 |
| | Joint List(s) of Non-Socialist Parties (Borgerlige Felleslister) | 6 |
| 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 (Norwegian: ordfører) of Lardal:
* 1838-1842: C.F. Blehr
* 1842-1845: Engebret L. Sverkholt
* 1845-1852: Jacob Schjerven
* 1852-1856: Nils Hem
* 1856-1861: Jacob Schjerven
* 1861-1863: K. Olafsen
* 1863-1865: Nils Hem
* 1865-1867: Jacob Schjerven
* 1867-1871: M.O. Aschjem
* 1871-1873: Christian Smukkestad
* 1873-1881: H.J. Aschjem
* 1881-1884: Halvor L. Sogn
* 1884-1886: Gullik Hogstvedt
* 1886-1897: O.J. Schjerven
* 1897-1898: M.O. Aschjem
* 1898-1901: Gullik Hogstvedt
* 1901-1907: Rasmus Lie
* 1907-1910: J. Stensholt
* 1910-1916: Olaf G. Hogstvedt
* 1920-1922: Nils Jakob Schjerven (H)
* 1923-1928: Hans J. Lie
* 1929-1931: Nils Jakob Schjerven (H)
* 1934-1940: Halvor Sogn
* 1945-1945: Halvor Sogn
* 1946-1951: Syvert H. Lie
* 1952-1975: Nefton S. Melås
* 1976-1981: Tjodolf Hoff (Sp)
* 1984-1987: Borger Steinsholt (Ap)
* 1987-1992: Dag Terje Andersen (Ap)
* 1992-1998: Dagfinn Gjerden (Ap)
* 1998-2003: Rune Høiseth (Ap)
* 2003-2007: Nils Røsholt (Sp)
* 2007-2015: Liv Grinde (Ap)
* 2015-2017: Knut Olav Omholt (Ap)