Rauland (; ) is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1860 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now part of Vinje Municipality in the traditional district of Øvre Telemark. The administrative centre was the village of Raulandsgrend (also known as Rauland) which is where Rauland Church is located.
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the municipality was the 28th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Rauland Municipality was the 512th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had increased by 10.9% over the previous 10-year period.
General information Administrative history Rauland Municipality was established in 1860 when the following areas were merged: the northeastern district of Vinje Municipality (population: ) and the Øyfjell area of Laurdal Municipality (population: ).
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Rauland Municipality (population: ) was dissolved and merged with Vinje Municipality (population: ) to form an enlarged Vinje Municipality.
Name The municipality is named after the old Rauland prestegjeld. The prestegjeld was named after the old Rauland farm () since the first Rauland Church was built there. The first element is which means "bog iron". The last element is which means "land" or "district". The many marshlands in the area are filled with bog iron and for centuries its production was an important local resource.
Churches The Church of Norway had three parishes () within Rauland Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Rauland prestegjeld and the Vest-Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Rauland MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtRaulandRauland ChurchRaulandsgrend1803MøsstrondMøsstrond ChurchMøsstrond1923ØyfjellØyfjell ChurchØyfjell1833
Geography The municipality was a very mountainous, rural area, with about 90% of its area at elevations of above sea level or higher. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Fliseggi. Ullensvang Municipality (in Hordaland county) was located to the northwest, Nore og Uvdal Municipality (in Buskerud county) was located to the north, Tinn Municipality was located to the east, Seljord Municipality was located to the southeast, Lårdal Municipality was located to the south, and Vinje Municipality was located to the west.
Government While it existed, Rauland Municipality was 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 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 Vest-Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Rauland Municipality was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Mayors The mayor () of Rauland Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1860–1861: Aanund O. Gjore 1862–1863: Rikard A. Berge 1864–1867: Johannes Brekka 1868–1871: Bjørn A. Gaardsgjore 1872–1875: Rikard A. Berge 1876–1881: Knut A. Svalastoga 1882–1883: Rikard A. Berge 1884–1885: Aslak A. Lid 1886–1890: Knut B. Svalastoga 1891–1893: Tor Vaa 1894–1895: Olav R. Berge 1896–1900: Aslak J. Groven 1901–1901: Sivert Vaagen 1902–1904: Olav R. Berge 1905–1913: Sivert Vaagen 1914–1919: Bjørn Lofthus 1920–1928: Aslak K. Øygarden 1929–1931: Rasmus Graasvoll 1932–1934: Aslak K. Svalastoga (Ap) 1935–1940: Knut Kramviken 1941–1942: Aslak K. Øygarden (NS) 1942–1945: Einar Vaagen (NS) 1945–1945: O.N. Longvik (Ap) 1946–1959: Aslak K. Svalastoga (Ap) 1959–1963: Tarjei Kramviken (Ap)
Notable people Sveinung Svalastoga (1772–1809), a rose-painter, poet and woodcarver Rikard Berge (1881–1969), a folklorist, museologist, and magazine editor Aslaug Vaa (1889–1965), a poet and playwright Olav Aslakson Versto (1892–1977), a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party Dyre Vaa (1903–1980), a sculptor and painter
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References