Hovin (; ) is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1886 until its dissolution in 1964. The area is now divided between of Tinn Municipality and Notodden Municipality in the traditional district of Øvre Telemark. The administrative centre was the village of Hovin. The other main village in the municipality was Rudsgrendi on the opposite side of the lake Tinnsjå.
Prior to its dissolution in 1964, the municipality was the 279th largest by area out of the 689 municipalities in Norway. Hovin Municipality was the 681st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about . The municipality's population density was and its population had decreased by 24.7% over the previous 10-year period.
General information Administrative history The municipality of Hovin was established on 1 January 1886 when Gransherad Municipality was divided into two: the northern district (population: ) became the new Hovin Municipality and the southern district (population: ) continued as a smaller Gransherad Municipality. On 24 March 1903, an unpopulated part of Tinn Municipality was transferred to Hovin Municipality.
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Hovin Municipality was dissolved and its lands were split up between the neighboring Notodden Municipality and Tinn Municipality.
The following areas were merged to form an enlarged Notodden Municipality on 1 January 1964: all of Notodden Municipality (population: ) all of Heddal Municipality (population: ) most of Gransherad Municipality (population: ), except for the Øvre Jondalen area which became part of Kongsberg Municipality in Buskerud county the Rudsgrendi area on the west side of the lake Tinnsjå of Hovin Municipality (population: )
The following areas were merged to form an enlarged Tinn Municipality on 1 January 1964: all of Tinn Municipality (population: ) most of Hovin Municipality (population: ), except for the Rudsgrendi area which became part of Notodden Municipality
Name The municipality and historic Church of Norway parish () was named after the old Hovin farm () since the first Hovin Church was built there. The first element is identical to the word which means "heathen hof" or a "temple for the Norse gods". The last element is which means "meadow" or "pasture". In this context, "Hovin" likely refers to a meadow location that was associated with a pagan temple or a religious site in the past.
Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Hovin Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Gransherad prestegjeld and the Aust-Telemark prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder.
Churches in Hovin MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtHovinHovin ChurchHovin1850
Geography The large lake Tinnsjå runs through the central part of the municipality on a north-south axis. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Store Ble. Rollag Municipality (in Buskerud county) was located to the north, Flesberg Municipality (also in Buskerud) was located to the east, Gransherad Municipality was located to the south, Hjartdal Municipality was located to the west, and Tinn Municipality was located to the northwest.
Government While it existed, Hovin 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 Tinn og Heddal District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.
Municipal council The municipal council of Hovin Municipality was made up of 17 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 Hovin Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:
1886–1889: John Johnsen Rue 1890–1891: Svend Gjermundsen Graver 1892–1907: Østen G. Graver 1908–1919: Østen Uverud (V/FV) 1920–1922: Nils Hovinbøle (Ap) 1923–1934: Hans Grasdalen (V) 1935–1943: Gjermund S. Graver (Bp/NS) 1943–1944: Olav Uverud (NS) 1944–1945: Olav O. Urdal (NS) 1945–1945: O.N. Kvendalen (Ap) 1946–1947: Ole H. Johnsgård (Ap) 1947–1957: John J. Grov (Ap) 1957–1963: Halvor O. Rue (Ap)
See also List of former municipalities of Norway
References
External links 1960 census and map of the municipality (page 4)