Førde Municipality
Førde Municipality
Førde kommune | |
|---|---|
Førde town center | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Sogn og Fjordane within Norway | |
Førde within Sogn og Fjordane | |
| Coordinates: 61°26′35″N 05°54′13″E / 61.44306°N 5.90361°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Sogn og Fjordane |
| District | Sunnfjord |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Disestablished | 1 Jan 2020 |
| • Succeeded by | Sunnfjord Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Førde |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2011–2019) | Olve Grotle (H) |
| Area (upon dissolution) | |
• Total | 585.96 km2 (226.24 sq mi) |
| • Land | 553.01 km2 (213.52 sq mi) |
| • Water | 32.95 km2 (12.72 sq mi) 5.6% |
| • Rank | #190 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 1,633 m (5,358 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 13,092 |
| • Rank | #93 in Norway |
| • Density | 22.3/km2 (58/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +10.6% |
| Demonym | Førdianar |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1432 |
Førde is a former municipality in the old Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The 586-square-kilometre (226 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2020. The area is now part of Sunnfjord Municipality in the traditional district of Sunnfjord in Vestland county. The administrative centre was the town of Førde. Some notable villages in the municipality included Bruland, Holsen, Moskog, and Haukedalen. The Øyrane area within the town of Førde was a large industrial/commercial area for the region.
Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 585.96-square-kilometre (226.24 sq mi) municipality was the 190th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Førde Municipality was the 93rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 13,092. The municipality's population density was 22.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (58/sq mi) and its population had increased by 10.6% over the previous 10-year period.
The European Route E39 highway passed through the municipality, and it passed by the lake Holsavatnet. Førde Airport, Bringeland was the regional airport, located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the town centre with flights that connect Oslo and Bergen with Førde. The airport was actually located in the neighboring Gaular Municipality, just south of the border. The largest hospital in Sogn og Fjordane county, Førde Central Hospital, and the regional offices of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation are located in the town. The International Førde Folk Music Festival is held each summer. The local newspaper is called Firda.