Jølster Municipality
Jølster Municipality
Jølster kommune | |
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View of the river Jølstra | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Sogn og Fjordane within Norway | |
Jølster within Sogn og Fjordane | |
| Coordinates: 61°32′30″N 06°24′32″E / 61.54167°N 6.40889°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 | Skei |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2011–2019) | Oddmund Klakegg (Sp) |
| Area (upon dissolution) | |
• Total | 670.87 km2 (259.02 sq mi) |
| • Land | 619.61 km2 (239.23 sq mi) |
| • Water | 51.26 km2 (19.79 sq mi) 7.6% |
| • Rank | #167 in Norway |
| Highest elevation | 1,826.8 m (5,993 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 3,047 |
| • Rank | #260 in Norway |
| • Density | 4.5/km2 (12/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +3.3% |
| Demonym | Jølstring |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1431 |
Jølster is a former municipality in the old Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The 671-square-kilometre (259 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 village of Skei. Other villages in the municipality included Helgheim, Ålhus, Vassenden, and Langhaugane.
Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the 670.87-square-kilometre (259.02 sq mi) municipality was the 167th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Jølster Municipality was the 260th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 3,047. The municipality's population density was 4.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (12/sq mi) and its population had increased by 3.3% over the previous 10-year period.
Jølster was located at the centre of the old Sogn og Fjordane county and was known for its rich cultural traditions in home crafts, folk music, song, dancing, and creative arts. Agriculture was the largest industry in the municipality. The principal attraction in Jølster was the scenery, with easy access to the glaciers Grovabreen, Jostedalsbreen, and Myklebustbreen. Jølster was home to part of the largest glacier of continental Europe, the Jostedalsbreen as well as a clear green lake named Jølstravatnet. The trout caught in Jølstravatn were renowned throughout Norway and beyond.
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Jølster be closed.