Mandal Municipality

Mandal () is a former municipality in the old Vest-Agder county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2020. The area is now part of Lindesnes Municipality in the traditional district of Sørlandet in Agder county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mandal. The town of Mandal was the second largest town by population in the old Vest-Agder county after the nearby town of Kristiansand and it is also the fourth largest city in all of the Sørlandet/Agder region. Besides the town of Mandal, the municipality also includes the villages of Bykjernen, Skjebstad, Sånum-Lundevik, Skogsfjord-Hesland, Krossen, Harkmark, Skinsnes-Ime, and Tregde-Skjernøya.

At the time of its dissolution in 2020, the municipality is the 321st largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Mandal is the 77th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 15,600. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 9.9% over the last decade.

The river Mandalselva is a salmon river that flowed through the municipality with its river mouth just outside the town. The town of Mandal has many small, white-painted wooden houses, which is typical of towns at the southern coast of Norway (Sørlandet). The European route E39 highway connecting Kristiansand and Stavanger was the main road through the municipality. There were connecting airplane flights and ferries to Europe from the nearby town of Kristiansand.

General information

The town of Mandal was established as a ladested municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 July 1921, a part of the neighboring Halse og Harkmark Municipality that was adjacent to the town of Mandal (population: 221) transferred into the town of Mandal.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, Mandal was significantly enlarged when the following areas were merged to form a much larger Mandal Municipality:

the town of Mandal (population: 5,446) all of Halse og Harkmark Municipality (population: 3,676) most of Holum Municipality (population: 1,127), except for the Stubstadområdet which became part of Søgne Municipality

On 1 January 1965, the unpopulated Svalemyren area of Mandal Municipality was transferred to the neighboring Søgne Municipality.

On 1 January 2020, another major municipal merger took place when the following areas were merged to form a much larger Lindesnes Municipality with its administrative centre being the town of Mandal.

all of Mandal Municipality (population: 15,659) all of Marnardal Municipality (population: 2,309) all of Lindesnes Municipality (population: 4,953)

Name The municipality is named after the town of Mandal (), which in turn is named after the Mandalen river valley in which it is located. The first element is the genitive case of the river name which is now called Mandalselva. The meaning of this old river name is uncertain, but it may be derived from the word which means "sea". The last element is which means "valley" or "dale".

Prior to 1653, the town of Mandal was named Vesterrisør (). The name was originally referring to the island Risøya outside the town, and the first element was added in the 16th century to distinguish it from the town of Østerrisør (meaning "eastern Risør"), which is now simply called Risør.

Coat of arms The coat of arms was granted on 2 July 1921, just after Mandal became a town, and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official blazon is "Azure, three salmon naiant argent" (). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is three salmon shown swimming horizontally and stacked vertically. The salmon have a tincture of argent which means they are commonly colored white, but if the arms are made out of metal, then silver is used. The blue color in the field and the salmon were chosen to symbolize the importance of salmon fishing on the river Mandalselva. Mandal is the southernmost municipality in Norway that has a large salmon population, so therefore, salmon fishing also played a major role in the economic development of the village and its trade with the rest of southern Norway. The municipality usually added a mural crown to the top of the arms to show that the municipality included the town of Mandal. The arms were designed by Hallvard Trætteberg. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches The Church of Norway has two parishes () within Mandal Municipality. It is part of the Mandal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Churches in Mandal MunicipalityParish ()Church nameLocation of the churchYear builtHolumHolum ChurchKrossen1825MandalHarkmark ChurchHarkmark1613Mandal ChurchMandal1821

Government While it existed, Mandal 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 Kristiansand District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council The municipal council of Mandal Municipality was made up of 35 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 Mandal Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

1838–1838: Anton Henrik Scheel 1839–1841: Johan Malthe Hübert 1842–1842: Hans Peter Erichsen 1843–1843: Gulow Andorsen 1844–1844: Niels Nielsen Vogt 1845–1846: Gulow Andorsen 1847–1847: Niels Nielsen Vogt 1847–1847: Daniel Peter Christian Isaachsen 1848–1852: Ole Andreas Ohlsen 1853–1854: Niels Nielsen Vogt 1855–1855: Svennik Svensen 1856–1856: Thomas Madsen 1857–1857: Carl Emil Salvesen 1858–1858: Albert Jacobsen 1859–1859: Edvard Hieronimus Bassøe Wattne 1860–1860: Jens Henrik Beer Gundersen 1861–1862: Svennik Svensen 1863–1867: Lauritz Jacobsen 1868–1868: Jens Henrik Beer Gundersen 1869–1879: Lauritz Jacobsen 1879–1880: Jens Henrik Beer Gundersen 1881–1881: Hans Peter Rude 1882–1888: Gabriel Egidius Johan Henrik Sem 1889–1891: Hjalmar Selmer 1892–1892: Johan Fredrik Ekholm Reymert 1893–1899: Jens Kraft 1900–1900: Jørgen Peter Jørgensen 1901–1901: Adolf Paludan Ulriksen 1902–1904: Jørgen Peter Jørgensen 1905–1907: Torkild Tonstad 1908–1916: Christen Andreas Christensen 1917–1919: Kristen Schmidt 1920–1922: Christen Andreas Christensen 1923–1928: Marcus Halfdan Kastrud 1929–1931: Hans Peter Tallaksen 1932–1937: Marcus Halfdan Kastrud 1938–1940: Johan Birger Pedersen 1945–1945: Johan Birger Pedersen 1946–1946: Arne Syrdahl (Ap) 1947–1947: Viktor Nygaard 1948–1951: Jørgen Ørbech Bugge 1952–1954: Viktor Nygaard 1955–1955: Olav Gundersen 1956–1957: Viktor Nygaard 1959–1959: Herman Gulowsen 1960–1963: Olav Gundersen 1964–1969: Olav Håland 1970–1971: Kjell Gase Nygaard (H) 1972–1975: Ludvig Hope Faye (H) 1976–1979: Guttorm Ihme (H) 1980–1991: Knut Lindseth (KrF) 1992–2003: Kirsten Huser Leschbrandt (H) 2003–2007: Åse Lill Kimestad (Ap) 2007–2011: Alf Godtfred Møll (FrP) 2011–2015: Tore Askildsen (KrF) 2015–2019: Alf Erik Andersen (FrP)

Geography Mandal was the southernmost municipality in all of Norway, with the tiny skerry of Pysen being the southernmost point of land in Norway proper.

Mandal Municipality bordered the North Sea to the south, Lindesnes Municipality to the west and northwest, Marnardal Municipality to the north, and Søgne Municipality to the east. The municipality included many islands and skerries along the coast including Hille, Pysen, Skjernøya, and Skogsøy. The Hatholmen Lighthouse and Ryvingen Lighthouse marked the sides of the Mannefjorden which leads north into the town of Mandal. The majority of the municipality was located in the southern Mandalen valley which follows the river Mandalselva. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Svolheia.

Climate Mandal had an oceanic climate (Cfb) with short, cool summers and long, moderately cold and wet winters.

Attractions

Mandal Municipality was a very popular holiday tourism location, with its mild and refreshing summer climate. It was famous for its long-stretching beaches surrounding the town. Sjøsanden () was the most famous beach in the municipality, as it stretches for almost a kilometre just outside the town centre. It is frequently ranked as one of Norway's most popular beaches.

The city center is known for its charming concentration of old, white, wooden houses and the Mandalselva river running through it. Another attraction is the city's church: Mandal Church. It is the largest wooden church in Norway, with 1,800 seats and a pulpit on the wall behind the altar. Also, the library, art gallery, cinema, concert hall, and theater is located in the Buen kulturhus (culture house) which was built in 2012.

The artists Gustav Vigeland, Adolph Tidemand, Amaldus Nielsen, and Olaf Isaachsen are all from Mandal, so the town is sometimes called "The Little Town with the Great Artists".

Hogganvik, in the Sånum-Lundevik area of Mandal, is the site of discovery of the Hogganvik runestone in 2009.

Economy

Mandal Municipality was notable for its shipbuilding and engineering industries. There was much trade in sailing ships, where the natural harbor of Kleven at Gismerøya was used. Large yard providing ships and marine equipment in Norway and abroad are Westermoen Hydrofoil and Båtservice yard at Skogfjorden, the later Umoe Mandal.

Moreover, the textile industry was also substantial, with several manufacturing companies that had at most 200-300 employees.

Mandal Municipality also was known for its annual Shellfish festival (Skalldyrfestivalen) the second weekend of August when many people gathered to eat Norwegian seafood.

Twin towns – sister cities Mandal had sister city agreements with the following places: Korsholm, Ostrobothnia, Finland Middelfart, Syddanmark, Denmark Oskarshamn, Kalmar, Sweden

Notable people The sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869–1943) was born in Mandal, and has a museum dedicated to him here. Vigeland's main achievement is the Vigeland Sculpture Park (Vigelandsparken) in Oslo. The painter Adolph Tidemand (1814–1876) was also born in Mandal. His most famous painting is the national romantic image of a traditional wedding on the Hardangerfjorden, which he made together with Hans Gude.

Mandal Municipality

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