Editing Mosjøen (section)

== History ==
[[File:Mosjoeen villabebyggelse.jpg|thumb|left|Spanning 300 years, Mosjøen's architecture includes [[villa]]s of the early 20th century]]
[[File:Engelskbruket.jpg|thumb|left|The English sawmills in 1870. As Mosjøen grew wealthier and wealthier, surrounding forests were depleted]]
[[File:Telegraph station Mosjöen 1906.jpg|thumb|left|Mosjøen's [[telegraph station]] in 1906. The town was central for infrastructure and communications in Helgeland]]

Mentioned in [[Aslak Bolt]]'s [[Aslak Bolt's cadastre|cadastre]] of the 15th century, Mo is a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[farm]] with a [[history]] at least dating to the [[Viking Age]]. Mosjøen's own history starts in the [[early modern period]]. Mosjøen was populated by 1600.<ref name="Jæger-725">Jæger, Claes-Henrik: Mosjøen i Norges Bebyggelse : Fylkesbindet for Sør-Trøndelag, Nord-Trøndelag og Nordland fylker, p. 725–732. Norsk Yrkesforlag, 1954.</ref> The earliest inhabitant known by name is Svein Beachdweller, who lived there together with his [[wife]] and [[daughter]]s in 1660.<ref name="Jæger-725" /> In the 17th and early 18th century, especially following the 1645 [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brömsebro]], several inhabitants of [[Jemtland]] [[Refugee|escaped]] to [[Trøndelag]] and to [[Nordland]]. Many of them came to the [[Vefsna]] river valley (in present-day [[Vefsn Municipality]]), including to the Mosjøen area. In the 18th century, Mosjøen as a settlement for [[Agriculture|nonagrarian]] occupations started to materialise. For example, the regional [[executioner]] resided there temporarily. As did a handful of [[Artisan|craftsmen]] and [[Official|public officials]].

From the late 16th century until the 1820s, Mo was possessed by the Mo family: [[wealth]]y [[farmer]]s as well as [[Sea captain|skippers]] and [[merchants]] who contributed to Mosjøen's gradual expansion. In 1794, a member of the family received [[Royal family|royal]] [[Privilege (law)|privilege]] to establish a [[trading post]] in Mosjøen.

In the 1860s, a group of [[Englishman|Englishmen]]—the '[[salmon]] [[lord]]s'—established The North of Europe Land & Mining Company, introducing the first [[Industrialization|industrial]] period in Mosjøen. [[Sawmill]] industry created '[[Klondike Gold Rush|Klondike conditions]]': People came from everywhere in order to get a job, to trade, and so on, and salaries were relatively high.

On 4 April 1874, King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar II]] decided to grant [[ladested]] (town) status to Mosjøen effective on 1 January 1875. As a {{lang|no|ladested}}, Mosjøen now had the privilege to [[export]] [[goods]] directly to foreign countries. As a new town, it had the right to self-government, so it was separated from [[Vefsn Municipality]] to become a separate [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] on 1 January 1876. Initially, the new town had 379 residents. In 1939, a small adjoining area of Vefsn was transferred into the town of Mosjøen.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no |isbn=9788253746845}}</ref><ref name="snlT" /><ref name="snl" /> The [[Cinema Museum (London)|Cinema Museum]] in London holds excellent film of the area in 1931 in its collection (ref HMO321) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinema Museum Home Movie Database.xlsx |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OJqSWnOFAn6RJ24jtwb21Z4Hv5svJjbp/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2021-06-08 |website=Google Docs |language=en-US}}</ref>

As the biggest and most important, central town in the [[Helgeland]] region, Mosjøen became northern headquarters of the [[German occupation of Norway|Nazi German occupiers]] between 1940 and 1945.  After the war in 1945, Mosjøen entered its second industrial period. Among several industrial establishments was [[Mosjøen Aluminum Plant]].

Mosjøen's [[coat of arms]] was granted by King [[Olav V of Norway|Olav V]] on 25 March 1960. Composed by sculptor Arthur Gustavsson, it is [[blazon]]ed ''[[Sable (heraldry)|Sable]], a [[Rooster|cock]] [[Argent]]''. The cock is traditionally equipped with [[Gules|red]] [[beak]], [[Wattle (anatomy)|wattles]], [[Comb (anatomy)|comb]], and [[claw]]s: the so-called colour of [[Weapon|armament]]. The cock represents watchfulness and fighting spirit. After the merger with [[Vefsn Municipality]] in 1962, the same coat of arms was adopted for the newly enlarged Vefsn Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1962, a major municipal merger took place. The town of Mosjøen (population: 4,628) was merged with [[Vefsn Municipality]] (population: 5,358), [[Drevja Municipality]] (population: 1,001), and [[Elsfjord Municipality]] (population: 920), creating a new municipality called Vefsn.<ref name="Dag" /><ref name="snlT" />  Upon merging, Mosjøen lost its status as a town.
 
In 1998 (after a change in the national law regarding towns), the [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Vefsn Municipality]] declared Mosjøen to have the formal status as a town once again.

===Municipal self-government (1875–1962)===
Mosjøen was a self-governing municipality from 1875 until 1962. During that time, Mosjøen was responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[unemployment]], [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|elected]] representatives, which [[Indirect election|in turn elected]] a [[mayor]].<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |access-date=2023-01-01 |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=no |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref>

====Municipal council====
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Bystyre)}} of Mosjøen was made up of 29 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]]. 
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1960
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Venstre                   = 4
|note = On 1 January 1962, Mosjøen Municipality became part of [[Vefsn Municipality]].
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1956
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 18
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1952
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|NKP                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1948
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|NKP                       = 2
|Høyre                     = 3
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|NKP                       = 2 
|Venstre                   = 4
|Local_Lists               = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1938
|end                       = 1941* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Venstre                   = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Mosjøen
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1935
|end                       = 1937 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1935 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Venstre                   = 4
|otherparty                = Non-Socialist Group
|otherparty_no             = Borgerlig Samling
|otherparty_number         = 6
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{div col end}}

====Mayors====
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Mosjøen was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who held this position:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jacobsen |first=Kjell |title=Vefsn bygdebok |publisher=Vefsn bygdeboknemnd |year=1977 |isbn=8299017343 |volume=III |location=Mosjøen |language=no |chapter=Fra århundreskiftet til frigjøringsvåren : Vefsnbygdene ca. 1900 — 1945}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jacobsen |first=Kjell |title=Vefsn bygdebok |publisher=Vefsn bygdeboknemnd |year=1975 |isbn=8299017335 |volume=II |location=Mosjøen |language=no |chapter=Overgangstid : Vefsnbygdene ca. 1820 — 1900}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1876-1877: Andreas Christian Bech Jürgensen
* 1878-1879: Johan Jakob Johannessen
* 1880-1882: Andreas Christian Bech Jürgensen 
* 1883-1887: Ole Sivert Elnan ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1888-1889: Andreas Fredrik Peter Schroeter
* 1890-1890: Ole Sivert Elnan ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1891-1891: Andreas Fredrik Peter Schroeter 
* 1891-1891: Ole Sivert Elnan ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1892-1895: Christian Fredrik Nergaard Havig ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1896-1898: Ole Sivert Elnan ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1899-1901: Erik Bathen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1902-1903: Ole Sivert Elnan ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1904-1908: Erik Bathen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1909-1909: Ole Andreas Fellingfors ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1910-1910: Erik Bathen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1910-1910: Ole Andreas Fellingfors ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1911-1913: Mathias Løkke
* 1914-1916: Thomas Riis
* 1917-1917: Anton Solbraa 
* 1918-1921: Kristian Tustervatn ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1922-1923: Ole Tobias Olsen 
* 1924-1924: Otto Bugge ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1925-1925: Ole Tobias Olsen 
* 1926-1926: Kristian Tustervatn ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1927-1931: Harald Robert Barth ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1932-1934: Hans Olaus Jarnæs ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1935-1935: Harald Robert Barth ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1936-1937: Hans Olaus Jarnæs ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1938-1941: Carl Wilhelm Johansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1941-1942: Carl August Eliassen ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1943-1945: Halfdan Sundlo ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945-1945: Carl Wilhelm Johansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1945-1945: Kristian Karlsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1946-1947: Johan Kristian Lian ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1948-1949: Ole Ferdinand Andersen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1950-1951: Ole Jakob Wika ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1952-1957: Ole Ferdinand Andersen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]) 
* 1957-1962: Einar Jensen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
{{div col end}}