Editing Ballangen Municipality

{{short description|Former municipality in Nordland, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Ballangen
|former                 = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|official_name          = 
|image_skyline          = 
|image_caption          = 
|idnumber               = 1854
|county                 = Nordland
|district               = Ofoten
|capital                = [[Ballangen (village)|Ballangen]]
|established            = 1 July 1925
|preceded               = [[Evenes Municipality]]
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2020
|succeeded              = [[Narvik Municipality]]
|demonym                = Ballangsværing<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andersen |first=Sander |date=2012-03-09 |title=Ballangsværing bak AWG-stadion |url=https://www.nrk.no/sapmi/ballangsvaering-bak-awg-stadion-1.8027775 |work=NRK |language=no}}</ref>
|language               = Bokmål
|coatofarms             = Ballangen komm.svg
|flag                   = Flag of Ballangen.svg
|mayor                  = Per Kristian Arntzen
|mayor_party            = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2015-2020
|elevation_max_m        = 1724
|highest_point_ref      = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://kartverket.no/Kunnskap/Fakta-om-Norge/Hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-hver-kommune/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312031919/https://kartverket.no/Kunnskap/Fakta-om-Norge/Hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-hver-kommune/ |archive-date=2019-03-12 |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref>
|area_rank              = 119
|area_total_km2         = 932.22
|area_land_km2          = 846.38
|area_water_km2         = 85.84
|area_water_percent     = 9.2
|population_as_of       = 2019
|population_rank        = 292
|population_total       = 2470
|population_density_km2 = 2.6
|population_increase    = -5.8
|coordinates            = {{coord|68|18|23|N|16|44|39|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Ballangen''' ({{langx|se|Bálák}}) is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Nordland]] [[Counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. The municipality existed from 1925 until its dissolution in 2020 when it became part of [[Narvik Municipality]]. The {{convert|932|km2|adj=on}} municipality was part of the [[Districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Ofoten]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality was the [[Ballangen (village)|village of Ballangen]]. Other villages in the municipality included [[Bjørkåsen]], [[Kjeldebotn]], [[Kobbvika]], and [[Skarstad, Nordland|Skarstad]].

Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the {{convert|932|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 119th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Ballangen was the 292nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,470. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|2.6|PD/km2}} and its population had decreased by 5.8% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

The municipality bordered [[Narvik Municipality]] to the east and [[Tysfjord Municipality]] to the south, and had a short border with [[Sweden]] to the southeast. Ballangen was situated on the southern shore of [[Ofotfjorden]]. Ballangen also included the long and narrow [[Efjorden]], just south of the much larger Ofotfjorden. Its immediate surroundings were dominated by [[fjord]]s, [[mountain]]s, and [[forest]]s. Ballangen relied on the nearby [[Narvik (town)|town of Narvik]] as its economic base.

==General information==
[[File:Efjord1.jpg|thumb|left|Efjord in Ballangen July 2003. The bridge is part of the [[European route E6|E6]] road.]]
The municipality of Ballangen was established on 1 July 1925 when it was separated from the large [[Evenes Municipality]]. The new municipality encompassed all of the area of Evenes Municipality that was located south of the [[Ofotfjorden]]. Initially, Ballangen had 3,270 residents.<ref name="Dag" />

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1962, the southern part of [[Lødingen Municipality]] (the island of [[Barøya]] and the area surrounding the [[Efjorden]]; population: 433) was transferred from Lødingen Municipality to Ballangen Municipality.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |year=1999 |isbn=9788253746845 |language=no}}</ref>

On 1 January 2020, the municipality was merged with the neighboring [[Narvik Municipality]] and the eastern half of [[Tysfjord Municipality]] to form a new, larger [[Narvik Municipality]]. This decision had been reached in 2017 after national and local discussions involving municipal mergers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karlsen |first=Tone Anita |date=2017-08-22 |title=Ny Narvik tar form |url=http://www.ht.no/nyheter/2017/08/22/Nye-Narvik-tar-form-15192004.ece |access-date=2017-09-10 |work=Harstad Tidende |language=no}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 18 July 1980 and it was in use until 1 January 2020 when the municipality was dissolved. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]], a hammer [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] [[Pale (heraldry)|in pale]]"'' ({{langx|no|På grønn bunn en gull opprett hammer}}). This means the arms have a green [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is an upright [[hammer]]. The hammer has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The green color in the field symbolizes the importance of [[agriculture]] and the hammer was chosen to represent [[mining]] in the municipality. There used to be [[Copper extraction techniques|copper mines]] in the municipality. The arms were designed by [[Hallvard Trætteberg]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Ballangen |access-date=2023-01-29 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ballangen, Nordland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-18-54.html |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ballangen kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/he10081205031008.tif.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dballangen |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality is named after the old ''[[Ballangen (village)|Ballangen]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Bagangr}}) which is located at the head of a small fjord with the same name. The first element is {{lang|non|bag}} which has an unknown meaning. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|angr}} which means "[[fjord]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Unger |first=Carl Rikard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5sQYYO_JIXMC |title=Sproglig-historiske studier |publisher=H. Aschehoug & Co. |year=1896 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=77 |language=no |access-date=18 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |author-link=Oluf Rygh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K21BAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nordlands amt |date=1905 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=16 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=293 |language=no}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Ballangen |url=http://snl.no/Ballangen |access-date=2012-05-22 |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Ballangen Municipality. It was part of the [[Ofoten prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Ballangen'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="3"|Ballangen||[[Ballangen Church]]||[[Ballangen (village)|Ballangen]]||1923
|-
|[[Efjord Chapel]]||[[Kobbvika]]||1985
|-
|[[Kjeldebotn Church]]||[[Kjeldebotn]]||1956
|}

==History==
The first person living in Ballangen was Lodve Lange (''Lodve the long''), who is mentioned in [[Heimskringla]] as being one of King [[Olaf I of Norway|Olav Tryggvason]]'s most trusted warriors, and being placed near the king in the famous ship [[Ormen Lange (longship)|Ormen Lange]] ''(long serpent)''.<ref name="Fylkesleksikon">{{Cite web |date=15 December 2010 |title=Lodve Lange |url=https://www.nfk.no/fylkesleksikon/innhold/kommuner/ballangen/lodve-lange.852245.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815140638/https://www.nfk.no/fylkesleksikon/innhold/kommuner/ballangen/lodve-lange.852245.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2017 |website=Fylkesleksikon |publisher=Nordland fylkeskommune |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Lodve probably participated in the [[Battle of Svolder]] in the year 1000, and might have been killed there. He lived at Saltvik, which is near the fjord, east of today's [[Ballangen (village)|village of Ballangen]].<ref name="Fylkesleksikon" />

There is a long history of [[mining]] in Ballangen, starting from the 17th century. Over the years as many as 36 mines have been operated in Ballangen, including minerals like [[copper]], [[nickel]] and [[iron]], [[zinc]], [[manganese]], and [[lead]], but the most serious mining started in 1911 with Bjørkåsen Gruver mining mostly [[pyrite]].  Mining for nickel and [[olivine]] continued until 2002. There is also a [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] [[quarry]] in Ballangen.  Ballangen is the main agricultural municipality in the Ofoten region.<ref name="snl" /> The [[Ballangen Museum]] is located in the village of Bjørkåsen in the municipality and presents the local mining history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ballangen Museum |url=http://www.museumnord.no/en/ballangen-museum/ |access-date=September 13, 2018 |website=Museum Nord}}</ref>

Ballangen has the dubious distinction of having Norway's highest rate of sick leave from work,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Gerald |date=13 August 2017 |title=Ballangen, in Ofoten, enjoys dubious distinction of having Norway's highest absence from work due to sickness |url=http://norwaytoday.info/finance/ballangen-ofoten-enjoys-dubious-distinction-norways-highest-absence-work-due-sickness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815074642/http://norwaytoday.info/finance/ballangen-ofoten-enjoys-dubious-distinction-norways-highest-absence-work-due-sickness/ |archive-date=15 August 2017 |work=Norway Today}}</ref> probably due to the high number of people who worked in the mines there, and related environmental effects.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kelion |first=Leo |date=15 August 2017 |title=Record-sized data centre planned inside Arctic Circle |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-40922048 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

==Government==
While it existed, Ballangen Municipality was responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality was governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] was [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}}</ref> The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [[Ofoten District Court]] and the [[Hålogaland Court of Appeal]]. 

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Ballangen 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 [[Political party|party]]. 
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 2016
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref>
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|note = On 1 January 2020, Ballangen Municipality became part of [[Narvik Municipality]].
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 2012
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Nordland |url=https://valgresultat.no/(menu:navigate/nordland)?type=ko&year=2011 |access-date=2019-10-27 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 2008
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 2004
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|H/KrF                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 2000
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|H/KrF/V                   = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1996
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1992
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1988
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1984
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1980
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|smallparty                = Joint list of the [[Liberal Party (Norway)|Liberal Party]] and Free Voters
|smallparty_no             = Venstre og Frie velgere 
|smallparty_number         = 1
|smallparty_color          = linear-gradient(135deg, {{Party color|Liberal Party (Norway)}} 50%, white 50%);
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1976
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|otherparty                = Non-socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Ikkesosialistisk fellesliste
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1972
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1968
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|start                     = 1964
|end                       = 1967
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|NKP                       = 1
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|NKP                       = 2
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 5
|Local_Lists               = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|NKP                       = 3
|Local_Lists               = 11
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|NKP                       = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|NKP                       = 3
|Local_Lists               = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Ballangen
|herad                     = 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                     = 16
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 7
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Ballangen 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 web |title=Ballangen: Egen kommune i 1925 |url=http://petterreinholdtsen.github.io/mp-arkiv/MP-arkiv/G.nr.40%20Lille%20Ballangen/Lille%20Ballangen.pdf |access-date=2023-03-04 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1925-1929: John Magnus Østvik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1930-1931: Lorentz Andreas Benjaminsen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1932-1934: Gunnar Carlsen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1935-1938: Nils Rognli Grande ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1939-1941: Harald Strømsnes ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1941-1942: John Magnus Østvik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1943-1945: Oskar Hole ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945-1946: Harald Strømsnes ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1946-1947: Peder Andreas Eriksen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1948-1951: Kador Johansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1952-1956: John Magnus Østvik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1956-1961: Leif Rødseth ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1962-1963: Atle-Rolv Dahl ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1964-1967: Agnar Bjørkseth ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1967-1976: Ansgar Dahl ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1976-1979: Bjarne Jakobsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1979-1987: Kolbjørn Dahlin ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1987-1991: Knut Knutsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1991-1993: Asmund Dybvand ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1993-1999: Ivar Skoglund ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1999-1999: Per Kristian Arntzen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1999-2003: Einar Gabrielsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2003-2007: Per Kristian Arntzen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2007-2015: Anne-Rita Nicklasson ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2015-2020: Per Kristian Arntzen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
{{div col end}}

==Geography==
[[File:Frostisen summits above Skjomen.JPG|thumb|right|350px|View of the [[Frostisen]] glacier]]
The [[Ballangen (village)|village of Ballangen]] lies along the southern shore of the [[Ofotfjorden]] along the [[European route E6]] highway. The highway crosses the [[Efjord Bridges]] on its way to Ballangen and then on again to the town of [[Narvik (town)|Narvik]].

The [[Efjorden]] area is dominated by large slopes of bare rock with a narrow green area of vegetation near the fjord. The [[obelisk]]-like mountain, [[Stetind]], nearby is dominated by the same, dark blue-grey rock, which contrasts with the clear water in the fjord where the sand banks can be seen just below the surface. Climbers and hikers are often tempted to test their skills on the rocky slopes. The large [[Frostisen]] [[glacier]] is located in the southeastern part of the municipality. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|1724|m|adj=on}} tall mountain [[Frostisen]].<ref name="elev" />

In the east, Ballangen bordered on lake [[Siiddašjávri]] which it shares with [[Sweden]]. Siiddašjávri is the [[List of lakes in Norway|14th largest lake]] which lies in or partially in Norway. Other lakes in the municipality included [[Børsvatnet]], [[Geitvatnet]], [[Hjertvatnet]], [[Kjelvatnet (Ballangen)|Kjelvatnet]], [[Langvatnet (Ballangen)|Langvatnet]], [[Melkevatnet]], [[Røvatnet]], [[Søre Bukkevatnet]], and [[Storvatnet (Ballangen)|Storvatnet]].

The island of [[Barøya]] sits near the entrances to the [[Efjorden]] from the [[Ofotfjorden]]. The [[Barøy Lighthouse]] sits on the northern edge of the island.

==Notable people==
* [[Anni-Frid Lyngstad]], a singer in the group [[ABBA]] who was born in Ballangen
* [[Geir Bratland]], a musicion in [[Apoptygma Berzerk]], [[Dimmu Borgir]], [[God Seed]], [[The Kovenant]], and [[Satyricon (band)]] was born and raised in Ballangen

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Tosno]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], [[Russia]]

==See also==
*[[List of former municipalities of Norway]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.nrk.no/nordland/xl/datasenter-i-ballangen-skulle-redde-bygda_-men-dodsfall-og-kryptoselskap-stoppet-kolos-og-lillebo-1.15483391 News article about 2021 data center deal in Ballangen]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061201045626/http://norwegen.piranho.de/Nordland_Ballangene.htm Some nice pictures from Ballangen]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311025805/http://www.ballangen-camping.no/nor/camping-e.html Ballangen Camping]

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[[Category:Ballangen| ]]
[[Category:Narvik]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1925]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2020]]