Editing Birkenes

{{short description|Municipality in Agder, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Birkenes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|image_skyline          = Ved_Orremyra.JPG
|image_caption          = View of the [[ski]] [[terrain]] at Topdalsheia
|idnumber               = 4216
|county                 = Agder
|district               = Sørlandet
|capital                = [[Birkeland, Agder|Birkeland]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonyms               = Birkenesing<br />Borkis
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Birkenes komm.svg
|webpage                = www.birkenes.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Arild Windsland
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 183
|area_total_km2         = 637.35
|area_land_km2          = 596.06
|area_water_km2         = 41.29
|area_water_percent     = 6.5
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 175
|population_total       = 5342
|population_density_km2 = 9
|population_increase    = 9.2
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|26|58|N|08|14|00|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6479018 |utm_easting = 0455258 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Birkenes''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Agder]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Sørlandet]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Birkeland, Aust-Agder|Birkeland]], where about half the municipal population lives. Other villages in Birkenes include [[Ås, Aust-Agder|Ås]], [[Engesland]], [[Flakk]], [[Håbbesland]], [[Herefoss]], [[Mollestad]], [[Oggevatn]], [[Rugsland]], [[Senumstad]], [[Søre Herefoss]], [[Svaland]], [[Tveide]], and [[Væting]].

The {{convert|637|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 183rd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Birkenes is the 175th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 5,390. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|9|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 9.2% 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>

==General information==
[[File:Birkeland fv41 Have Gaard rugsland IMG 2282.jpg|thumb|left|View of a farm area in Birkenes]]
[[File:Landstveittjørna.JPG|thumb|left|Landscape of rural Birkenes]]
[[File:Birkenes kirke, Aust-Agder - Riksantikvaren-T198 01 0001.jpg|thumb|left|[[Birkenes Church]], circa 1858]]

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''Birkenes'' farm ({{langx|non|Birkines}}) since the first [[Birkenes Church]] was built there. The first element is {{wikt-lang|non|birki}} which means "[[birch]] wood". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|nes}} which means "[[headland]]". This farm is located on the south side of what is now the village of [[Mollestad]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1905 |edition=8 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=161 |language=no |author-link=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 5 December 1986. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]], a birch branch with three leaves [[argent]] [[Attitude (heraldry)|issuant]] from the base"'' ({{langx|no|I grønt en oppvoksende sølv bjørkekvist med tre blader}}). This means the arms have a green [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a [[birch]] tree branch with three leaves. The branch and leaves have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The green color in the field symbolizes the importance of [[agriculture]] in the municipality. The arms are a [[Canting arms|canting]] of the Norwegian word {{lang|no|bjørk}} which means [[birch]] (it is canting since ''bjørk'' is similar to "birk-" in the name Birkenes). The three leaves symbolize the three main areas in the municipality: Birkenes in the south, [[Herefoss]] in the northeast, and Vegusdal in the northwest. The arms were designed by Daniel Rike who based it off an idea by Knut Øvensen. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Birkenes |access-date=2023-01-20 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Birkenes, Aust-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-09-28.html |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-12-05 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-12-05-2273?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> {{see also-text|Coats of arms of [[Coat of arms of Bjerkreim|Bjerkreim]] and [[Coat of arms of Lavangen|Lavangen]]}}

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has three parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Birkenes. It is part of the [[Vest-Nedenes prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Birkenes'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Birkenes||[[Birkenes Church]]||[[Mollestad]]||1858
|-
|rowspan="1"|Herefoss||[[Herefoss Church]]||[[Herefoss]]||1865
|-
|rowspan="1"|Vegusdal||[[Vegusdal Church]]||[[Engesland]]||1867
|}

==History==
The historic parish of [[Tveit]] had to be divided into two [[formannskapsdistrikt]]s on 1 January 1838 because the main part of Tveit belonged to the county of [[Vest-Agder|Lister og Mandal]] and the annex of ''Birkenæs'' belonged to the county of [[Aust-Agder|Nedenæs]] and the new law said a municipality could only exist in one county, not two. Therefore, the parish was split and Birkenæs municipality was created in Nedenæs county. On 1 January 1883, an uninhabited part of Birkenes was transferred to the control of neighboring [[Landvik]] municipality.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite web |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>	

Starting in the 1960s, Norway enacted many municipal reforms such as mergers and border adjustments stemming from the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1967, the neighboring municipalities of [[Herefoss (municipality)|Herefoss]] (population: 585) and [[Vegusdal]] (population: 582) were merged into the municipality of Birkenes, creating a much larger municipality with a population of 3,050.<ref name="Dag" />

On 1 January 1970, two uninhabited areas of Neset and Råbudal in the neighboring municipality of [[Froland]] were transferred to Birkenes (these areas were formerly in the municipality of [[Mykland (municipality)|Mykland]] prior to 1967). On 1 January 1979, the uninhabited area of Landheia in Froland was transferred to the control of Birkenes municipality. Later, on 1 January 1986, the Lislevand farm area (population: 8) was transferred from Birkenes to the neighboring municipality of [[Evje og Hornnes]]. Then on 1 January 1991, the Dalen area of Birkenes (population: 60) was transferred to the neighboring municipality of Froland.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite web |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> On 1 January 2019, the Hovlandsdalen area (population: 27) was transferred from Birkenes municipality to the neighboring [[Evje og Hornnes]] municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-21 |title=Vedtak om endring av kommunegrense – overføring av Hovlandsdalen fra Birkenes kommune til Evje og Hornnes kommune, Aust-Agder fylke |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/d377736a840246f485b389f135ceae0e/birkenes_evje_hornnes.pdf |publisher=Fylkesmannen i Aust- og Vest-Agder |language=no |format=PDF}}</ref>

==Geography==
The municipality borders [[Kristiansand]], [[Vennesla]], [[Iveland]], [[Evje og Hornnes]], [[Froland]], [[Grimstad]], and [[Lillesand]] municipalities.

Birkenes is home to many lakes, including [[Herefossfjorden]], [[Nystølfjorden]], [[Ogge]], and [[Uldalsåna]]. The river [[Tovdalselva]] runs through the municipality as well.

==Government==
Birkenes Municipality is 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 is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[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 is under the jurisdiction of the [[Agder District Court]] and the [[Agder Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Birkenes is made up of 21 representatives that are 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                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/birkenes#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 6
|INP                       = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/birkenes#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|SV/G                      = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg">{{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>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/aust-agder/birkenes#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Høyre                     = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|DLF/V                     = 1
|otherparty                = Birkenes local list
|otherparty_no             = Birkenes Bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|DLF                       = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|DLF/V                     = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|start                     = 1963
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1959
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1955
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1951
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1947
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Birkenes
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1937
|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=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 7
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
{{incomplete list|date=July 2023}}
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Birkenes (incomplete list):
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1856-1863: Andreas Solberg
*1868-1869: Andreas Solberg
*1876-1879: Andreas Solberg
*1972-1991: [[Kristen K. Flaa]] ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1991-2010: Harald Vestøl ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*2010-2011: Arild Espegren ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
*2011-2015: Arild Windsland ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*2015-2019: Anders Christiansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2019-2023: Gyro Heia ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2023-present: Arild Windsland ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=Blir ordfører i Birkenes for andre gang |url=https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/blir-ordforer-i-birkenes-for-andre-gang-1.16555086 |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
Agriculture and [[lumber|logging]] are important sources of employment, but the municipality also has a small industrial base with about 400 different work sites. The largest enterprise is [[Owens Corning]] with approximately 180 employees. Other larger businesses include ''Uldal Vinduer og Dører'', ''Foss Bad'', ''Scanflex'', ''KOAB Industrier'', and ''Birkeland Trykkeri''.

==Transportation==
The [[Sørland Line]] provides rail service at [[Herefoss Station]]. Prior to 1953, the [[Lillesand-Flaksvand Line]] also served Birkenes, but that railway line was closed down and removed.

[[Norwegian National Road 41]] runs north–south through Birkenes, and is one of the main highways in this area of Norway. There are also several other important county roads in Birkenes, such as [[Norwegian County Road 404]], [[Norwegian County Road 405]], and [[Norwegian County Road 406]].

== Notable people ==
* [[Kåre Kolberg]] (1936 in Birkenes – 2014), a composer, organist, and music critic
* [[Gunhild Hagestad]] (born 1942 in Birkenes), a retired sociologist and academic
* [[Gunn Margit Andreassen]] (born 1973), a former biathlete, team bronze medallist in the [[1998 Winter Olympics]], and team silver medallist at the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] who lives in Birkenes
* [[Trude Harstad]] (born 1974 in Birkenes), a former biathlete

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Birkenes}}
{{wiktionary|Birkenes}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/birkenes Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Aust-Agder}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120214181701/http://www.visitkrs.no/en/Kommuner/Birkenes/  Welcome to Birkenes - Tourist information]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060502050703/http://www.kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T921062&kommune=T954958 Kultur i Birkenes på kart] from [[Kulturnett.no]] {{in lang|no}}

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[[Category:Birkenes| ]]
[[Category:Kristiansand region]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Agder]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]