Editing Frei Municipality

{{short description|Former municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Frei
|former                 = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = Fredø herred
|image_skyline          = 
|image_caption          = 
|idnumber               = 1556
|county                 = Møre og Romsdal
|district               = [[Nordmøre]]
|capital                = [[Rensvik]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2008
|succeeded              = [[Kristiansund Municipality]]
|demonym                = Freiøying
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = 
|flag                   = 
|mayor                  = Maritta B. Ohrstrand
|mayor_party            = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 1999–2007
|elevation_max_m        = 629.23
|highest_point_ref      = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/fakta-om-norge/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref>
|area_rank              = 410
|area_total_km2         = 64.80
|area_land_km2          = 63.69
|area_water_km2         = 1.11
|area_water_percent     = 1.7
|population_as_of       = 2007
|population_rank        = 184
|population_total       = 5428
|population_density_km2 = 83.8
|population_increase    = 6.8
|coordinates            = {{coord|63|03|45|N|07|48|11|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Frei''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Møre og Romsdal]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|65|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2008 when it was incorporated into [[Kristiansund Municipality]]. It was located between the [[Kvernesfjorden]] and [[Freifjorden]], primarily including the [[Frei (island)|island of Frei]] and the smaller surrounding islands.<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Frei_-_sogn_og_tidligere_kommune|Frei (sogn og tidligere kommune)|2025-03-08|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26}}</ref>

[[File:Rensvik.JPG|thumb|left|View of Rensvik, the largest urban area in Frei]]
[[File:Frei rådhus.JPG|thumb|left|View of the old municipal offices for Frei Municipality]]
The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality was the village of [[Rensvik]], the largest village on the island, located on the northern end of the island. Other main villages that were in Frei Municipality included the villages of [[Nedre Frei]] and [[Storbakken]], both located on the southern end of the island and the village of [[Kvalvåg]], located on the eastern side of the island. The main church for the municipality was [[Frei Church]], located in the village of [[Nedre Frei]].

Prior to its dissolution in 2008, the {{convert|64.8|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 410th largest by area out of the 431F municipalities in Norway. Frei Municipality was the 184th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of about 5,428. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|83.8|PD/km2}} and its population had increased by 6.8% 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>

==General information==
The municipality of ''Fredø'' (later spelled ''Frei'') was established on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1882, a small part of Fredø Municipality (population: 40) was merged into the neighboring [[Øre Municipality]] to the south. On 1 September 1893, an area of Frei Municipality (population: 231) was merged into the newly-created [[Gjemnes Municipality]]. In 1897, the [[Grip, Norway|Grip archipelago]] (population: 198) was separated from Frei Municipality to form the new [[Grip Municipality]].<ref name="snl" /><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>

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, the northern part of the [[Frei (island)|island of Frei]] (population: 884) was transferred from [[Bremsnes Municipality]] to Frei Municipality. Also on the same date, the part of Frei Municipality that was located on the island of [[Aspøya, Tingvoll|Aspøya]] (population: 147) was transferred to the neighboring [[Tingvoll Municipality]]. On 1 January 2008, Frei Municipality ceased to exist when it was merged into the neighboring [[Kristiansund Municipality]] to the north.<ref name="Dag" />

===Name===
The municipality is named after the [[Frei (island)|island of Frei]] ({{langx|non|Freiðr}}). The name's original meaning is unknown, but it may be derived from {{wikt-lang|non|fríðr}} which means "lovely", "beautiful", or "fair". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled ''Fredø''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=691LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt |date=1908 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=13 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=348 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 6 February 1987 and it was in use until 2008 when the municipality ceased to exist. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Gules]], two crowns [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] [[Pale (heraldry)|in pale]]"'' ({{langx|no|I rødt to gull kroner, 1-1}}). This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a two gold [[Crown (headgear)|crowns]]. The crowns have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] which means they are commonly colored yellow, but if the shield is made out of metal, then gold is used. The two crowns symbolize the relationship between Frei and two Norwegian Kings: [[Haakon I of Norway|King Haakon the Good]] had a hunting lodge in Bjerkestrand in Frei in the 10th century, and the King and the villagers took part on the [[Battle of Rastarkalv]] in the municipality in the year 955. [[Håkon VII|King Haakon VII]] visited the village in 1955 at the 1000th anniversary of the battle. The arms were designed by the local architect and painter Nils Fiske. 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=Frei |access-date=2023-04-02 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Frei, Kristiansund, Møre og Romsdal (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-15-56.html |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1987-02-06 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1987-02-06-87 |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> 

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Frei Municipality. It was part of the [[Ytre Nordmøre prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Møre]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Frei'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Frei||[[Frei Church]]||[[Nedre Frei]]||1897
|}

==Geography==
The municipality was located between the [[Kvernesfjorden]] and [[Freifjorden]], primarily including the [[Frei (island)|island of Frei]] and the smaller surrounding islands.<ref name="snl" /> [[Kristiansund Municipality]] was located to the north, [[Aure Municipality]] was to the northeast, [[Tingvoll Municipality]] was to the southeast, [[Gjemnes Municipality]] was to the south, and [[Averøy Municipality]] was to the west. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|629.23|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Freikollen on the island of [[Frei (island)|Frei]].<ref name="elev" />

==Government==
While it existed, Frei 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 SNL|kommunestyre|kommunestyre|2024-12-31|Hansen|Tore|2024-11-25|editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref> The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [[Frostating Court of Appeal]]. 

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Frei was made up of 23 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                      = Frei
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|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>
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Children's Party
|otherparty_no             = Oppvekstpartiet
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Frei free voters
|otherparty_no             = Frei frie velgere
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Free voters
|otherparty_no             = Frie velgere
|otherparty_number         = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Free voters
|otherparty_no             = Frie velgere
|otherparty_number         = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Free Voters
|otherparty_no             = Frie Velgere  
|otherparty_number         = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 12
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 12
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 12
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 2
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Frei
|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=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 12
|Local_Lists               = 12
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Frei was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williamsen |first=Kristian |url=https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2013030808005 |title=Kulturhistorie for Frei |publisher=Frei kulturstyre |year=1986 |volume=3 |page=243 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1838–1841: Einer Eriksen Aspen 
* 1842–1843: Robert Williamsen 
* 1844–1847: Ole Aslaksen Sandnes 
* 1848–1851: Einer Eriksen Aspen 
* 1852–1855: Nils Frei 
* 1856–1856: Johan Ryther 
* 1857–1857: Nils Frei 
* 1858–1859: Ole Nilsen 
* 1860–1872: Jacob Messel Williamsen
* 1873–1875: Eisten H. Storvik 
* 1876–1877: Johannes Bugge 
* 1878–1883: Eisten H. Storvik 
* 1884–1885: Erik Jordal 
* 1886–1897: Nils Williamsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1898–1907: Eystein Andreas Nilssen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1908–1913: Didrik Frei ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1914–1916: Nils Williamsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1917–1919: Didrik Frei ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1920–1922: Jacob Messel Williamsen
* 1923–1931: Anders Grimstad
* 1932–1934: Jacob Messel Williamsen
* 1935–1937: Nils Bjerkestrand 
* 1938–1941: Eisten O. Bjerkestrand
* 1942–1944: Peder E. Husby 
* 1944–1945: Kristian Williamsen 
* 1945–1945: Eisten O. Bjerkestrand 
* 1946–1947: Nils Bjerkestrand ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1948–1959: Axel Fiske ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1959–1959: Lars Grimstad ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1960–1967: Harald Bergem ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1968–1969: Jakob Knutsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1970–1971: Edvin Kvalvik ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1972–1975: Arne Lillevik ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1976–1979: Torbjørn Nyland 		
* 1980–1981: Arne Lillevik ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1982–1983: Erling Bjerkestrand ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1984–1991: Tord M. Kvalvåg ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1992–1999: Anders O. Bergem ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 1999–2007: Maritta B. Ohrstrand ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
{{div col end}}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|commonscat=y|voy=Møre og Romsdal|wikt=Frei}}
{{Møre og Romsdal}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Kristiansund]]
[[Category:Nordmøre]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2008]]