Editing Karlsøy Municipality

{{short description|Municipality in Troms, Norway}}
{{Other places|Karlsøy (disambiguation){{!}}Karlsøya}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Karlsøy
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = <hr />{{native name|se|Gálssa suohkan}}
|former_name            = Karlsø herred
|image_skyline          = Torsvaag kaaja.jpg
|image_caption          = View of the Kåja island with [[Torsvåg Lighthouse]] off [[Vanna (Troms)|Vanna]]
|idnumber               = 5534
|county                 = Troms
|district               = Nord-Troms
|capital                = [[Hansnes]]
|language               = Neutral
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonym                = Karlsøyværing
|coatofarms             = Karlsøy komm.svg
|flag                   = 
|webpage                = www.karlsoy.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Mona Benjaminsen
|mayor_party            = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2019
|elevation_max_m        = 1049.3
|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              = 103
|area_total_km2         = 1091.60
|area_land_km2          = 1050.59
|area_water_km2         = 41.01
|area_water_percent     = 3.8
|population_as_of       = 2024
|population_rank        = 268
|population_total       = 2237
|population_density_km2 = 2
|population_increase    = -4.2
|coordinates            = {{coord|70|07|48|N|19|25|51|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 34W |utm_northing = 7781144 |utm_easting = 0440488 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Karlsøy''' ({{langx|se|Gálssa suohkan}}) is an island [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Troms]] [[Counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Hansnes]]. Other villages include [[Dåfjord]], [[Hessfjord]], [[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]], [[Torsvåg]], [[Vannvåg]], and [[Vannareid]]. The municipality is made up of many islands including [[Ringvassøya]], [[Reinøya (Troms)|Reinøya]], [[Vannøya]], [[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]], and [[Rebbenesøya]] plus several uninhabited islands (many of which were formerly inhabited). Some of the currently uninhabited islands include [[Helgøya (Troms)|Helgøya]], [[Nordkvaløya]], [[Grøtøya]], and [[Nordfugløya]].<ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Karlsøy |url=http://snl.no/Karls%C3%B8y |access-date=2012-12-16 |language=no}}</ref>

The {{convert|1092|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 103rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Karlsøy is the 268th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,237. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|2|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 4.2% 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==
Karlsøy has been a [[Church of Norway]] [[parish]] for many years. Many immigrants, mostly from Finland, resided in Karlsøy as evidenced by the 1801 census.<ref name="nordem">{{Cite book |last=Sølvi Sogner |title=Nordic Demography: Trends and Differentials |last2=Gunnar Thorvaldsen |publisher=Unipub forlag |year=2002 |isbn=978-82-7477-091-1 |editor-last=Jørgen Carling |location=Oslo |page=264 |chapter=Surnames as proxies place of origin in the 1801 census for Norway |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QxIEAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> The analysis of the census data revealed that the family names of these people such as Aderup, [[Blix]] and [[Rosenlund (surname)|Rosenlund]] were foreign-sounding.<ref name=nordem/> 

The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of Karlsøy was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see the [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1867, the southern district of Karlsøy (population: 862) was transferred from Karlsøy to the neighboring [[Lyngen Municipality]] (that area later became part of [[Ullsfjord Municipality]]). On 1 September 1886, the western island district of Karlsøy (population: 828) was separated from Karlsøy to become the new [[Helgøy Municipality]]. This left Karlsøy with 1,334 inhabitants.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, [[Helgøy Municipality]] was merged back into Karlsøy Municipality. At the same time, all of the mainland areas of Karlsøy (the northern part of the Lyngen [[peninsula]], with 1,001 inhabitants) was transferred from Karlsøy to neighboring [[Lyngen Municipality]]. After all the changes, the new Karlsøy had 3,414 residents. On 1 January 2008, the southern part of the island of [[Reinøya (Troms)|Reinøya]] was transferred from [[Tromsø Municipality]] to Karlsøy Municipality.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="gov" />

On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed [[Troms og Finnmark]] county. Previously, it had been part of the old [[Troms]] county.<ref name="snl5">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Troms og Finnmark |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Troms_og_Finnmark |access-date=2019-12-26 |date=2019-12-24 |editor-last=Mæhlum |editor-first=Lars |language=no}}</ref> On 1 January 2024, the [[Troms og Finnmark]] county was divided and the municipality once again became part of [[Troms]] county.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-05 |title=Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024 |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/kommunestruktur/fylkesinndelingen-fra-2024/id2922222/ |publisher=Regjeringen.no |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the small [[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]] island ({{langx|non|Kalsøe}}) since the first [[Karlsøy Church]] was built there. The first element is the [[genitive case]] of the male name {{wikt-lang|non|Karl}}. The last element is {{wikt-lang|no|øy}} which means "[[island]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=py5MAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Tromsø amt |date=1911 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=17 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=162 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref> Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled ''Karlsø''. On 6 January 1908, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Karlsøy''. The letter ''y'' was added to the end of the word to "Norwegianize" the name ({{lang|da|ø}} is the Danish word for "island" and {{lang|no|øy}} is the Norwegian word).<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1908 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1908. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015110481021_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=24}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 12 December 1980. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], an eagle head [[Erasure (heraldry)|erased]] [[argent]]"'' ({{langx|no|I blått et avrevet sølv ørnehode}}). This means the arms have a blue [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is the head of a [[white-tailed eagle]]. The eagle head has 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 blue color in the field symbolizes the importance of the sea to the island community. The eagle head was chosen since one of [[Europe]]'s largest colonies of these birds is found on the island of [[Nord-Fugløya]] in the municipality. Furthermore, the eagle symbolizes the importance of [[fishing]] for the municipality. The arms were designed by Hallvard Sandvik.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Karlsøy |access-date=2023-01-27 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Karlsøy, Troms (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-19-36.html |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Karlsøy kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/he10081205031147.tif.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dkarls%25C3%25B8y |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Karlsøy Municipality. It is part of the [[Tromsø domprosti]] (arch-[[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Karlsøy'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="4"|Karlsøy||[[Helgøy Church]]||[[Helgøya (Troms)|Helgøya]]||1742
|-
|[[Karlsøy Church]]||[[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]]||1854
|-
|[[Ringvassøy Church]]||[[Hansnes]]||1977
|-
|[[Sengskroken Church]]||[[Vanna (Troms)|Vanna]]||1962
|}

==Economy==
Karlsøy is among the world's most important [[export]]ers of [[dried and salted cod]], with [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], and [[Brazil]] among the main markets.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} The population is almost totally dependent on fishing.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} There are also goat herding businesses and some musicians that live on the island. There is also some tourism, including a festival that runs in the Summer. There are plans for 50 holiday homes to be built on the isle.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

==Geography and nature==
[[File:Vanna fra ferga.jpg|thumb|350px|The island Vanna seen from the ferry]]
The municipality consists of islands only. [[Ringvassøy]]a, Norway's sixth largest island, is the largest island in the municipality. [[Nordkvaløya]], [[Helgøya (Troms)|Helgøya]], [[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]], [[Vannøya]], [[Reinøya (Troms)|Reinøya]], and [[Rebbenesøya]] are the other major islands. The highest point in the municipality is the {{convert|1049.3|m|adj=on}} tall mountain [[Soltindan]] on the island of Ringvassøy.<ref name="elev" />

The islands of Rebbenesøya and Ringvassøya are split (as was Reinøya before 2008), with the southern part belonging to neighboring [[Tromsø Municipality]]. The reason is that the borders were drawn when boat was the only means of transportation; then it made sense that the southern parts of the islands belonged to Tromsø while the northern parts belonged to Karlsøy. Today, when roads have replaced the boats, the situation is different which is why the Norwegian government transferred all of the island of Reinøy to the Karlsøy Municipality on 1 January 2008.<ref name="gov">{{Cite web |date=December 2006 |title=Søndre del av Reinøy i Troms overføres til Karlsøy kommune |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/ministries/krd/press/pressemeldinger/2006/Sondre-del-av-Reinoy-i-Troms-overfores-til-Karlsoy-kommune.html?id=437140 |access-date=2008-12-04 |publisher=Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development |language=no}}</ref> 

[[File: Fv302_road_towards_southeast_near_Mikkelvik,_Ringvassøya,_Troms,_Norway,_2014_July.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Near Mikkelvik, Ringvassøya island]]
[[Karlsøya (Troms)|Karlsøya]], the little island after which the municipality is named, has a village with the 19th century [[Karlsøy Church]]. The inhabitants include the original inhabitants, [[hippie]]s, and [[Islam in Norway|Norwegian Muslims]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

The island of [[Helgøya (Troms)|Helgøya]], the former seat of the old [[Helgøy Municipality]], in the western part of Karlsøy Municipality, is today a more or less an abandoned village of wooden houses and the old [[Helgøy Church]]. The island can only be reached when services are celebrated in the church, and ferry rides are organized.

Lake [[Skogsfjordvatn]], in the centre of [[Ringvassøya]], is a lake with some fishing, surrounded by sub-Arctic [[forest]]s. This is Norway's largest lake in an island. The island of [[Vannøya]] has several villages, including Burøysund and [[Torsvåg]], the latter offering views of the [[Atlantic]] from the [[Torsvåg Lighthouse]].

==Climate==
Karlsøy mostly has a cool oceanic climate ([[subpolar oceanic climate]]) using the -3°C isotherm, or a very mild [[subarctic climate]] using the 0°C isotherm. Spring and summer is the driest season, while autumn and winter is much wetter. Torsvåg lighthouse has been recording temperature since 1933, and is situated on the northwestern tip of Vanna island. The eastern and inland part of the islands will have slightly warmer summers and slightly colder winters. The record low at Torsvåg is {{convert|-15.1|°C}} recorded January 1979. The record high {{convert|27.2|°C}} is from July 1966. The average date for the last overnight freeze (low below {{convert|0|°C|1|abbr=on}}) in spring is 6 May<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2012 |title=Siste frostnatt om våren |url=https://www.yr.no/artikkel/siste-frostnatt-om-varen-1.8119060}}</ref> and average date for first freeze in autumn is 25 October<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 September 2013 |title=Første frostnatt |url=https://www.yr.no/artikkel/forste-frostnatt-1.11261900}}</ref> giving a frost-free season of 171 days (1981-2010 average for Torsvåg).

{{Weather box 
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|location     = Torsvåg 1991-2020 (21 m, extremes 1939-2025)
|Jan record high C = 9.6  | Jan record low C = -15.1
|Feb record high C = 10  | Feb record low C = -14
|Mar record high C = 10   | Mar record low C = -12.3
|Apr record high C = 15.8 | Apr record low C = -9.1
|May record high C = 22.4   | May record low C = -4.6
|Jun record high C = 26.1 | Jun record low C = -2
|Jul record high C = 27.2 | Jul record low C = 2.8
|Aug record high C = 25.5 | Aug record low C = 3
|Sep record high C = 22.9 | Sep record low C = -1.6
|Oct record high C = 19   | Oct record low C = -5.4
|Nov record high C = 13.8 | Nov record low C = -9.6
|Dec record high C = 12.5 | Dec record low C = -11.9
|Jan high C=1.8
|Feb high C=1.4
|Mar high C=2
|Apr high C=4.3
|May high C=7.9
|Jun high C=11
|Jul high C=14.1
|Aug high C=13.6
|Sep high C=11
|Oct high C=6.8
|Nov high C=4.4
|Dec high C=2.9
|year high C=
|Jan low C=-1.6
|Feb low C=-2.1
|Mar low C=-1.5
|Apr low C=0.5
|May low C=3.6
|Jun low C=6.5
|Jul low C=9.2
|Aug low C=9.4
|Sep low C=7.3
|Oct low C=3.6
|Nov low C=1.3
|Dec low C=-0.4
|year low C=
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C=0
|Feb mean C=-0.4
|Mar mean C=0.1
|Apr mean C=2.2
|May mean C=5.5
|Jun mean C=8.5
|Jul mean C=11.3
|Aug mean C=11.2
|Sep mean C=8.9
|Oct mean C=5.2
|Nov mean C=2.8
|Dec mean C=1.2
|year mean C=
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour=green <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
|Jan precipitation mm=87
|Feb precipitation mm=73
|Mar precipitation mm=75
|Apr precipitation mm=53
|May precipitation mm=47
|Jun precipitation mm=41
|Jul precipitation mm=49
|Aug precipitation mm=69
|Sep precipitation mm=81
|Oct precipitation mm=106
|Nov precipitation mm=85
|Dec precipitation mm=90
|year precipitation mm=
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norwegian Meteorological Institute |url=http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39080&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL}}</ref>
|source 2= NOAA - WMO averages 91-2020 Norway <ref>{{Cite web |title=NOAA WMO normals Norway 1991-2020 |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Norway/CSV/?C=D;O=A}}</ref>
}}
{{Weather box 
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|collapsed   = yes
|location    = [[Torsvåg]] 1961-1990
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
|Jan high C =0.7
|Feb high C =0.6
|Mar high C =1.3
|Apr high C =3.2
|May high C =6.9
|Jun high C =10.8
|Jul high C =13.6
|Aug high C =13.2
|Sep high C =9.9
|Oct high C =6.3
|Nov high C =3.3
|Dec high C =1.5
|year high C=5.9
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C =-1.1
|Feb mean C =-1.2
|Mar mean C =-0.5
|Apr mean C =1.4
|May mean C =4.8
|Jun mean C =8.0
|Jul mean C =10.8
|Aug mean C =10.7
|Sep mean C =7.9
|Oct mean C =4.6
|Nov mean C =1.6
|Dec mean C =-0.3
|year mean C=3.9
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
|Jan low C =-2.9
|Feb low C =-3.0
|Mar low C =-2.2
|Apr low C =-0.3
|May low C =2.9
|Jun low C =6.0
|Jul low C =8.6
|Aug low C =8.8
|Sep low C =6.3
|Oct low C =3.0
|Nov low C =0.0
|Dec low C =-2.1
|year low C=2.1
<!-- Average number of precipitation days -->
|unit precipitation days=  1 mm<!-- If entering the average number of days, then the unit requirement should be used, because this varies between countries. E.g. 0.2 cm, 0.2 mm. -->
|Jan precipitation days=14.5
|Feb precipitation days=12.5
|Mar precipitation days=12.1
|Apr precipitation days=11.9
|May precipitation days=10.5
|Jun precipitation days=11.0
|Jul precipitation days=10.9
|Aug precipitation days=11.7
|Sep precipitation days=15.0
|Oct precipitation days=17.4
|Nov precipitation days=16.3
|Dec precipitation days=15.9
|year precipitation days=159.7
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour=green <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
|Jan precipitation mm=73
|Feb precipitation mm=56
|Mar precipitation mm=57
|Apr precipitation mm=48
|May precipitation mm=45
|Jun precipitation mm=50
|Jul precipitation mm=52
|Aug precipitation mm=59
|Sep precipitation mm=76
|Oct precipitation mm=97
|Nov precipitation mm=80
|Dec precipitation mm=85
|year precipitation mm=778
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
Karlsøy 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 [[Nord-Troms og Senja District Court]] and the [[Hålogaland Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Karlsøy is made up of 17 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                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Troms Romsa |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/troms%20romsa/karls%C3%B8y#seats |access-date=2024-01-04 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, & Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_no             = Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Karlsøy Pension List
|otherparty_no1            = Karlsøy Pensjonistliste
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Troms og Finnmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/troms%20og%20finnmark/karls%C3%B8y#seats |access-date=2019-10-26 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Karlsøy Common List
|otherparty_no             = Karlsøy Fellesliste
|otherparty_number         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_no             = Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Troms Romsa |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/troms%20romsa/karls%C3%B8y#seats |access-date=2019-10-26 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Kyst                      = 2
|otherparty                = Common List for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, and Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_no             = Felleslista for Ringvassøy, Reinøy, og Rebbenesøy
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Kyst                      = 2
|otherparty                = Reinøy List
|otherparty_no             = Reinøylista
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Kyst                      = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_no             = Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_number         = 2
|otherparty1               = Western Vannøy non-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 9
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_no             = Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_number         = 3
|otherparty1               = Western Vannøy non-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 27
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|otherparty                = Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_no             = Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_number         = 4
|otherparty1               = Western Vannøy non-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste
|otherparty_number1        = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 14
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|otherparty                = Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_no             = Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_number         = 7
|otherparty1               = Western Vannøy non-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Vestre Vannøy upolitiske liste
|otherparty_number1        = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 15
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Common list for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_no             = Fellesliste for Rebbenesøy, Ringvassøy og Reinøy
|otherparty_number         = 5
|otherparty1               = Socialist Unity List
|otherparty_no1            = Sosialistisk enhetsliste 
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 9
|otherparty                = Vannøy Non-party List
|otherparty_no             = Vannøy Upolitiske Liste
|otherparty_number         = 2
|otherparty1               = Independent Voters
|otherparty_no1            = Uavhengige Velgere
|otherparty_number1        = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Local_Lists               = 13
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|Høyre                     = 3
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|AFS                       = 9
|Local_Lists               = 9
|note = On 1 January 1964, [[Helgøy Municipality]] became part of Karlsøy Municipality.
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Local_Lists               = 21
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Local_Lists               = 21
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Local_Lists               = 16
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|AFS                       = 1
|Local_Lists               = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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                     = 16
|Local_Lists               = 16
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Karlsøy
|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=2020-03-18 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 4
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|AFS                       = 3
|Local_Lists               = 2
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Karlsøy is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vinje |first=Ulf L. |url=http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2010090608038 |title=Folk ved havet – Karlsøy kommune 1838–1998 |pages=102–107 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dahl Bratrein |first=Håvard |url=http://karlsoy.com/bygdebok/ |title=Karlsøy og Helgøy Bygdebok |publisher=Karlsøy kommune |year=1989 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1838–1841: [[Nils Jønsberg]] 
*1841–1845: Ole Ulrich Berg 
*1846–1849: Hans Julius Knudsen  
*1850–1855: Anders Selquist 
*1856–1860: Fredrik Altmann 	
*1861–1862: Anders Selquist 
*1863–1864: Ole Rasmussen Bræk  
*1865–1866: Ole Jørgen Falch 
*1867-1867: Hans Martin Høegh  
*1869–1873: Stener Johannes Tandberg  
*1874–1898: Adolf Martin Helberg  
*1899–1903: [[Alfred Eriksen]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
*1904–1919: Martin Simonsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1920–1922: Peder Dahl ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
*1923–1924: Martin Simonsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1925–1928: Anton B. Haugjord ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1929–1931: Mikal Petersen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1932–1934: Anton B. Haugjord ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1935–1937: Sivert Nordeide ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1937–1941: Arthur Sandvik ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
*1941–1944: Sverre Hoel ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
*1945-1945: Alv Gaasland ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
*1945–1947: Arthur Sandvik ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
*1947–1950: Olav Simonsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1950–1960: Birger Aspenes ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1960–1961: Johannes Johnsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1961–1969: Harald Larsen ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
*1969–1983: Otto Klemetsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1983–1987: Jan Hugo Sørensen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*1987–1999: Thor Tøllefsen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1999-2003: Hanny Ditlefsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*2003-2007: Thor Tøllefsen ([[Kystpartiet|Kp]])
*2007-2011: Bent Gabrielsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*2011-2015: Hanny Ditlefsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
*2015–2019: Mona Pedersen ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
*2019-present: Mona Benjaminsen ([[Norwegian Labour Party|Ap]])
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
The municipal centre is at Hansnes, which can be reached through an [[undersea tunnel]] from Tromsø, and the drive is about one hour. From here [[ferry|ferries]] depart to Vannøya, Reinøya, and Karlsøya. The [[Langsund Tunnel]] is under construction and was planned to be completed by 2015, but it is currently on hiatus. It is expected to connect the islands of [[Reinøya (Troms)|Reinøya]] and [[Ringvassøya]]. The few inhabitants of Rebbenesøya are served by a ferry from Mikkelvik on the western side of Ringvassøya.

[[File:Fra Burøysund.jpg|thumb|right|300px|View from Burøysund]]

==Attractions==
Karlsøy attractions include:
* The island of [[Nordfugløya]], one of Norway's major [[bird cliff]]s, including [[puffin]] colonies.
* [[Fugløykalven Lighthouse]], northwest of Nord-Fugløya
* There is a flat high [[plateau]] on Nordfugløya, {{convert|600|m|abbr=on}} above sea level, where [[Arctic]] [[Rubus chamaemorus|cloudberries]] grow. The island can only be reached in the [[cloudberry]] season, when picking expeditions are organized from Burøysund.

== Notable people ==
* [[Karl Marthinsen]] (1896 in Karlsøy – 1945), the Norwegian commander of [[Statspolitiet]] during the Nazi occupation in WWII
* [[Solvejg Eriksen]] (1903 in Karlsøy – 1993), a journalist, author, and women's rights activist
* [[Marthe Kristoffersen]] (born 1989 in Vannøya), a cross-country skier who competed at the [[2010 Winter Olympics]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/karlsoy Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://karlsoyfestival.com/ Karlsøy Festival]

{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{sister bar|auto=y|d=y|c=y|voy=Troms|wikt=Karlsøy}}
{{Troms}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karlsoy}}
[[Category:Karlsøy| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Troms]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]