Editing Kvinnherad

{{short description|Municipality in Vestland, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Kvinnherad
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = Kvinnherred herred<ref name="NLF" />
|former_name1           = Quindherred herred
|image_skyline          = Husnes.jpg
|image_caption          = View of the [[Husnes]] area
|idnumber               = 4617
|county                 = Vestland
|district               = Sunnhordland
|capital                = [[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonym                = Kvinnhering
|language               = Nynorsk
|coatofarms             = Kvinnherad komm.svg
|webpage                = www.kvinnherad.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Vegard Bjørnevik
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 104
|area_total_km2         = 1090.75
|area_land_km2          = 1042.67
|area_water_km2         = 48.08
|area_water_percent     = 4.4
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 93
|population_total       = 13058
|population_density_km2 = 12.5
|population_increase    = -1.9
|coordinates            = {{coord|59|55|41|N|06|02|13|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6647114 |utm_easting = 0334408 |geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Kvinnherad''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Vestland]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Sunnhordland]], along the [[Hardangerfjorden]]. The municipality was the 5th in size in former [[Hordaland]] county.<ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Kvinnherad |url=https://snl.no/Kvinnherad |access-date=2015-03-30 |language=no}}</ref>

The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]]. The largest village is [[Husnes]], with about 6,000 people living in or near the village. Other villages include [[Ænes]], [[Åkra, Hordaland|Åkra]], [[Dimmelsvik]], [[Eidsvik, Hordaland|Eidsvik]], [[Hatlestrand]], [[Herøysund]], [[Høylandsbygd]], [[Ølve]], [[Sæbøvik]], [[Sunndal, Vestland|Sunndal]], [[Sunde, Kvinnherad|Sunde]], [[Uskedal]], and [[Valen, Kvinnherad|Valen]].

The {{convert|1091|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 104th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Kvinnherad is the 93rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 13,058. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|12.5|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 1.9% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb hist 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>

In the southern part of Kvinnherad you will find the typical fjord landscape of [[western Norway]]. The areas of [[Mauranger]] and [[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]] are said to have about the most beautiful fjord landscape of [[Hardanger]] as a whole: narrow fjords, wild water-falls, and the nearby [[Folgefonna]], the third biggest [[glacier]] in Norway.<ref name="snl" />

==General information==
[[File:Halsnoey-19-k6.jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[Sæbøvik]] area]]
[[File:Halsnøy Kloster.jpg|thumb|left|View of [[Halsnøy Abbey]]]]
[[File:Ænes kirke, Kvinnherad kommune, Hordaland.jpg|thumb|left|The 13th century [[Ænes Church]]]]
The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Qvindherred'' was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1907, a small area northwest of the villages of [[Ølve]] and [[Husa]] (population: 67) was transferred from neighboring [[Tysnes]] municipality to Kvinnherad. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1965, the following areas were merged into one large municipality of Kvinnherad:<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>
*All of [[Skånevik]] municipality located north of the [[Skånevikfjorden]]-[[Åkrafjorden]] and west of the [[Åkra, Hordaland|Åkra]] area (population: 1,189)
*All of [[Fjelberg]] municipality (population: 2,308)
*All of the old Kvinnherad municipality (population: 5,831)
*All of [[Varaldsøy]] municipality, except for the [[Mundheim]] area, (population: 511)

On 1 January 2013, the southwestern part of the Folgefonna peninsula (south of Kysnesstranda) was transferred from Kvinnherad to the neighboring [[Jondal]] municipality. This removed forty residents and {{convert|37.1|km2}} of land area from the municipality.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olsen |first=Kjartan Wang |date=2011-12-08 |title=Jondal overtar Kvinnherad-bygder |url=http://www.hardanger-folkeblad.no/hfnyheiter/Jondal/article5838770.ece |access-date=2014-06-21 |publisher=Hardanger folkeblad |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old name for the area ({{langx|non|Kvinnaherað}}). The first element may be derived from the word {{lang|non|tvinnr}} which means "double", likely referring to the two rivers running through [[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]], the [[administrative centre]] of the municipality. The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|herað}} which means "district" or "countryside".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ud5LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Søndre Bergenhus amt |date=1910 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=11 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=16–17 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref> The municipal name has been spelled several ways throughout history. Before 1889, the name was written ''Quindherred'', then in 1889 the spelling was "modernized" to ''Kvinnherred''. At that time, all municipalities in Norway were titled {{wikt-lang|no|herred}} (which was used similarly to the word "municipality"), so it was formally named ''Kvinnherred herred'', which looked a little repetitive.<ref name="NLF">{{Cite book |last=Helland |first=Amund |url=https://runeberg.org/norgeslof/12-2/0040.html |title=XII. Søndre Bergenhus Amt. Anden del |publisher=H. Aschehoug & Company |year=1921 |series=Norges land og folk |location=Kristiania, Norway |page=30 |language=no |chapter=Kvinnherred herred |accessdate=2023-11-27}}</ref> On 3 November 1917, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Kvinnherad''.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1917 |title=Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1917. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digitidsskrift_2015102381014_001 |journal=[[Norsk Lovtidend]] |language=no |location=Kristiania, Norge |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |pages=1057–1065}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 18 June 1982. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Argent]], a [[Pall (heraldry)|pall]] wavy [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]]"'' ({{langx|no|På kvit grunn ein blå gaffelkross laga med bølgjesnitt}}). This means the arms have a [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) 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 [[ordinary (heraldry)|ordinary]] is a [[Pall (heraldry)|pall]] with wavy edges. The design of the arms show the [[confluence]] of two blue rivers into one on a white or silver background. The rivers symbolize the many [[stream]]s and [[river]]s in the municipality, especially the Hattebergselvi and the Melselvi, that come together just before they run into the sea at [[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]]. The arms were designed by Truls Nygaard, after a proposal by Magnus Hardeland. 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=Kvinnherad |access-date=2023-05-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kvinnherad, Hordaland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-12-24.html |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1982-08-16 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1982-06-18-1092 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has nine parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Kvinnherad. It is part of the [[Sunnhordland prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Bjørgvin]].

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Kvinnherad'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="2"|Fjelberg og Eid||[[Eid Church (Kvinnherad)|Eid Church]]||[[Eidsvik, Hordaland|Eidsvik]]||1824
|-
|[[Fjelberg Church]]||[[Fjelbergøya]]||1722
|-
|rowspan="1"|Hatlestrand||[[Hatlestrand Church]]||[[Hatlestrand]]||1885
|-
|rowspan="3"|Husnes og Holmedal||[[Holmedal Church (Hordaland)|Holmedal Church]]||[[Utåker]]||1815
|-
|[[Husnes Church]]||[[Husnes]]||1874
|-
|[[Valen Church]]||[[Valen, Kvinnherad|Valen]]||1978
|-
|rowspan="1"|Kvinnherad||[[Kvinnherad Church]]||[[Rosendal, Norway|Rosendal]]||c. 1250
|-
|rowspan="1"|Uskedalen||[[Uskedalen Church]]||[[Uskedal]]||1914
|-
|rowspan="1"|Varaldsøy||[[Varaldsøy Church]]||[[Varaldsøy]]||1885
|-
|rowspan="1"|Ænes||[[Ænes Church]]||[[Ænes]]||c. 1200
|-
|rowspan="1"|Ølve||[[Ølve Church]]||[[Ølve]]||1861
|-
|rowspan="1"|Åkra||[[Åkra Church (Hordaland)|Åkra Church]]||[[Åkra, Hordaland|Åkra]]||1735
|}

==Economy==
The economy of Kvinnherad is based on the rich water resources within its boundaries. This includes [[power production]], [[aluminium production]] ([[SØRAL|Sør-Norge Aluminium]]), [[fish farming]], [[shipbuilding]] ([[Eidsvik Skipsbyggeri]], [[Hellesøy Verft]], [[Bergen Group Halsnøy]]), and lifeboat production ([[Umoe Schat-Harding]], [[Norsafe]], [[Eide Marine Tech]], [[Noreq]]). These industries are spread throughout the municipality.

Kvinnherad has two local newspapers, ''[[Kvinnheringen]]'' and ''[[Grenda (newspaper)|Grenda]]'', as well as a local TV channel, [[TV Sydvest]].

==Government==
Kvinnherad 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 [[Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court]] and the [[Gulating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Kvinnherad is made up of 35 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                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Vestland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/vestland/kvinnherad#seats |access-date=2024-01-23 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 9
|INP                       = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/vestland/kvinnherad#seats |access-date=2020-02-02 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Grønne                    = 2
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|SV/R                      = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 1
|Grønne                    = 1
|SV/R                      = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Hordaland |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/hordaland/kvinnherad#seats |access-date=2020-02-02 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|smallparty                = Population Party
|smallparty_no             = Innbyggjarpartiet
|smallparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7 
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 5
|otherparty                = Cross-Party Common List
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Independent Centre
|otherparty_no1            = Uavhengig sentrum
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|smallparty                = Population Party
|smallparty_no             = Innbyggjarpartiet
|smallparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 8
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 9
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Cross-Party Common List
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste
|otherparty_number         = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Cross-Party Common List
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste
|otherparty_number         = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party common list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste  
|otherparty_number         = 11
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 13
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party common list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk samlingsliste  
|otherparty_number         = 13
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 12
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-02-20 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 8
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Election list for Halsnøy and the Fjellberg islands
|otherparty_no             = Valliste for Halsnøy og Fjellbergøyane
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 10
|Senterpartiet             = 12
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|DLF/V                     = 3 
|otherparty                = Hatlestrand's list
|otherparty_no             = Hatlestrand si liste 
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Ølve's list
|otherparty_no1            = Ølve si liste 
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Venstre                   = 6
|Local_Lists               = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Venstre                   = 6
|Local_Lists               = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 37
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 12
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 37
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 12
|Venstre                   = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 37
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Local_Lists               = 33
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 40
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Local_Lists               = 34
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 40
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Local_Lists               = 32
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 40
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Local_Lists               = 32
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kvinnherad
|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=2020-05-10 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 40
|Høyre                     = 2
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 4
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Local_Lists               = 30
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Kvinnherad:<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-09-05 |title=Alle ordførarane gjennom tidene |work=[[Grenda (newspaper)|Grenda]] |page=10 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1838–1845: Elias Børge Unger
* 1846–1849: Christian Lerche Dahl
* 1850–1851: Gabriel Andreas Heiberg
* 1852–1855: Samson Torsen Stueland
* 1856–1857: Christian Lerche Dahl
* 1858–1861: Hans H. Helland
* 1862–1862: O. Matthiesen
* 1862–1865: Ole L. Berget
* 1866–1867: Lars Olsen Skeie
* 1868–1869: Hans H. Helland
* 1870–1873: Clemmet Gerhardsen Roalstveit
* 1874–1875: Michael L. Langballe
* 1876–1881: Ole Andreas Olsen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])		
* 1882–1885: Godskalk Knudsen Aarsand ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1886–1893: [[Andreas Lavik]] ([[Moderate Liberal Party|MV]])
* 1894–1898: Ivar Arnesen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1899–1916: Axel Lea ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1917–1941: Ingemar Traavik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1942–1945: Einar Tvedt ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945–1949: Ingemar Traavik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
* 1949–1955: Lars Eikeland ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1956–1959: Magnus Aksnes ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1960–1963: Knut Skaaluren ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1964–1971: Berge Sæberg ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1972–1975: Jens Arnesen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1976–1979: Berge Sæberg ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1980–1985: Jens Arnesen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1986–1993: Thorleif J. Hellesøy ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1994–1995: Eirik Meyer Eide ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1995–2003: Aksel Kloster ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2003–2007: Bjarne Berge ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 2007–2015: [[Synnøve Solbakken (politician)|Synnøve Solbakken]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2015–2019: Peder Sjo Slettebø ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2019–2021: [[Hans Inge Myrvold]] ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2021–2023: Hilde Enstad ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2023-present: Vegard Bjørnevik ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-13 |title=Vegard Bjørnevik frå Høgre blir ordførar i Kvinnherad |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestland/vegard-bjornevik-fra-hogre-blir-ordforar-i-kvinnherad-1.16556884 |access-date=2024-01-23 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Geography==
The municipality is located along the large [[Hardangerfjorden]], mostly on the southeast side of the fjord on the [[Folgefonna]] peninsula, but also a small part on the other side. It includes several notable islands in the fjord including [[Varaldsøy (island)|Varaldsøy]], [[Fjelbergøya]], [[Borgundøya]], and [[Halsnøy]]a.<ref name="snl" />

The large [[Folgefonna National Park]], which surrounds the [[Folgefonna]] [[glacier]], is partially located in Kvinnherad. The northern part of the municipality is often referred to as [[Mauranger]]. It is the area surrounding the [[Maurangsfjorden]]. The notable [[Bondhusbreen]] glacier is located just south of that fjord, near the village of [[Sunndal, Vestland|Sunndal]]. The [[Jondal Tunnel]] and [[Folgefonna Tunnel]] both connect Mauranger with neighboring [[Odda]] and [[Jondal]] by cutting through the large mountains surrounding Mauranger.<ref name="snl" />

The municipality has many large lakes including [[Blådalsvatnet]], [[Juklavatnet]], and [[Onarheimsvatnet]]. Many of these lakes are utilized for hydroelectric power generation.

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|align       = none
|direction   = vertical
|cols        = 3
|percentages = pagr
|footnote    = Note: The municipal borders were changed in 1965, causing a significant change in the population.
|source      = [[Statistics Norway]]<ref name="ssb hist pop" /><ref name="FM">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Folketellingen 1960 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/folketellinger/kommunehefter/1960/kh_1960_1224.pdf |language=Norwegian}}</ref> and Norwegian Historical Data Centre<ref name="NHDC">{{Cite web |last=Universitetet i Tromsø – Norges arktiske universitet |author-link=University of Tromsø |title=Censuses in the Norwegian Historical Data Archive (NHDC) |url=https://rhd.uit.no/folketellinger/reg_komm_e.html}}</ref>
|1845|4044
|1855|4532
|1865|4547
|1875|4627
|1891|4760
|1900|5045
|1910|5108
|1920|5272
|1930|5293
|1946|5701
|1951|5638
|1960|5514
|1970|11811
|1980|12821
|1990|13121
|2000|13196
|2010|13187
|2020|13071
|2023|13058
}}

==Tourism and places of interest==
Kvinnherad is a popular [[tourist]] location because of its natural landscape as well as several places of interest. The most notable of which include [[Kvinnherad Church]], the [[Bondhusbreen]] glacier, the [[Høylandsbygd shipping mural|shipping mural]] in [[Høylandsbygd]], and [[Radiohola]]. Rosendal, the [[administrative centre]] of the municipality, is the site of the greatest tourist attraction in Kvinnherad: the [[Barony Rosendal]]. The Barony is the only one of its kind in Norway. It is a museum, which offers valuable information about the Union with Denmark, an important period of Norwegian history.<ref name="snl" /> It was one of the locations of the 1958 film "The Vikings" starring Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borgnine. Many of the citizens of Kvinnherad/Hardanger, Norway were used as extras.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Vikings |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052365/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv |publisher=IMDB}}</ref>

==Media gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Rosendal kirke.jpg|[[Kvinnherad Church]] in  Rosendal
File:Rosendal castle west.png|The [[Barony Rosendal]]
File:Husnes.jpg|[[Husnes]] and the [[Hardangerfjord]]
File:Bondhusbreen.jpg|[[Bondhusbreen]] glacier
File:Hardangerfjord Kvinnherad.JPG|View from [[Gjermundshamn]] across the [[Hardangerfjord]], with [[Varaldsøy]] island and [[Folgefonna]] glacier
</gallery>

== Notable people ==
[[File:Jens Tvedt.jpg|100px|thumb|Jens Tvedt, 1935]]
[[File:Hans Inge Myrvold - 33850405185.jpg|100px|thumb|Hans Inge Myrvold, 2017]]
* [[Axel Gyntersberg]] (ca.1525 – 1588 in Kvinnherad), a Norwegian nobleman and feudal overlord
* [[Johannes Lauritsson]] (ca.1540 – ca.1620), a wealthy Norwegian landowner who lived Valen 1563–1578
* [[Axel Rosenkrantz]] (1670 in Kvinnherad – 1723), a landowner and baron who owned the [[Barony Rosendal]]
* [[Andreas Lavik]] (1854–1918), a revivalist, temperance advocate, magazine editor, farmer, headmaster, and politician who lived in Kvinnherad from 1885 where he was Mayor for eight years 
* [[Jens Tvedt]] (1857 in Kvinnherad – 1935), a Norwegian novelist and writer of short stories
* [[Gisle Midttun]] (1881 in Kvinnherad – 1940), a Norwegian cultural historian and museologist
* [[Olav Midttun]] (1883 in Mauranger – 1972), a philologist, biographer, and magazine editor
* [[Ragnvald Vaage]] (1889 in Husnes – 1966), a Norwegian poet, novelist, and children's writer
* [[Sigurd Valvatne]] DSO DSC (born 1913 in Kvinnherad), a naval officer and submariner
* [[Frank Meidell Falch]] (1920 in Kvinnherad – 2013), a Norwegian media director and politician
* [[Egil Myklebust]] (born 1942 in Kvinnherad), a businessperson, lawyer, and CEO of [[SAS Group]]
* [[Lars Amund Vaage]] (born 1952 at Sunde), a novelist 
* [[Endre Hellestveit]] (born 1976 in Rosendal), a Norwegian actor<ref>{{IMDb name|1040262|Endre Hellestveit}}. Retrieved 26 October 2020.</ref>
* [[Hans Inge Myrvold]] (born 1985), a Norwegian politician and mayor of Kvinnherad in 2019
* [[Erlend Bratland]] (born 1991 in Husnes), a Norwegian singer who won [[Norske Talenter]] in 2008
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/kvinherad Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
* http://www.kvinnherad.kommune.no {{in lang|no}}
* http://www.baroniet.uio.no {{in lang|no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070402232016/http://www.kvinnheradguiden.no/ Kvinnheradguiden.no] {{in lang|no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160602013712/http://www.kvinnheringen.no/ Kvinnheringen.no] {{in lang|no}}
* [http://www.grenda.no/ Grenda.no] {{in lang|no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323014847/http://www.innsida.no/ Innsida.no] {{in lang|no}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110724075504/http://www.husnes.ungdomsskule.no/ Husnes Ungdomsskule] {{in lang|no}}

{{Vestland}}
{{authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

[[Category:Kvinnherad| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Vestland]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]