Editing Lesja

{{short description|Municipality in Innlandet, Norway}}
{{about|the municipality in Innlandet, Norway|the village inside this municipality|Lesja (village)}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Lesja
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = Lesje herred
|image_skyline          = Lesja Gröna River IMG 8997.JPG
|image_caption          = View of the Lesja area
|idnumber               = 3432
|county                 = Innlandet
|district               = Gudbrandsdal
|capital                = [[Lesja (village)|Lesja]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonym                = Lesjing
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Lesja komm.svg
|flag                   = Flag of Lesja.svg
|webpage                = www.lesja.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Mariann Skotte
|mayor_party            = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2015
|area_rank              = 25
|area_total_km2         = 2259.50
|area_land_km2          = 2168.92
|area_water_km2         = 90.57
|area_water_percent     = 4
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 282
|population_total       = 1966
|population_density_km2 = 0.9
|population_increase    = -8.3
|coordinates            = {{coord|62|12|38|N|8|38|41|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6897714 | utm_easting = 0481530 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Lesja''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Innlandet]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Gudbrandsdal]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the [[Lesja (village)|village of Lesja]]. Other villages in the municipality include [[Bjorli]], [[Lesjaskog]], [[Lesjaverk]], and [[Lora, Norway|Lora]].

Lesja is located in the northwestern edge of [[Innlandet]] county. It is bordered in the north by [[Molde Municipality]] and [[Sunndal Municipality]] (in [[Møre og Romsdal]] county) and [[Oppdal Municipality]] (in [[Trøndelag]] county). It is bordered to the east by [[Dovre Municipality]]; in the south by [[Vågå Municipality]] and [[Lom Municipality]]; in the southwest by [[Skjåk Municipality]]; and to the west by [[Rauma Municipality]].

The {{convert|2260|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 25th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Lesja is the 282nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 1,966. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|0.9|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 8.3% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |year=2022 |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 |year=2022 |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 [[parish]] of ''Lesje'' was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). In 1863, the eastern part of the municipality (population: 2,537) was separated to become the new [[Dovre Municipality]]. This left Lesja with 3,666 residents.<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>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Lesja (village)|Lesja]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Lesjar}}) since the first [[Lesja Church]] was built there. There are two different interpretations of the meaning of the name. It might derive from {{lang|non|læs}} meaning "[[pasture]]", or it is a shortened version of {{lang|non|Leirsjøar}} meaning "muddy lakes", referring to two relatively large and shallow lakes which occupied the valley bottom until the late 19th century, when both lakes were drained in order to gain more [[Arable land|farmland]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DohBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Kristians amt |date=1900 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=4 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=14 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref> Historically, the name of the municipality was spelled ''Lesje''. On 3 November 1917, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to ''Lesja''.<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 23 January 1987. The official [[blazon]] is "Per fess [[argent]] and [[Azure (heraldry)|azure]], a [[Pile (heraldry)|pile]] issuant from the base" ({{langx|no|På sølv grunn blå skjoldfot med spiss oppover}}). This means the arms have are divided with a [[line (heraldry)|line]] that is horizontal with a triangle point upwards in the middle. The [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) below the line has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of blue. Above the line, the field has a tincture of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The design is meant to represent the [[spire]] of [[Lesja Church]], which sits on a hill and its roof line and spire are visible from far away. The arms were designed by Einar H. Skjervold. 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=Lesja |access-date=2022-11-10 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1987-01-23 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1987-01-23-51 |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lesja, Oppland (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-05-12.html |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Lesja. It is part of the [[Nord-Gudbrandsdal prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Hamar]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Lesja'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="3"|Lesja og Lesjaskog||[[Lesja Church]]||[[Lesja (village)|Lesja]]||1749
|-
|[[Lesjaskog Church]]||[[Lesjaskog]]||1697
|-
|[[Lesjaverk Church]]||[[Lesjaverk]]||1964
|}

==Geography==
Lesja is highly mountainous, and lies on the east–west watershed, with the lake [[Lesjaskogsvatnet]] draining both west to the [[Rauma (river)|Rauma]] river and east to the [[Gudbrandsdalslågen]] river. The largest part (82%) of the municipal area is over {{convert|900|m|ft}} above sea level, with the highest mountain peaks reaching above an elevation of {{convert|2200|m}} in the northeast. The most populated areas lie between {{convert|500|and|650|m|ft}} along the Gudbrandsdalslågen river and [[European route E136|highway E136]]. Abundant summer farms (''[[transhumance|seter]]'' or ''sæter'') are situated close to the [[treeline]], both in the main valley and its tributaries. The summer farms were of major importance for farming until recently, but today only few are used in the traditional way, and mainly as grounds for grazing [[dairy cattle]] and sheep. More than 400 lakes are situated within the municipality, mainly above treeline, including the lake [[Aursjøen]]. The Norwegian [[trout]] is common both in lakes and rivers, even in lakes above {{convert|1500|m|ft}} above sea level. The landscape is [[hummock]]y in general, and owes its appearance mainly to erosion by the Scandinavian Ice Sheet during the last glacial period.

===Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park===
[[Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park]] was founded in 2002 and encompasses part of the former Dovre National Park area, as founded in 1974. It is {{convert|1693|km2}} encompassing areas in Lesja and Dovre in Innlandet as well as areas in [[Trøndelag]] and [[Møre og Romsdal]]. It includes the [[Dovrefjell]] mountain range.
{{wide image|Lesja Svaanaatindan A.JPG|770px|Mountain in Lesja municipality, Dovrefjell mountain massif, in Central Norway.}}

==Economy==
The municipality is primarily [[agricultural]]. Recent censuses show over 40% of the residents in the community are in farming.

Rail service is provided by the [[Rauma Line]], connecting with the [[Dovre Line]] at [[Dombås]] in Dovre and extending to the terminus in [[Åndalsnes]] on the [[fjord]] in Møre og Romsdal County.

Lesja is located in a mountain region, comprising the south-westerly portion of the [[Dovrefjell]] range. It is the site of the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park, lies just north of [[Jotunheimen National Park]] and lies just west of [[Rondane National Park]], so [[tourism]] and outdoor sports such as [[skiing]] are also important. The [[Bjorli]] ski area lies in Lesja.

==Government==
Lesja 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 [[Østre Innlandet District Court]] and the [[Eidsivating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Lesja 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                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/innlandet/lesja#seats |access-date=2024-01-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/innlandet/lesja#seats |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2015/ko/hedmark/lesja#seats |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref><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=Norwegian}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/hedmark/lesja#seats |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Venstre                   = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|otherparty                = Local list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdalista
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 12
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Local list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdalista
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2000 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1999 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/publikasjoner/pdf/nos_c621/nos_c621.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Local list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdelista
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Local list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdalista
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|otherparty                = Local list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdalista
|otherparty_number         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|otherparty                = Non-party and free voters list
|otherparty_no             = Upolitiske og Frie velgere
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|Local_Lists               = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 9
|Local_Lists               = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 24
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Senterpartiet             = 14
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 24
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 9
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 24
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|DRF/V                     = 2
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Lesja
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1940* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 24
|Senterpartiet             = 10
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 6
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Lesja:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Einbu |first=Sigurd |title=Lesja : litt frå den kommunale soga 1838-1938, og ymse anna |last2=Skotte |first2=Ola |year=1949 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1838-1849: Johannes Tøndevold
*1850-1853: Peder Skotte
*1854-1855: Syver Hogsvold
*1856-1863: H.G. Kolstad
*1864-1867: Syver Hogsvold
*1868-1871: Peder Bj. Holager
*1872-1873: Syver Hogsvold
*1874-1877: H.H. Hatrem
*1878-1879: Peder Bj. Holager
*1880-1883: Per Kolstad
*1884-1885: H.H. Hatrem
*1886-1887: Peder Bj. Holager
*1888-1889: H.H. Hatrem
*1890-1891: Peder Bj. Holager
*1892-1901: A. Norderhus
*1902-1913: Ole Rolstad ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1914-1916: Ole Ekre ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1917-1919: Ole Rolstad ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1920-1922: Ole Ekre ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1923-1925: Ole Rolstad ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1926-1928: Ole Ekre ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1929-1937: Sigvart Jordhøy ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1938-1947: John Bottheim ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1947-1955: Ola O. Mølmen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Bp]])
*1956-1959: Sverre J. Botheim ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1960-1963: Ola O. Mølmen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1964-1967: Sverre J. Botheim ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1968-1969: Ola O. Mølmen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1970-1971: Andreas Mølmen ([[Bygdeliste|Heile Lesja]])
*1972-1975: Karl Stålaker ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1976-1987: Jo Nordahl Botheim ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1988-1991: Osvald Haugbotn ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1992-1999: Jo N. Bottheim ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*1999-2011: Per Dag Hole ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2011-2015: Steinar Tronhus ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2015–present: Mariann Skotte ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
{{div col end}}

==History==
{| style="float: right;" class="wikitable"
|+ Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Lesja by country of origin in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by immigration category, country background and percentages of the population |url=https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702101705/https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |archive-date=2 July 2015 |access-date=29 June 2015 |publisher=ssb.no |language=English}}</ref>
 
|-
!Ancestry!!Number
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}||41
|-
| {{flag|Lithuania}}||34
|-
| {{flag|Somalia}}||16
|}
Since it is located on a pass providing access to the Gudbrandsdalen, ''Lesja'' lies on an important trade route used in prehistoric times.

=== Earliest recorded history ===
The area is first mentioned in the written chronicle of the [[Heimskringla]] ''(The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway)'' by [[Snorri Sturluson]]. The account of [[Olaf II of Norway|King Olaf]]'s (A.D. 1015–1021) conversion of [[Dale-Gudbrand]] to [[Christianity]] is popularly recognized. King Olaf's success was short-lived, for in 1029 the Norwegian nobles, seething with discontent, rallied round the invading [[Canute the Great|Knut the Great]], and Olaf had to flee. To avoid engaging a fleet of 25 ships, 400 of King Olav's men and 100 loyal peasant farmers from [[Romsdal]] built a road up from the [[Romsdalfjord]] which passed through the area that became known as Lesjaverk. His men fled along this road and across Gudbrandsdal. There he was not warmly received since he had killed King Thorer of Gudbrandsdal, so he went on to [[Hedmark]]. From there he proceeded to Sweden and on to [[Kievan Rus|Russia]]. On his return a year later he fell at the [[Battle of Stiklestad]].<ref>[http://www.heimskringla.no/wiki/Heimskringla Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson]</ref>

=== Lesjaverk (The Lesja iron works) ===
[[File:Lesjaverk.gif|thumb|right|The Lesja Ironwork, Norway, main building as it would have looked around 1752. The illustration by Professor Johan Meyer dates from 1910.]]
[[Iron smelting]] is recorded in Lesja municipality at [[Lesjaverk]] (Lesja Iron Works) as early as 1614, when [[Christian IV of Denmark|King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway]] authorized the Romsdal Market at Devold on the [[Rauma River|Rauma river]] 4 miles upstream of [[Åndalsnes]]. With this change, [[Molde (town)|Molde]] assumed the role as principal market town for [[Romsdal]] formerly held by [[Veøya|Veøy]]. This change was made to provide the ironworkers at ''Lesjaverk'' with a convenient outlet for their products as well as providing them a market to purchases goods and food supplies such as [[stockfish]] and grain.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stagg, Frank Noel |url=https://archive.org/details/heartofnorway0000unse |title=The Heart of Norway |publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. |year=1953 |id=ISBN none |url-access=registration |authorlink=Frank Noel Stagg}}</ref>

=== Art and culture ===
[[Jakob Klukstad|Jakob Bersveinson Klukstad]] (1710 to 1773), who was born in the parish of [[Lom Municipality|Lom]] spent most of his career on Klukstad farm in Lesja. Klukstad was the foremost Norwegian sculptor and painter of his generation. His work can still be seen in churches at Lesja, [[Skjåk Municipality|Skjåk]], and [[Heidal Municipality|Heidal]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Årsskrift for Lesja historielag |publisher=Lesja historielag |year=2000 |location=Lesja, Norge |language=no |trans-title=The yearbook for the Lesja Historical Association}}</ref>

=== Emigration from Lesja ===
The Lesja area in the [[Gudbrandsdal]] was source of numerous emigrants to America. According to Du Chaillu, "...during the great famine of 1867; a year memorable in the annals of Northern Europe, when, in consequence of an early and heavy frost in summer, the crops were destroyed, and desolation and death spread over vast districts. The lichen and the bark of the birch tree, mixed with a little flour, became the food of the people after the cattle had been eaten up and nothing else was left. The year following a strong tide of emigration set out for America."<ref name="Du">{{Cite book |last=Du Chaillu |first=Paul B. |title=The Land Of The Midnight Sun |date=1899 |publisher=George Newnes, Limited |location=London |page=123}}</ref>

===World War 2===
After the [[German invasion of Norway|German invasion]] of April 1940, while [[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon]] and the Norwegian government were moving from [[Elverum (town)|Elverum]] to the west coast, the King and Crown Prince Olaf arrived in [[Otta, Norway|Otta]] on the night of April 13. The prime minister and his colleagues, who were then in Lesja, were summoned and a communiqué, ending "God save Norway," and urging resistance to the unprovoked attack was issued. They now intended to relocate to the west coast, but the Germans had dropped paratroopers higher in the Gudbrandsdalen, at Dombås, cutting off the rail route. It was not until the evening of the 21st that the King was able to travel by road from Otta to Lesja on the east–west watershed and then down the narrow [[Romsdal]] to Åndalsnes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Greve |first=Tim |url=https://archive.org/details/haakonviiofnorwa0000grev |title=Haakon VII of Norway: The Man & the Monarch |last2=Kingston Derry |first2=Thomas |date=1983 |publisher=Hippocrene Books, Inc. |isbn=978-0-88254-812-8 |url-access=registration |authorlink1=Tim Greve}}</ref>

During the war a British fighter squadron (flying 'Gloster Gladiators') flew from the icebound surface of lake [[Lesjaskogsvatnet]]. [[No. 263 Squadron RAF]] operated with 18 [[Gloster Gladiator]] biplane fighters in late April 1940 as part of the [[Norwegian Campaign]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kersaudy, François |title=Norway 1940 |publisher=St. Martin's Press, New York |year=1987 |isbn=0-312-06427-6 |authorlink=François Kersaudy}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{stack|[[File:Christen Henriksen Pram.jpg|thumb|right|110px|Christen Henriksen Pram, 1886]]}}
{{stack|[[File:Tora Berger 2006.jpg|thumb|right|110px|Tora Berger, 2006]]}}
* [[Jakob Klukstad]] (1705–1773), a wood carver and painter who lived most of his life and died in Lesja 
* [[Edvard Storm]] (1749–1794), a [[Romantic nationalism|national romantic]] poet and teacher in Lesja
* [[Christen Pram]] (1756 in Lesja – 1821), an economist, civil servant, poet, novelist, playwright, diarist, and magazine editor
* [[Jens Holmboe (bailiff)|Jens Holmboe]] (1752 in Lesja – 1804), a Norwegian bailiff who helped settle the [[Målselvdalen]]
* [[John Flittie]] (1856 in Lesja – 1913), the first [[North Dakota Secretary of State]] who emigrated from Lesja in 1867 
* [[Frederick Delius]] (1862–1934), an English composer who summered at Villa Høifagerli, the house he built in [[Lesjaskog]] in 1921
* [[Sigurd Einbu]] (1866 in Lesjaskog – 1946), a Norwegian self-taught astronomer 
* [[Ragnvald Einbu]] (1870 in Lesja – 1943), a painter and woodcarver of fairy-tale and genre figures
* [[Lars Magnus Moen]] (1885 in Lesja – 1964), a politician, government minister, and member of the Storting from 1928-1957
* [[:no:Olaf Heitkøtter|Olaf Heitkøtter, (Norwegian Wiki)]] (1928–2013), a mountain ranger in Lesja who wrote seven books
* [[Ola Enstad]] (1942 in Lesjaskog – 2013), a Norwegian sculptor
* [[Arne Hyttnes]] (born 1950 in Lesjaskog), a Norwegian banker

==See also==
*[[Lesja murder case]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |title=East Norway and its Frontier |publisher=George Allen and Unwin |year=1956 |location=London}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kleiven |first=Ivar |title=Gamal Bondekultur i Gudbrandsdalen: Lesja og Dovre |publisher=Aschehoug |year=1923 |language=no |authorlink=Ivar Kleiven}}
* {{Cite book |last=Einbu |first=Per |title=Setrane i Lesja - i teikning og teks |last2=Kjelland |first2=Arnfinn |year=1988 |isbn=9788290795073 |page=256 |trans-title=Manors in Lesja - in drawings and text}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kjelland |first=Arnfin |title=Bygdebok for Lesja bd 1. Gards- og slektshistorie for Lesjaskogen |year=1987 |page=634 |language=no |trans-title=Rural district for Lesja 1. Farm and genealogical history of Lesja woods}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kjelland |first=Arnfin |title=Bygdebok for Lesja bd 2. Gards- og slektshistorie for nørdre del av Lesja hovudsokn |year=1992 |page=736}}
*{{Cite book |last=Kjelland |first=Arnfin |title=Bygdebok for Lesja bd 3. Gards- og slektshistorie for søre del av Lesja hovudsokn |year=1996 |page=800}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lesja}}
{{wiktionary|Lesja}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/lesja Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Innlandet}}
*[http://www.bjorliskisenter.no/ Bjorli ski center in Lesja] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311002735/http://www.kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T946673&kommune=T936310&organisasjon=T959974&organisasjon=T5160011&organisasjon=T948714&organisasjon=T909568&organisasjon=T942316&organisasjon=T961636&x=25&y=9 Map of Lesja] from [[Kulturnett.no]] {{in lang|no}}

{{Innlandet}}
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{{use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

[[Category:Lesja| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Innlandet]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Gudbrandsdalslågen]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]