Editing Midsund Municipality

{{short description|Former municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Midsund
|former                 = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|official_name          = 
|image_skyline          = 
|image_caption          = 
|idnumber               = 1545
|county                 = Møre og Romsdal
|district               = Romsdal
|capital                = [[Midsund (village)|Midsund]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1965
|preceded               = [[Sør-Aukra Municipality]] and [[Vatne Municipality]] 
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2020
|succeeded              = [[Molde Municipality]]
|demonyms               = Midsunding<br />Midsundværing
|language               = Nynorsk
|coatofarms             = Midsund komm.svg
|mayor                  = Odd Helge Gangstad
|mayor_party            = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2015-2019
|elevation_max_m        = 736.7
|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              = 384
|area_total_km2         = 94.65
|area_land_km2          = 93.89
|area_water_km2         = 0.76
|area_water_percent     = 0.8
|population_as_of       = 2019
|population_rank        = 325
|population_total       = 2019
|population_density_km2 = 21.3
|population_increase    = 5
|coordinates            = {{coord|62|42|31|N|06|47|48|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Midsund''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in [[Møre og Romsdal]] county, [[Norway]]. The {{convert|95|km2|adj=on}} municipality existed from 1965 until its dissolution in 2020. The area is now part of [[Molde Municipality]] in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Romsdal]]. The [[administrative centre]] was the village of [[Midsund (village)|Midsund]] on [[Otrøya]] island. Other settlements on the island included Uglvik and Raknes in the north and [[Nord-Heggdal]] in the southeast.<ref name="snl">{{Cite SNL|Midsund_-_tidlegare_kommune|Midsund (tidlegare kommune)|2025-03-25|Thorsnæs|Geir|2024-11-26|editor2-first=Morten O.|editor2-last=Haugen|editor3-first=Eirik|editor3-last=Helleve}}</ref>

The municipality consisted of many islands. The main islands were [[Otrøya]], [[Midøya]], and [[Dryna]], as well as the smaller populated islands of Magerøya and Tautra&mdash;both are less than {{convert|1|km2|acre}}. There were also many tiny uninhabited islands and skerries. The islands all sit at the mouth of the great [[Romsdalsfjord]].<ref name="snl" />

At the time if its dissolution in 2020, the {{convert|95|km2|adj=on}} municipality was the 384th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Midsund Municipality was the 325th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,019. The municipality's [[population density]] was {{convert|21.3|PD/km2}} and its population had increased by 5% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Dryna.JPG|thumb|left|View of Dryna island, looking northeast]]
[[File:View of Midsund.jpg|thumb|left|View of the interior of Otrøya island]]
The municipality of Midsund was established on 1 January 1965 when the old [[Sør-Aukra Municipality]] (population: 1,912) was merged with part of [[Midøya]] island and the neighboring island of [[Dryna]] (population: 334) which were part of the old [[Vatne Municipality]].<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>

On 1 January 2020, Midsund Municipality (population: 2,049) and [[Nesset Municipality]] (population: 2,946) were merged into the neighboring [[Molde Municipality]]. Together, the new Molde Municipality is significantly larger.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nye Molde |url=http://www.nyemolde.no/ |access-date=2017-10-15 |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the ''Midsundet'' ({{langx|non|Miðjusund}}), the [[strait]] that flows between the [[island]]s of [[Otrøya]] and [[Midøya]]. The first element is {{wikt-lang|non|miðja}} which means "middle" or "centre". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|sund}} which means "[[strait]]" or "[[Sound (geography)|sound]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=691LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Romsdals amt |date=1908 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=13 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=307 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 15 May 1987. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], two triangles [[argent]] the lower reversed"'' ({{langx|no|På blå grunn to sølv trekantar, den nedste vend nedover}}). This means the arms have a blue [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is two triangles one over the other so that they look like a mirror image. The triangles have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means they are commonly colored white, but if the arms are made out of metal, then silver is used. The two triangles represent the islands of [[Otrøya]] and [[Midøya]] in the ocean. These two main islands in the municipality are separated by a small strait, the Midsund. The geographical situation is symbolised in the arms. The arms were designed by Jarle Skuseth. 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=Midsund |access-date=2023-04-05 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Midsund, Møre og Romsdal (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-15-45.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1987-05-15 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1987-05-15-434 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> 

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] had one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Midsund Municipality. It was part of the [[Molde domprosti]] (arch-[[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Møre]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Midsund'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="2"|Midsund||[[Otrøy Church]]||Uglvik, [[Otrøya]]||1878
|-
|[[Nord-Heggdal Chapel]]||[[Nord-Heggdal]]||1974
|}

===Media===
The newspaper ''[[Øyavis]]'' was published in Midsund from 1983 to 2016.<ref name="Bjerkeland">{{Cite news |last=Bjerkeland |first=Øystein |date=2016-03-09 |title=Øyavis legges trolig ned |url=http://www.rbnett.no/nyheter/2016/03/09/%C3%98yavis-legges-trolig-ned-12259602.ece |work=Romsdals Budstikke |language=no}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Midsund.JPG|thumb|left|Midsund village seen from the opposite shore of the small strait that separates the islands Otrøya (far side) and Midøya.]]
The islands of Midsund Municipality are separated from the mainland by the {{convert|2|km|adj=on}} wide [[Julsundet]] strait to the east and the {{convert|3|km|adj=on}} wide [[Midfjorden]] to the south.  To the north are many smaller islands including [[Gossa (island)|Gossa]] and [[Orta, Møre og Romsdal|Orta]] (in [[Aukra Municipality]]) plus [[Harøya]] and [[Sandøya, Møre og Romsdal|Sandøya]] (in [[Ålesund Municipality]]). To the west lie the islands of [[Fjørtofta]], [[Skuløya]], and [[Haramsøya]] (in [[Haram Municipality]]).

The three largest islands of the municipality were located in a line from ENE to WSW ([[Otrøya]], [[Midøya]], and [[Dryna]]). The island of [[Magerøya, Møre og Romsdal|Magerøya]] lies between Midøya and Otrøya and a bridge connects it to the latter. [[Tautra, Møre og Romsdal|Tautra]] lies in the [[Moldefjorden]], southeast of Otrøya. Otrøya was the main island of the community, measuring about {{convert|20|km}} from east to west. The southern coasts of Otrøya, Midøya, and Dryna rise from the fjord as sheer {{convert|800|m|adj=on}} tall cliffs. At Oppstad, the cliff is feared to collapse, which would cause a small [[megatsunami]] in the Moldefjorden. The highest point in the municipality was the {{convert|736.7|m|adj=on}} tall mountain Opstadhornet.<ref name="elev" />

On the southern coast of Otrøya the following small villages can be found: (from east to west) Solholmen, [[Nord-Heggdal]], Oppstad, Sør-Heggdal, and Klauset. The north has the following villages: (east to west) Ræstad, Rakvåg, Tangen, Raknes, and Uglvik. On the western side of Otrøya, facing the bay that separates it from Midøya, lies the village of [[Midsund (village)|Midsund]], the largest settlement in the community. The [[Midsund Bridge]] connects it with Midøya. Dryna and Midøya are also connected with a bridge. Ferries run between the islands and the mainland.  There is a ferry from Solholmen across the [[Julsundet]] to the mainland of [[Molde Municipality]] and from the island of Dryna to the village of [[Brattvåg]] (in [[Haram Municipality]]). The larger three islands' interior is wilderness, but the rims are used for keeping cattle and small farming.

==Government==
While it existed, Midsund Municipality was responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality was governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] was [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite SNL|kommunestyre|kommunestyre|2024-12-31|Hansen|Tore|2024-11-25|editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref> The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [[Romsdal District Court]] and the [[Frostating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Midsund is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]]. 
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|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>
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Møre og Romsdal |url=https://valgresultat.no/m%C3%B8re%2Bog%2Bromsdal/midsund?type=ko&year=2011 |access-date=2019-10-19 |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|Høyre                     = 6
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste 
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 2
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste 	
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste
|otherparty_number         = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste 
|otherparty_number         = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk list
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Sosialistisk samlingsliste  
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Tverrpolitisk liste 
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Sosialistisk samlingsliste  
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Tverrpolitisk liste 
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Sosialistisk samlingsliste  
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Non-party list
|otherparty_no1            = Upolitisk liste 
|otherparty_number1        = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Local list for Midøy
|otherparty_no             = Krinsliste for Midøy 
|otherparty_number         = 1
|otherparty1               = Raknes local list
|otherparty_no1            = Raknes Krinsliste 
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|otherparty2               = Non-party list
|otherparty_no2            = Upolitisk Liste 
|otherparty_number2        = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|Local_Lists               = 12
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Midsund
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-04-26 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|nynorsk                   = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|Local_Lists               = 9
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|nn|ordførar}}) of Midsund was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fremstedal |first=Odd |date=2015-04-23 |title=Kven blir neste ordførar? |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_oeyavis_null_null_20150423_33_4_1?page=9 |work=[[Øyavis]] |page=11 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2024 |editor-last=Fiva |editor-first=Jon H |editor2-last=Sørensen |editor2-first=Rune J. |editor3-last=Vøllo |editor3-first=Reidar |title=Local Candidate Dataset |url=https://www.jon.fiva.no/docs/FivaSorensenVollo2024.pdf}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1965–1969: Knut K. Sjøvik ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1970–1971: Kåre Straume ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1972–1983: Kristofer Reiten ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1984–1989: Harry Edvardsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1990–1991: Per Håvard Klauset ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 1992–1995: Harry Edvardsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1995–2003: Ketil Ugelvik ([[Bygdeliste|LL]])
* 2003–2011: [[Helge Orten]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2011–2015: Einar Øien ([[Progress Party (Norway)|FrP]])
* 2015–2019: Odd Helge Gangstad ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
{{div col end}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

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

[[Category:Midsund| ]]
[[Category:Molde]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1965]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2020]]