Editing Songdalen

{{short description|Former municipality in Vest-Agder, Norway}}
{{Distinguish|Sogndal (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Songdalen
|former                 = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|official_name          = 
|image_skyline          = Nodelandsheia.png
|image_caption          = View of the Nodelandsheia area in Songdalen
|idnumber               = 1017
|county                 = Vest-Agder
|district               = [[Sørlandet]]
|capital                = [[Nodeland]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1964
|preceded               = [[Greipstad]] and [[Finsland (municipality)|Finsland]] municipalities
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2020
|succeeded              = [[Kristiansand Municipality]]
|demonym                = Songdøl
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Songdalen komm.svg
|webpage                = www.songdalen.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Johnny Greibesland
|mayor_party            = [[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2003-2019
|area_rank              = 323
|area_total_km2         = 215.94
|area_land_km2          = 206.30
|area_water_km2         = 9.64
|area_water_percent     = 4.5
|population_as_of       = 2020
|population_rank        = 161
|population_total       = 6,568
|population_density_km2 = 31.8
|population_increase    = 16.0
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|11|19|N|07|48|06|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6450351 |utm_easting = 0429543 |geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Songdalen''' is a [[List of former municipalities of Norway|former municipality]] in the old [[Vest-Agder]] county, [[Norway]]. The municipality existed from 1964 until 2020 when it was merged with [[Søgne]] and [[Kristiansand]] municipalities to form a new, much larger Kristiansand municipality in what is now [[Agder]] county. It was located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Sørlandet]], just outside of the city of [[Kristiansand (town)|Kristiansand]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality was the village of [[Nodeland]]. Other villages in the municipality included [[Brennåsen]], [[Finsland]], [[Kilen, Vest-Agder|Kilen]], [[Nodelandsheia]], and [[Volleberg]]. The [[Sørlandsbanen]] railway line ran through the municipality, stopping at [[Nodeland Station]]. The [[European route E39]] highway also ran through the southern part of the municipality.

Prior to its dissolution in 2020, the {{convert|216|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 323rd largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway.  Songdalen is the 161st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,568.  The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|31.8|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 16% over the last decade.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |year=2017 |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=Folkemengd1951&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=folkendrhist&StatVariant=&checked=true |access-date=2017-11-05 |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Møllebakken, Songdalen, Vest-Agder, Norway - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|View of the Møllebakke area in Songdalen]]
[[File:Finsland - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|View of the Finsland area]]
[[File:Greipstad kirke.JPG|thumb|left|View of the [[Greipstad Church]]]]
Songdalen was a relatively short-lived municipality. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of [[Greipstad]] (population: 2,061), most of the municipality of [[Finsland (municipality)|Finsland]] (population: 797) except for the Kleveland bru area, and the Eikeland area of [[Øvrebø (municipality)|Øvrebø]] (population: 39) were all merged to form the new municipality of Songdalen. On 1 January 1978, a small area of [[Vennesla]] municipality (population: 10) was transferred to Songdalen. Then on 1 January 1984, the unpopulated Hauglandsvatnet area was transferred from [[Vennesla]] to Songdalen.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite book |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>

On 1 January 2020, the three neighboring municipalities of [[Kristiansand]], Songdalen, and [[Søgne]] merged to form one large municipality called ''Kristiansand''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nye Kristiansand |url=https://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/nye-kristiansand/ |access-date=2017-11-05 |publisher=Kristiansand kommune |language=Norwegian |archive-date=19 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419150219/https://www.kristiansand.kommune.no/nye-kristiansand/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Name===
The municipal name is relatively new, having been created in 1964. The name comes from the local river Songdalselva ({{langx|non|Sygna}}). The lower part of this river is also known as the [[Søgneelva]]. The first element of the name comes from the [[Old Norse]] name for the river. The river name is derived from the verb {{wikt-lang|non|súga}} which means "to suck". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|dalr}} which means "[[valley]]" or "dale".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mt1LAQAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Lister og Mandals amt |date=1912 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=9 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=46–47 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite web |last=Store norske leksikon |author-link=Store norske leksikon |title=Songdalen |url=https://snl.no/Songdalen |access-date=2017-01-13 |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 20 December 1985 and they were in use until the municipality was dissolved on 1 January 2020. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Vert (heraldry)|Vert]], three oak leaves in [[Pall (heraldry)|pall]] and three acorns in [[Pall (heraldry)|pall inverted]] stems conjoined [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]"'' ({{langx|no|I grønt tre gull eikeblad i trepass med eikenøtter mellom}}). This means the arms have a green [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is three conjoined [[oak]] leaves with three [[acorn]]s. The charge has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The green color in the field and the oak leaf and acorn design symbolize the importance of the abundant oak forests in the municipality. There are three leaves/acorns to represent each of the three former municipalities of [[Greipstad]], [[Finsland (municipality)|Finsland]], and [[Øvrebø (municipality)|Øvrebø]] which were merged to form the municipality of Songdalen in 1964. The arms were designed by Nils Th. Finstad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Songdalen |access-date=2023-01-21 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Songdalen, Vest-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-10-17.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1985-12-20 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1985-12-13-2324?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref>

{{See also-text|Coats of arms of [[Coat of arms of Eigersund|Eigersund]]|[[Coat of arms of Nedre Eiker|Nedre Eiker]]|[[Coat of arms of Tingvoll|Tingvoll]]| [[Coat of arms of Øvre Eiker|Øvre Eiker]]}}

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has two parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Songdalen. It is part of the [[Mandal prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Songdalen'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Finsland||[[Finsland Church]]||[[Finsland]]||1803
|-
|rowspan="1"|Greipstad||[[Greipstad Church]]||[[Nodeland]]||1829
|}

==Geography==
Songdalen was an inland municipality, the municipalities of [[Kristiansand]] and [[Vennesla]] were located to the east, [[Marnardal]] to the west, and [[Søgne]] to the south. Songdalen's administrative centre, [[Nodeland]], is a short 10-minute drive from the center of the city of [[Kristiansand (town)|Kristiansand]].

The landscape of the municipality was heavily shaped by the last [[ice age]]. The river [[Songdalselva]] flows through the valley that made up the southern part of the municipality. The river passes through a {{convert|1|km}} long, {{convert|100|m}} deep scenic narrow [[gorge]] called ''(Juve)'' at Underåsen. It is recognized for [[fishing]], [[canoe]]ing, and other recreational opportunities.

Southern Songdalen's elevation was close to sea level, but it increased up to a maximum of {{convert|414|m}} above sea level in the northern part of the municipality. The [[climate]] changes correspondingly, from a coastal climate in the south to a more inland type climate in the north.

The [[forest]]s are mixed [[deciduous]] and [[evergreen]] (heavily forested with oak and [[pine]]), with the ratio of pine woods increasing towards the north of the municipality. [[Moose]] and [[European beaver|beaver]] are common in the area.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |url=https://archive.org/details/southnorway0000unse |title=South Norway |publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. |year=1958 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|location     = [[Nodeland]]
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean C = -2.2
| Feb mean C = -2.2
| Mar mean C = 1.0
| Apr mean C = 4.6
| May mean C = 10.0
| Jun mean C = 14.1
| Jul mean C = 15.5
| Aug mean C = 14.8
| Sep mean C = 11.5
| Oct mean C = 7.5
| Nov mean C = 3.0
| Dec mean C = -0.5
|year mean C = 6.4
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour = <!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
| Jan precipitation mm = 141
| Feb precipitation mm = 94
| Mar precipitation mm = 100
| Apr precipitation mm = 65
| May precipitation mm = 94
| Jun precipitation mm = 82
| Jul precipitation mm = 93
| Aug precipitation mm = 127
| Sep precipitation mm = 160
| Oct precipitation mm = 187
| Nov precipitation mm = 187
| Dec precipitation mm = 140
|year precipitation mm = 1470
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eKlima Web Portal |url=http://eklima.met.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614073527/http://eklima.met.no/ |archive-date=2004-06-14 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
While it existed, this municipality was responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[unemployment]], [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s. During its existence, this 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 encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |access-date=2023-08-03 |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=no |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene}}</ref> The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the [[Kristiansand District Court]] and the [[Agder Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Songdalen was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]]. 
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 2016
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Vest-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/vest-agder/songdalen?type=ko&year=2015 |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</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>
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 2012
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Vest-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/vest-agder/songdalen?type=ko&year=2011 |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 2008
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Høyre                     = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 2004
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Demokratene               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 2000
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1996
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 8
|Senterpartiet             = 7
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1992
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1988
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party environment list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk Nærmiljøliste  
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1984
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 25
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1980
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1976
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1972
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1968
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Songdalen
|start                     = 1964
|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=2020-11-17 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{div col end}}

==History==
[[File:Songdalen Kvislevann Postveien.jpg|thumb|right|View of the old Vestlandske hovedvei, the 1790-era highway from Kristiansand to Mandal, in the Kislevann area in Songdalen]]
In 1964, [[Finsland (municipality)|Finsland]] and [[Greipstad]] municipalities, along with the Eikeland area of neighboring [[Øvrebø (municipality)|Øvrebø]], were merged to form Songdalen municipality.

Greipstad is mentioned in written sources as early as 1344. Through the [[Middle Ages]] records indicate that Greipstad, a small farm community with 34 farms, was continuously inhabited. Greipstad became an independent municipality in 1913; split off from the municipality of [[Søgne]].

Finsland, which lies further from the coast, has few preserved written records, but records have indications of farms there in the year 1000.

An {{convert|8|km|adj=on}} long section of the old Vestlandske Hovedvei (Westland Highway) passes through the municipality from Farvannet to Kvislevann. The [[highway]] was built in the 1790s and the section exists today in much the same way as it did for ordinary traffic in 1881.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Welle-Strand |first=Erling |title=Adventure Roads in Norway |publisher=Nortrabooks |year=1996 |isbn=9788290103717}}</ref>

The [[fortification]]s at Rossevann were built in 1916-1917 for the [[Stavanger]] [[Battalion]]. The municipality also has visible evidence of [[World War II]] fortifications.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Songdalen}}
*{{wti|Songdalen}}
*{{Wikivoyage-inline|Vest-Agder}}
*[http://www.visitkrs.no/en/Kommuner/Songdalen/ Welcome to Songdalen - Tourist information]

{{Agder}}
{{authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

[[Category:Songdalen| ]]
[[Category:Kristiansand region]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Norway]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway]]