Editing Våler, Innlandet

{{short description|Municipality in Innlandet, Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Våler
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = Våler i Solør
|former_name            = Vaaler herred
|image_skyline          = Hytte til overnatning - panoramio (1).jpg
|image_caption          = Old cabin in the Våler forest
|idnumber               = 3419
|county                 = Innlandet
|district               = Solør
|capital                = [[Våler (village)|Våler]]
|established            = 1854
|preceded               = [[Åsnes og Våler]]
|demonyms               = Vålsokning<br />Vålersokning
|language               = Bokmål
|coatofarms             = Våler Hedmark komm.svg
|flag                   = Flag of Våler (Innlandet).gif
|webpage                = www.vaaler-he.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Ola Cato Lie
|mayor_party            = [[Senterpartiet|Sp]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2019
|area_rank              = 164
|area_total_km2         = 705.29
|area_land_km2          = 677.70
|area_water_km2         = 27.58
|area_water_percent     = 3.9
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 213
|population_total       = 3625
|population_density_km2 = 5.3
|population_increase    = -5.3
|coordinates            = {{coord|60|45|12|N|11|53|51|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6738800 | utm_easting = 0657895 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Våler''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Innlandet]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Solør]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Våler (village)|Våler]]. Other villages in Våler include [[Braskereidfoss]], [[Gravberget]], and [[Risberget, Våler|Risberget]].

The {{convert|705|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 164th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Våler is the 213th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,625. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|5.3|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 5.3% 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:Krigsminnesmerke ved Haslemoen i Våler (Bauta).jpg|thumb|left|War memorial for Russian soldiers killed at [[Haslemoen]] during [[World War II|WWII]]]]
The area of Våler was originally part of the municipality of [[Hof, Hedmark|Hof]] that was established on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). This new municipality was made up of three areas: Hof, [[Åsnes|Aasnes]], and Våler. In 1849, the municipality of Hof was divided in two: Hof (population: 2,913) and [[Åsnes og Våler]] (population: 7,087). In 1854, the relatively new municipality of [[Åsnes og Våler]] was divided into [[Åsnes]] (population: 3,677) and Våler (population: 3,410). This division happened after a hard struggle, mainly led by [[Christian Halvorsen Svenkerud]], a local member of [[Storting|parliament]].<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 ''Våler'' farm ({{langx|non|Válir}}) since the first [[Våler Church]] was built there. The first element is the [[plural]] form of {{lang|non|váll}} which means "[[Glade (geography)|clearing]] in the [[forest|woods]]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SZMOAAAAYAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Hedmarkens amt |date=1900 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=3 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=293 and 298 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

On 21 December 1917, a [[royal decree|royal resolution]] enacted the [[Norwegian language conflict|1917 Norwegian language reforms]]. Prior to this change, the name was spelled ''Vaaler'' with the [[digraph (orthography)|digraph]] "[[Aa (digraph)|aa]]", and after this reform, the name was spelled ''Våler'', using the letter [[å]] instead.<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=Oslo, Norway |publisher=Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri |page=1000}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.nb.no/items/7c810cb2510e5454433266c698b8808e |title=Den Nye rettskrivning : regler og ordlister |publisher=Den Mallingske Boktrykkeri |year=1918 |location=Kristiania, Norge |language=no}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 7 August 1987. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Gules]], a downwards pointing winged arrow [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]"'' ({{langx|no|I rødt en nedvendt vinget gull pil}}). This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a downwards pointing winged [[arrow]]. 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 design was chosen to symbolize the [[legend]] that in the year 1022, King [[Olaf II of Norway]] (Saint Olaf) decided to solve a local disagreement on where a church should be built. He did so by shooting an arrow from his bow, commanding that the church be built wherever the arrow hit the ground. A winged arrow is also a frequent medieval heraldic motif. This design also has a V-shape which alludes to the initial V for Våler. The arms were designed by John Arne Moseng. 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=Våler_(Hedmark) |access-date=2023-04-25 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Valer, Hedmark (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-04-26.html |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1987-08-07 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1987-08-07-662 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunevåpen |url=http://www.vaaler-he.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=120&MId1=334 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827230633/http://www.vaaler-he.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?AId=120&MId1=334 |archive-date=2007-08-27 |access-date=2008-12-21 |publisher=Våler kommune |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has two parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Våler. It is part of the [[Solør, Vinger og Odal prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Hamar]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Våler'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Gravberget||[[Gravberget Church]]||[[Gravberget]]||1955
|-
|rowspan="2"|Våler||[[Våler Church]]||[[Våler (village)|Våler]]||2015
|-
|[[Risberget Chapel]]||[[Risberget, Våler|Risberget]]||1862
|}

[[File:Vaaler kirke 02.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Våler Church]]]]
The first [[Våler Church]] was known as the ''Mariakirken''. Legend says the church was established by [[Saint Olaf]]. The church was rebuilt several times. By 1686, the [[stave church]] that was standing at that time was in poor condition so it was renovated and restored. In 1804, the people of Våler asked the King permission to build a new church. It was permitted by the King, and so the construction of a new church started the same year. The church tower is dated 1805, and the dedication of the new church was 26 June 1806. The old stave church was then torn down. Today, there is a monument where the old church stood.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Jubileumsskrift (Anniversary book) |publisher=Våler Municipality |year=2004 |editor-last=Mikal Lundstein}}</ref> On 29 May 2009 the Våler Church was destroyed by an arson attack, which is suspected to be an act of satanist. It was rebuilt in 2015.

==Geography==
The municipality is bordered in the north by the municipality of [[Elverum]], in the east by the municipality of [[Trysil]] and the neighboring country of [[Sweden]], in the south by the municipality of [[Åsnes]], and in the west by the municipality of [[Stange]].

The municipality lies in the north end of the traditional district of [[Solør]], and it is often referred to as ''Våler in Solør''. Solør is the geographical area that lies between the towns of [[Elverum (town)|Elverum]] and [[Kongsvinger (town)|Kongsvinger]]. The eastern part of Solør (in the area bordering Sweden) is known as [[Finnskogen]] (the forest of the "Finns").

[[Agriculture]] and [[forestry]] are the main industries in Våler. With near 90% of the total area covered with [[forest]], Våler is among the larger forested municipalities in Norway. Most of the agricultural areas are found near the river [[Glomma]]. The [[Solør Line]] runs through the municipality on the east bank of the river. The river [[Flisa (river)|Flisa]] also runs through the municipality.

==Government==
Våler 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 Våler is made up of 19 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                      = Våler
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/innlandet/våler#seats |access-date=2024-01-14 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|INP                       = 3
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|otherparty                = Local list Våler i Sølør
|otherparty_no             = Bygdelista Våler i Solør
|otherparty_number         = 4
|otherparty1               = The People's List
|otherparty_no1            = Folkelista
|otherparty_number1        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/innlandet/våler#seats |access-date=2022-03-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|Total                     = 19
|collapsed                 = yes
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 4
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 1
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Local list Våler i Sølør
|otherparty_no             = Bygdelista Våler i Solør
|otherparty_number         = 3
|otherparty1               = The People's List
|otherparty_no1            = Folkelista
|otherparty_number1        = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2015/ko/hedmark/våler#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                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 3
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 4
|otherparty                = Local list Våler's Future
|otherparty_no             = Bygdelista Vålers framtid
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Tall for Norge: Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/hedmark/våler#seats |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 2
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Høyre                     = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 19
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|otherparty                = Local people's free list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdefolkets frie liste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Local people's free list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdefolkets frie liste
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Høyre                     = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|otherparty                = Local people's free list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdefolkets frie liste
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|otherparty                = Local people's free list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdefolkets frie liste
|otherparty_number         = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 15
|Høyre                     = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|otherparty                = Local people's free list
|otherparty_no             = Bygdefolkets frie liste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|otherparty                = Free voters
|otherparty_no             = Frie velgere
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 14
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 2
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Venstresosialistiske felleslister
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 3
|NKP                       = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 2
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Høyre                     = 3
|NKP                       = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 2
|NKP                       = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 23
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|NKP                       = 6
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|NKP                       = 6
|Høyre                     = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|NKP                       = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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                     = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|NKP                       = 7
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Våler
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 16
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|NKP                       = 2
|Nasjonal_Samling          = 1
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] of Våler (incomplete list):
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1854–1857: [[Christian Halvorsen Svenkerud]]
*1861–1873: [[Christian Halvorsen Svenkerud]]
*1913–1918: [[Halvdan Aarsrud]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2003–2015: Kjell Konterud ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2015-2019: Lise Berger Svenkerud ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
*2019–2023: Ola Cato Lie ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-30 |title=(+) To ganger 10-9 og Lie og Sæterdalen på plass i Våler |url=https://www.ostlendingen.no/valer/solor/valg-2019/to-ganger-10-9-og-lie-og-saterdalen-pa-plass-i-valer/s/5-69-828819?ns_campaign=article&amp;ns_mchannel=recommend_button&amp;ns_source=facebook&amp;ns_linkname=facebook&amp;ns_fee=0 |access-date=2019-10-06 |website=www.ostlendingen.no |language=no}}</ref>
*2023-present: Harry Vinje ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordfører |url=https://www.vaaler-he.kommune.no/politikk/ordforer/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Våler kommune i Innlandet |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==History==
{| style="float: right; margin: 1em; " class="wikitable"
|+ Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Våler 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=en}}</ref>
|-
!Ancestry!!Number
|-
| {{flag|Lithuania}}||45
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}||41
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}}||28
|-
| {{flag|Germany}}||26
|-
| {{flag|Iceland}}||19
|}

===Stone Age===
It is not known for certain when the first humans arrived in Våler, but it is thought to be at the end of the [[Neolithic]] era (4000–1800 BC). Tools made of [[flint]] have been found that are dated to about 2000 BC. Flint is not natural to the area, indicating it came along trade routes from the south.

The first humans in the deep forests of Våler lived mainly by [[hunting]] and [[fishing]]. Even though the people around the nearby lake [[Mjøsa]] already kept [[livestock]] and grew crops, some time passed before the people in Våler settled as farmers.

===Pre-Christian times===
From about 1000 BC there are findings that indicate settlements in Våler. In the [[Viking Age]], from about 700–1000 AD, Våler became more than just a few settled farms. At one stage in history, Solør was a powerful [[petty kingdom]].

The name Våler comes from the [[Old Norse]] word {{lang|no|vål}}, which means “trunks, or stumps (roots) from burnt trees in a clearing.” Names which are variations of ''vål'' are common in Norway as the first stage of clearing woodland for cultivation was to burn the trees and undergrowth.<ref name="Sawyer">{{Cite book |last=Sawyer |first=Birgit |author-link=Birgit Sawyer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |last2=Sawyer |first2=Peter H. |author-link2=Peter Hayes Sawyer |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-8166-1739-2}}</ref>

The conversion of [[Hedmark|Hedemark]] to [[Christianity]] is mentioned in the book [[Heimskringla]] ''(The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway)'' by [[Snorri Sturluson]]. According to legend, King [[Olaf II of Norway]] (Saint Olaf) went to Våler to convert the heathens to Christianity in 1022 AD. At first there was some resistance, but resistance proved to be futile. The farmers were quickly convinced to convert to Christianity, as in many other areas of Norway. The king decided that they had to build a church, but the locals couldn't agree where to place it. So the king settled the matter in a simple and efficient way. He took his bow, and shot an arrow up in the air and declared that wherever the arrow landed, the [[Church (building)|church]] was to be built. The arrow landed in a ''vål'' at the banks of the river Glomma. This incident gave name to both the place and the church. (Although later the church was called ''Mariakirken'', which translates to ''Church of Mary''). Våler Municipality's coat of arms illustrates Saint Olaf's arrow.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Hedmark |publisher=Gyldendal Norsk Forlag |year=1978 |editor-last=Sigmund Moren |location=Oslo, Norway}}</ref>

===Medieval period===
During the [[Middle Ages]], Våler was just an outpost far from the main travel route. Those few who went through, were either wanderers or pilgrims heading for Saint Olaf's tomb in [[Nidaros]] (later [[Trondheim]]). One pilgrim's route for Swedish pilgrims lay through [[Eidskog]], [[Solør]], and [[Elverum]]; [[Adam of Bremen]] mentions this route as early as 1070. Along this route, the pilgrims often stopped at the spring at Våler, where legend had it that Saint Olaf had watered his horse; the water was supposed to possess wonderful curative properties.<ref name="Stagg">{{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |url=https://archive.org/details/eastnorwayitsfro00stag |title=East Norway and its Frontier |publisher=George Allen & Unwin Ltd. |year=1956}}</ref>

The [[Black Death]] spread through Norway between 1348 and 1350. We do not know how hard Våler was affected by the plague, but a legend tells that only one boy and one girl survived.

By the 17th century, there was quite a lot of livestock in Våler. As the technology improved, the forestry became more and more important in the forests along the many rivers and lakes in the area.

===Finnish immigration===
An important part of Våler's and Solør's history, is the immigration and settlement of people from [[Finland]]. From the late 16th century they were encouraged by Swedish king [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] to settle in the unpopulated areas of [[Värmland]] and [[Solør]], along the border between Norway and Sweden. At that time the forests far from the settled areas of the two countries were of little value, and therefore immigrants could settle in large numbers without coming into conflict with the locals. The Finnish immigration was a result of hunger and turbulent times in Finland. King Gustav Vasa welcomed the immigrants, because he wanted to increase the taxable income from the scarcely populated areas of western Sweden.

The Finns brought with them their unique culture and their way of life. Amongst other things, they imported the agricultural technique, common in Finland and Eastern Sweden, known as ''[[svedjebruk]]'' or slash-burn [[agriculture]]. This involved setting fire to the forest and growing crops on the fertile ash-covered soil. The clearing was initially planted to [[rye]], and then in the second and third year with [[turnip]]s or [[cabbage]]s. It then might be grazed for several years before being allowed to return to [[woodland]]. In this manner, they periodically moved around and burned down new areas and left their former areas to regrow with forest.<ref name="Sawyer" />

The [[Finnish language]], still has an influence in the area. Many place names and words and expressions in the local [[dialect]]s derive from the Finnish. The area itself is called [[Finnskogen]], which translates as "The Finnish forest".

== Notable people ==
* [[Bernt Lund]] (1812 in Våler, Hedmark – 1885), a Norwegian landscape artist, author, and military officer
* [[Hermann Hansen Aarsrud]] (1837 in Våler, Hedmark – 1927), a farmer, politician, and Mayor of Våler from 1879 to 1904
* [[Halvdan Aarsrud]] (1878 in Våler, Hedmark – 1925), a bailiff, politician, and Mayor of Våler during WWI
* [[Jo Inge Bjørnebye]] (1946 in Våler, Hedmark – 2013), a Norwegian ski jumper who competed at the [[1968 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Finn Halvorsen]] (born 1947 in Våler, Hedmark), a Norwegian former ski jumper who competed at the [[1976 Winter Olympics]]
* [[Aage Rundberget]] (born 1947 in Våler, Hedmark), a Norwegian judge and civil servant

== See also ==
* [[Vålerbanen]], a motor racing circuit in the municipality.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Våler, Innlandet}}
{{wiktionary|Våler}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/valer-innlandet Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.vaaler-he.kommune.no Municipal website] {{in lang|no}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Våler
|North     =  [[Elverum]]<br />[[Trysil]]
|Northeast =  
|East      =  
|Southeast =  [[Sweden]]<br />[[Åsnes]]
|South     =  
|Southwest =  
|West      =  [[Stange]]
|Northwest =  
}}
{{Innlandet}}
{{Authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaaler, Innlandet}}
[[Category:Våler, Innlandet| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Innlandet]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Glomma River]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Norway]]