Jølster
Jølster is a former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It was located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative centre was the village of Skei. Other villages in the municipality included Helgheim, Ålhus, Vassenden, and Langhaugane.
Jølster Municipality
Jølster kommune | |
|---|---|
Former municipality | |
View of the river Jølstra | |
|
Flag | |
Sogn og Fjordane within Norway | |
Jølster within Sogn og Fjordane | |
| Coordinates: 61°32′30″N 06°24′32″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Sogn og Fjordane |
| District | Sunnfjord |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Disestablished | 1 Jan 2020 |
| • Succeeded by | Sunnfjord Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Skei |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2011-2019) | Oddmund Klakegg (Sp) |
| Area (upon dissolution) | |
| • Total | 670.87 km2 (259.02 sq mi) |
| • Land | 619.61 km2 (239.23 sq mi) |
| • Water | 51.26 km2 (19.79 sq mi) 7.6% |
| • Rank | #168 in Norway |
| Population (2019) | |
| • Total | 3,047 |
| • Rank | #260 in Norway |
| • Density | 4.9/km2 (13/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +3.3% |
| Demonym | Jølstring |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Nynorsk |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1431 |
| Website | Official website |
Jølster was located at the centre of the old Sogn og Fjordane county and was known for its rich cultural traditions in home crafts, folk music, song, dancing, and creative arts. Agriculture was the largest industry in the municipality. The principal attraction in Jølster was the scenery, with easy access to the glaciers Grovabreen, Jostedalsbreen, and Myklebustbreen. Jølster was home to part of the largest glacier of continental Europe, the Jostedalsbreen as well as a clear green lake named Jølstravatnet. The trout caught in Jølstravatn were renowned throughout Norway and beyond.
At the time of its dissolution in 2020, the 671-square-kilometre (259 sq mi) municipality is the 168th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway. Jølster is the 260th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,047. The municipality's population density is 4.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (13/sq mi) and its population has increased by 3.3% over the last decade.
In 2016, the chief of police for Vestlandet formally suggested a reconfiguration of police districts and stations. He proposed that the police station in Jølster be closed.