Valestrand Municipality

The municipality of Valestrand was established on 15 May 1868 when the large Stordøen Municipality was divided as follows: • the areas located south of the Bømlafjorden (population: 900) became the new Valestrand Municipality • the areas located north of the Bømlafjorden (population: 1,734) remained as a smaller Stordøen Municipality On 1 April 1870, the Øklandsgrend area (population: 247) of the neighboring Finnaas Municipality was transferred to Valestrand Municipality. Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Valestrand Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Sveio prestegjeld and the Søndre Sunnhordland prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Bjørgvin. ==Geography==

It was located on a peninsula on the southern shore of the Bømlafjorden. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Trollevassnibba. Stord Municipality was located to the north, Fjelberg Municipality was located to the northeast, Ølen Municipality was located to the east, Vikebygd Municipality was located to the south, Sveio Municipality was located to the southwest, and Moster Municipality was located to the west. ==Government==

While it existed, _____ Municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality was under the jurisdiction of the Sunnhordland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal. Municipal council The municipal council of Valestrand Municipality was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party. {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table {{Kommunestyre table Mayors The mayor () of Valestrand Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position: • 1868–1871: Nils Sundnæs • 1879–1887: Mathias Økland • 1888–1913: Gregorius G. Egeland • 1914–1919: Christian Sundnes • 1920–1937: Erik Kvammen • 1937–1945: Elling Horneland • 1946–1951: Hans Bua (Ap) • 1952–1955: Olav Vihovde • 1955–1958: Hans Bua (Ap) • 1958–1964: Kristoffer Vihovde (V) ==Notable people==

• Einar Økland, a poet, playwright, essayist and children's writer • Fartein Valen, a composer and music theorist • Agnes Ravatn, an author, columnist, and journalist • Ole Bull, a violinist and composer ==See also==