Vardal Municipality

The prestegjeld of Vardal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). According to the 1835 census the parish had a population of 2,921 shortly before it became a municipality. On 1 January 1861 the town of Gjøvik (population: 626) was separated from Vardal Municipality to constitute a separate town-municipality, leaving the rural Vardal Municipality with a population of 4,114. On 1 January 1896, the Østby and Aas farms from Østre Toten Municipality (population: 49) were transferred into Vardal Municipality. On 1 January 1900, an unpopulated area of Søndre Land Municipality was transferred to Vardal Municipality. During the 20th century, the town of Gjøvik was growing and twice the town annexed parts of Vardal Municipality. On 1 July 1921, an area with 723 residents was taken from Vardal Municipality and added to the town of Gjøvik. Then again on 1 July 1955, another area (population: 1,372) was transferred from Vardal Municipality to Gjøvik Municipality. Churches The Church of Norway had one parish () within Vardal Municipality. At the time of the municipal dissolution, it was part of the Vardal prestegjeld and the Toten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar. ==Geography==

Biri Municipality was located to the north, Ringsaker Municipality (in Hedmark county) was located to the northeast, Nes Municipality (in Hedmark county) was located to the east, Østre Toten Municipality was located to the southeast, Vestre Toten Municipality was located to the south, Søndre Land Municipality was located to the southwest, Fluberg Municipality was located to the west, and Snertingdal Municipality was located to the northwest. The highest point in the municipality was the tall mountain Skybergtoppen, in the northwest part of the municipality. ==Government==

While it existed, Vardal 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 Eidsivating Court of Appeal. Municipal council The municipal council of Vardal Municipality was made up of 29 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 Vardal Municipality was the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position: • 1838–1839: Hans Skikkelstad • 1840–1845: Hans Peter Borchgrevink • 1845–1847: Henrik Christian Borchgrevink • 1848–1849: Christian Braastad • 1850–1865: Johan Braastad • 1866–1869: Peder Mustad • 1870–1881: Anders Jørgensen Veum • 1882–1889: Nicolai Forseth • 1890–1891: Peter Braastad • 1892–1895: Andreas Kastad • 1896–1898: Lars J. Aalstad • 1899–1901: Andreas Kastad • 1902–1910: Halvor Fosmark (AD) • 1910–1922: Arne Fosnes (AD) • 1922–1925: Kristian Nyjordet (Bp) • 1926–1928: Ludvig Skjerven (RF) • 1929–1937: Knut A. Jenseth (Ap) • 1938–1940: Johannes Odnessveen (Ap) • 1941–1943: Knut A. Jenseth (NS) • 1943–1945: Kristian Fjeld (NS) • 1945–1945: Johannes Odnessveen (Ap) • 1946–1959: Andreas Nordland (Ap) • 1959–1959: Harald Børresen (Ap) • 1960–1963: Alf R. Iversen (Ap) ==See also==