Bømlo

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Bømlo kommune
—  Municipality  —

Coat of arms

Hordaland within
Norway
Bømlo within Hordaland
Coordinates (city): 59°46′46″N 5°13′6″E / 59.77944°N 5.21833°E / 59.77944; 5.21833Coordinates: 59°46′46″N 5°13′6″E / 59.77944°N 5.21833°E / 59.77944; 5.21833
Country Norway
County Hordaland
District Sunnhordland
Municipality ID NO-1219
Administrative centre Svortland
Government
 - Mayor (2003) Inge Reidar Kallevåg (H)
Area (Nr. 307 in Norway)
 - Total 246 km2 (95 sq mi)
 - Land 235 km2 (90.7 sq mi)
Population (2009)
 - Total 11 189
 - Density 46/km2 (119.1/sq mi)
 - Change (10 years) 5.7 %
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Official language form Nynorsk
Norwegian demonym Bømling[1]
Website www.bomlo.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway
Historical populations
Year Pop.  %±
1951 1,407
1960 1,492 6.0%
1970 8,339 458.9%
1980 9,213 10.5%
1990 9,675 5.0%
2000 10,739 11.0%
2007 10,892 1.4%
2008 10,998 1.0%
2009 11,085 0.8%
Source: Statistics Norway.
A 1720 map showing "Fundas or Bomel I."

Bømlo is a municipality in Sunnhordland, in the southern part of the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is also the name of the main island of this archipelago, consisting of about 900 islets, located west of Stord.

The old municipality of Finnås was divided into Bømlo, Bremnes, and Moster on 1 July 1916. The two latter municipalities were merged back into Bømlo on 1 January 1963.

Bømlo was also involved in the Shetland bus operation in WWII.

Contents

[edit] General information

[edit] Name

The municipality is named after the main island of Bømlo (Old Norse Bymbil). The meaning of the name is unknown.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 29 February 1980. The arms show a water lily leaf with a trefoil. The trefoil symbolizes the three former municipalities Bremnes, Moster, and Bømlo, which were united in 1963. The water lily leaf was simply chosen as a decorative element without any further significance.[2]

[edit] Locations

Bømlo is commonly distinguished into different areas of where people reside. These areas include Bremnes, Moster, Søra-Bømlo (South-Bømlo), Rubbestadneset, Finnås, Gilje, Goddo, and Hiskjo. Bremnes is the financial center with stores, a culture house, schools and official buildings and is located a bit north on the island. Moster is on the other hand more to the east with a high percentage of devout Christians residing in three different sects. Bømlos economy is in a large degree sustained by Eidesvik Shipping, Wärtsila, fishindustry, tourism and general offshore related work.

[edit] Culture

Bømlo is known in the region for several shows and musicals performed in Moster Amfi. The local communtiy is very active in culture work be it song, dance or the active Christian communtiy. Traditionally Bømlos culture has centered around Christianity with its pinnacle: "Mostraspelet". A play conducted in Moster Amfi surrounding the topic of how Christianity came to Norway via Bømlo late during the first millennium. In Moster , Bømlo Musical Laug has staged several musicals.

[edit] Sports

Soccer is the most popular sport played by the male population on the island. Notable soccer player like Arne Larsen Økland, Geirmund Brendesæter and Gunnar Meling started their careers in Bremnes IL. The former top player and current coach for Brann IL Mons Ivar Mjelde had a brief stay at Moster IL.

[edit] Education

There are several schools in the area. The schools Svortland, Gilje, Meling, Folderøy, Våge, Håvik and Espevær only have students from 1st-7th grade. The schools Rubbestadneset, Moster and Hillestveit have students from 1st through 10th grade. Bremnes Ungdomsskule gathers most students from 8th to 10th grade. There are two upper secondary schools, Bømlo Vidaregåande skule and Rubbestadnes Vidaregåande Skule (earlier Rubbestadnes Yrkesskule)

There is also a Folk High School, Olavskulen Folkehøgskule

[edit] Industry

Chain ferry at Espevær

Wärtsilä , Eidesvik, Brandasund fiskeforedling and Bremnes Seashore are notable employers. As well as tourism. There is not much education you can get on Bømlo

[edit] Communication

An extensive tunnel and bridge system, Trekantsambandet, connected Bømlo to the mainland and neighboring island Stord on 30 April 2001.

[edit] References

[edit] External links