Forsand

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Forsand kommune
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms of Forsand kommune
Coat of arms
Official logo of Forsand kommune
Rogaland within
Norway
Forsand within Rogaland
Forsand within Rogaland
Coordinates: 58°54′34″N 6°12′4″E / 58.90944, 6.20111
Country Norway
County Rogaland
District Ryfylke
Municipality ID NO-1129
Administrative centre Forsand
Government
 - Mayor (2003) Ingeborg Søyland (Sp)
Area (Nr. 139 in Norway)
 - Total 842 km² (325.1 sq mi)
 - Land 702 km² (271 sq mi)
Population (2004)
 - Total 1,069
 - Density 2/km² (5.2/sq mi)
 - Change (10 years) 3.3 %
 - Rank in Norway 403
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Official language form Nynorsk
Demonym Forsandbu[1]
Data from Statistics Norway
Website: www.forsand.kommune.no

Forsand is a municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.

Forsand was separated from Høle January 1, 1871.

Forsand is located within the constraints of two fjords, Lysefjord and Høgsfjord. It is one of largest municipalities within the county of Rogaland in terms of area, and one of the smallest in terms of population. Forsand municipality covers 842 km², and has a population of 1092 (By 1.1.2006).

Contents

[edit] The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the farm Forsand (Norse Forsandr), since the first church was built there. The first element is the prefix for 'outsticking', the last element is sandr m 'sand; sandy beach'.

Until 1918 the name was written "Fossan".

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1988). It shows a heron.

(See also the coat-of-arms of Tysvær.)

[edit] Villages

Villages that are part of the municipality:

Lysebotn seen from Øygardsstølen
Lysebotn seen from Øygardsstølen

[edit] History

In 1999, evidence of population dating back to around 7500 BC was located.