Country Norway District Namdalen Area rank 149 in Norway Area 729.8 km² Population 3,636 (2011) Official language form Norwegian Language | County Nord-Trøndelag Administrative centre Ranemsletta Demonym(s) Overhallning Local time Tuesday 6:24 PM Administrative center Ranemsletta | |
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Weather -1°C, Wind W at 10 km/h, 79% Humidity | ||
Overhalla is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Namdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ranemsletta (also called Overhalla). Other villages include Melen, Skage, Skogmo, Svalia, and Øysletta.
Contents
- Map of 7863 Overhalla Norway
- General information
- Name
- Coat of arms
- Churches
- Geography
- Government
- Municipal council
- Transportation
- Notable residents
- References
Map of 7863 Overhalla, Norway
The population is concentrated in the relatively broad Namsen river valley at the center. Public services, agriculture, and tourism are the main sources of income. Overhallahus (a house building company) and Pharmaq (a fish vaccine factory) are located in the municipality.
General information
The municipality of Overhalla was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). On 1 January 1964, the Galguften and Hauknes area (population: 15) of Høylandet was transferred to Overhalla.
Name
The Old Norse form of the name was œfri halfa which means "the upper half (of Namdalen)". Historically, the Namdalen district was divided in two parts: "the upper half" and "the lower half". The municipality of Overhalla today is, however, just a fraction of the old part of œfri halfa.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1989, but is inspired by an old seal for the district by King Håkon Magnusson from 1344. It shows seven red greek crosses arranged in a circle on a gold background.
Churches
The Church of Norway has two parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Overhalla. It is part of the Namdal deanery in the Diocese of Nidaros.
Geography
The municipality includes part of the lake Eidsvatnet, from which the river Bjøra flows into the river Namsen, which runs from the east to the west. By the time it reaches the border to Namsos, Namsen is already brackish and influenced by the tides the ocean. The river Nordelva also empties into the estuary here. On the south side of Namsen, there is an area of mountains, including Reinsjøfjell and mountain lakes; the Bangsjøene lakes form the border with Snåsa. The western approaches to Geitfjell lies in Overhalla, while the summit lies in Grong. The southern tip of the lake Storgrønningen lies in Overhalla, while the vast majority of the lake lies in Høylandet.
Government
All municipalities in Norway, including Overhalla, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor.
Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Overhalla is made up of 21 representatives that are elected to every four years. Currently, the party breakdown is as follows:
Transportation
The historic Namsos Line railway traversed the municipality on its way from Grong to Namsos, but the line was closed to passenger traffic in 1978. Freight traffic on the line was discontinued in 2002. The Norwegian County Road 17 also crosses the municipality.