Øyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| County | Oppland | |
| District | Gudbrandsdalen | |
| Municipality | NO-0521 | |
| Administrative centre | Tingberg | |
| Mayor (2003) | Ole Hageløkken (Ap) | |
| Official language form | Neutral | |
| Area - Total - Land - Percentage |
Ranked 176 640 km² 616 km² 0.20 % |
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| Population - Total (2004) - Percentage - Change (10 years) - Density |
Ranked 196 4,870 0.11 % 3.9 % 8/km² |
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| Coordinates | ||
| www.oyer.kommune.no |
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Øyer is a municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway.
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[edit] Location
In Oppland, Øyer is bordered by Ringebu municipality to the north, Ringsaker to the southeast and Lillehammer to the south. To the east, located in Hedmark county, lies Stor-Elvdal municipality. The municipality is divided in two parishes: Øyer in the south, and Tretten in the north.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Traditional Occupations
Øyer has traditionally been a farming and lumbering municipality.
[edit] Recreation
Recreation is increasingly important economically. Since it opened in 1939, Øyer's Hafjell Alpine Ski Center has grown to include over 14 lifts and 28 runs as wells as extensive cross country skiing runs. It is an easy 15 kilometers from Lillehammer, making it very accessible. Tobogganing, luge and bobsled racing (on the 1994 Olympic course) are also found in the area.
[edit] History
[edit] Black Death
The Black Death reached Norway in the winter of 1349/50. Øyer was one of the parishes most severely impacted; estimates based on tax payments suggest that between 2/3 and 3/4 of all residents died. Many of the farms there became deserted (øygarder), which remained vacant until the late 1600-hundreds. The parish of Tretten was annexed to Øyer after the Black Death, because the decimated population of Tretten no longer could maintain their own priest.
[edit] Naming the Municipality
The name is first recorded in 1323, but it is certainly much older. The etymology of the municipality name is unknown. In old Norse it was recorded in an earlier form Øyja, and that appears to derive from on unrecorded nominative form Øyi. The name may derive from the old Norse word øy - which signifies "a level region alongside a lake or river". Aside from some small and insignificant islets in the Lågen river, one finds no islands (øyer) in Øyer.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1983). It shows a helder - a traditional tool made of wood for fastening a rope around a load.
[edit] Genealogy
[edit] References
| Municipalities of Oppland |  |
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Dovre | Etnedal | Gausdal | Gjøvik | Gran | Jevnaker | Lesja | Lillehammer | Lom | Lunner | Nord-Aurdal | Nord-Fron | Nordre Land | Ringebu | Sel | Skjåk | Søndre Land | Sør-Aurdal | Sør-Fron | Vang | Vestre Slidre | Vestre Toten | Vågå | Østre Toten | Øyer | Øystre Slidre |
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