Infobox Kommune
image_caption = The ruins of Lyse Abbey.
name = Os
demonym = Osing
county = Hordaland
idnumber = 1243
landscape = Midhordland
capital = Osøyro
governor = Terje Søviknes (Frp)
governor_as_of = 2005
arearank = 364
area = 140
arealand = 134
areapercent = 0.04
population_as_of = 2008
populationrank = 65
population = 16055
populationpercent = 0.32
populationdensity = 111.5
populationincrease = 12.0
language = Nynorsk
munwebpage = www.os.hordaland.no
lat_deg = 60 | lat_min = 13 | lat_sec = 37 | lon_deg = 5 | lon_min = 28 | lon_sec = 33
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6681915 | utm_easting = 0304849 | geo_cat = adm2nd
Os is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Due to its proximity to Bergen, Os is experiencing strong population growth.
History
Os was established as a formannskapsdistrikt, the predecessor of today's municipalities, on 1 January 1838. Fusa was separated from Os in 1856. Samnanger was separated from Os on 1 January 1907. The municipality is named after the farm of Os, where the first church was built. The name is identical with the Old Norse word "óss" which means "mouth of a river"; the river that is referred to is Oselva.
The coat of arms is quite modern, having been adopted in 1949 after a local competition. [cite web|url=http://www.ngw.nl/int/nor/o/osh.htm|author=Norske Kommunevåpen|date=1990|title=Nye kommunevåbener i Norden|accessdaymonth=21 September|accessyear=2008] The lower part of it shows an "Oselvar", a type of riverboat that has been made in the area since 1926. [cite web|url=http://home.online.no/~aarvoll/oselvar_verkstad.htm|title=Oselvar Boats]
The famous violinist Ole Bull built his summerhouse in Os, on an island named Lysøen. The special building was inspired by his travels, especially his travels to the Middle East. Lysøen was originally owned by Lyse Abbey, the ruins of which still stand and are frequently visited.
Politics
In 1999, the Progress Party won the local election, and Terje Søviknes the first Progressive Party politician to hold the position of mayor in Os.
Before World War II, the municipality was mayored by Nils Tveit from 1916 to 1940. He also held the position briefly after the German occupation of Norway had ended.
ettlements
Osøyro is the administrative and commercial centre of Os, where the municipality administration is located.
Demographics
As of 1 January 2008, Os has a population of 16,055. The population density is 111.5 per km², compared to a county average of 29.5 per km² and a country average of 14.5 per km². 80% of the population lived in urban settlements. 1.9% of the population were registered as unemployed; the county and national average is 2.6%. 26% of the workforce were employed in public administration. 2% were employed in the primary sector of economic activity, 28.2 in the secondary sector, and 69.3% in the tertiary sector.[Cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/municipalities/1243|title=Figures on Os Municipality|accessdate=2008-05-31|publisher=Statistics Norway|year=2008 no icon] In the period from 29 October to 4 November 2001, 45.7% of the workforce of Os commuted out of the municipality, mainly to Bergen. In the same period, Os received a daily average of 753 commuters from other municipalities, 15.8% of those employed in Os.][Cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/fobpend_en/|title=Commuting. Population and housing Census 2001|accessdate=2008-05-31|publisher=Statistics Norway|year=2002 no icon] In 2006, Os had a daily out-commuting of 3,001 people.]Industry
Os has a tradition for small boat building. The traditional boat of Os is Oselvaren, a small wooden boat. This boat is the official seal of Os. These boats have been used for everyday work and for travelling to church. These boats were either sail boats or one could row. They still build these boats the traditional way in Os, and tourists are able to visit and watch them work. Os also has a modern boat building company, Askeladden, situated in Askvik.
References