Austad (municipality)

Austad is a former municipality of the former Vest-Agder county, Norway. The 44 km2 municipality existed from 1909 until its dissolution in 1963. The municipality encompassed the area surrounding the Rosfjorden in the southern, coastal part of the present-day municipality of Lyngdal. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Austad where Austad Church is located.

History
Austad municipality was created on 1 January 1909 when the old municipality of Lyngdal was divided into three separate municipalities: Lyngdal, Austad, and Kvås. Upon its creation, Austad had a population of 1,263. On 7 January 1916, there was a small border adjustment which transferred a small area (population: 4) from Austad to the neighboring municipality of Spind. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1963, Austad and Kvås were re-incorporated into Lyngdal along with the Gitlevågområdet area of Spangereid. Prior to the merger, Austad had a population of 608.

Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Austad farm (Alvisstaðir) since the first Austad Church was built there. The first element the male name "Ålvir" or "Ǫlvir". The last element is the plural form of which means "place" or "abode".

Government
While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.

Municipal council
The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Austad was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.