Frei

Frei is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The 65 km2 municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 2008 when it was incorporated into Kristiansund Municipality. It was located between the Kvernesfjorden and Freifjorden, primarily including the island of Frei and the smaller surrounding islands.

The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Rensvik, the largest village on the island, located on the northern end of the island. Other main villages that were in Frei Municipality include the village of Nedre Frei, located on the southern end of the island and the village of Kvalvåg, located on the eastern side of the island. The main church for the municipality was Frei Church, located in the village of Nedre Frei.

History
The municipality of Fredø was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). On 1 January 1882, a small part of Fredø (population: 40) was merged into the neighboring Øre Municipality to the south. On 1 September 1893, an area of Frei (population: 231) was merged into the new Gjemnes Municipality. In 1897, the Grip archipelago (population: 198) was separated from Frei to form the new Grip Municipality.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the northern part of the island of Frei (population: 884) was transferred from Bremsnes Municipality to Frei Municipality. Also on the same date, the part of Frei on the island of Aspøya (population: 147) was transferred to the neighboring Tingvoll Municipality. On 1 January 2008, Frei Municipality ceased to exist when it was merged into the neighboring Kristiansund Municipality to the north.

Name
The municipality is named after the island of Frei (Freiðr). The name's original meaning is unknown, but it may be derived from which means "lovely", "beautiful", or "fair". Prior to 1889, the name was spelled Fredø.

Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 6 February 1987 and it was in use until 2008 when the municipality ceased to exist. The official blazon is "Gules, two crowns Or in pale" (I rødt to gull kroner, 1-1). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a two gold crowns. The crowns have a tincture of Or which means they are commonly colored yellow, but if the shield is made out of metal, then gold is used. The two crowns symbolize the relationship between Frei and two Norwegian Kings: King Haakon the Good had a hunting lodge in Bjerkestrand in Frei in the 10th century, and the King and the villagers took part on the Battle of Rastarkalv in the municipality in the year 955. King Haakon VII visited the village in 1955 at the 1000th anniversary of the battle. The arms were designed by the local architect and painter Nils Fiske. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches
The Church of Norway had one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Frei. It was part of the Ytre Nordmøre prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Møre.

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 (Kommunestyre) of Frei was made up of 23 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:

Mayors
The mayors of Frei:


 * 1838–1841: Einer Eriksen Aspen
 * 1842–1843: Robert Williamsen
 * 1844–1847: Ole Aslaksen Sandnes
 * 1848–1851: Einer Eriksen Aspen
 * 1852–1855: Nils Frei
 * 1856–1856: Johan Ryther
 * 1857–1857: Nils Frei
 * 1858–1859: Ole Nilsen
 * 1860–1872: Jacob Messel Williamsen
 * 1873–1875: Eisten H. Storvik
 * 1876–1877: Johannes Bugge
 * 1878–1883: Eisten H. Storvik
 * 1884–1885: Erik Jordal
 * 1886–1897: Nils Williamsen (H)
 * 1898–1907: Eystein Andreas Nilssen (V)
 * 1908–1913: Didrik Frei (V)
 * 1914–1916: Nils Williamsen (H)
 * 1917–1919: Didrik Frei (V)
 * 1920–1922: Jacob Messel Williamsen
 * 1923–1931: Anders Grimstad
 * 1932–1934: Jacob Messel Williamsen
 * 1935–1937: Nils Bjerkestrand
 * 1938–1941: Eisten O. Bjerkestrand
 * 1942–1944: Peder E. Husby
 * 1944–1945: Kristian Williamsen
 * 1945–1945: Eisten O. Bjerkestrand
 * 1946–1947: Nils Bjerkestrand (KrF)
 * 1948–1959: Axel Fiske (KrF)
 * 1959–1959: Lars Grimstad (LL)
 * 1960–1967: Harald Bergem (KrF)
 * 1968–1969: Jakob Knutsen (Ap)
 * 1970–1971: Edvin Kvalvik (Ap)
 * 1972–1975: Arne Lillevik (V)
 * 1976–1979: Torbjørn Nyland
 * 1980–1981: Arne Lillevik (V)
 * 1982–1983: Erling Bjerkestrand (KrF)
 * 1984–1991: Tord M. Kvalvåg (Ap)
 * 1992–1999: Anders O. Bergem (LL)
 * 1999–2007: Maritta B. Ohrstrand (Sp)