Hylestad

Hylestad is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county in Norway. The 570 km2 former municipality existed from 1915 until its dissolution in 1962. It was located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Valle in the traditional region of Setesdal in Agder county. The administrative centre was the village of Rysstad where the Hylestad Church was located.

History
The parish of Hylestad was established as a municipality on 1 July 1915 when the municipality of Valle was divided into two municipalities: Hylestad (population: 658) in the south and Valle (population: 1,051) in the north. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1962, Hylestad was reincorporated into Valle. Prior to the merger Hylestad had a population of 662.

Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hylestad farm (Hyljastaðir) since the first Hylestad Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of the word which means "deep place" or "pool in a river". The last element is the plural form of which means "place", "homestead" 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 Hylestad was made up of 13 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors
The mayors (ordfører) of Hylestad:


 * 1915-1916: Gunnar Torgeirsson Rysstad (H)
 * 1916-1922: Tarald J. Harstad (Ap)
 * 1923-1925: Gunnar Torgeirsson Rysstad (H)
 * 1926-1928: Torgeir G. Straume
 * 1929-1934: Jon O. Nomeland
 * 1934-1937: Aani Aanisson Rysstad (Ap)
 * 1938-1941: Jon O. Nomeland
 * 1941-1945: Jon T. Rysstad (NS)
 * 1945-1951: Jon O. Nomeland
 * 1952-1955: Såvi G. Straume (V)
 * 1956-1961: Torjus J. Nomeland

Notable people

 * Osmund Faremo (1921-1999), a Norwegian politician
 * Aani Aanisson Rysstad (1894-1965), a Norwegian politician