Hidra, Vest-Agder


Hidra is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord. The municipality existed from 1893 until its dissolution in 1965. It encompassed the islands and southern coastal part of the present-day municipality of Flekkefjord. The municipality included the islands of Hidra and Andabeløya as well as 56 other islands, plus the mainland coast from Abelsnes to the river Sira. The administrative centre was the village of Kirkehavn where Hidra Church is located.
Hidra was home to the landscape and coastal painter Olav Omland. He was also a poet and songwriter, and composed the song about Hidra "Hidrasangen". Hidra was also home to the eccentric personality and artist Tatjana Lars Kristian Guldbrandsen.

Name

The Old Norse form of the name was Hitr. The name is probably derived from a word with the meaning "split" or "cleft". Prior to 1918, the name was spelled Hitterø.

History

The parish of Nes og Hitterø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. However, on 8 October 1893, this municipality was split into two municipalities: Hitterø and Nes. On 1 January 1965, Hidra municipality was merged with the municipalities of Nes, Gyland, most of Bakke, and the town of Flekkefjord to form the new municipality of Flekkefjord. Prior to the merger, Hidra had a population of 1,277.