Editing Gjerstad

{{short description|Municipality in Agder, Norway}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Gjerstad
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|idnumber               = 4211
|image_skyline          = Gjerstadvatnet 1.jpg
|image_caption          = View of [[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]] from the [[Gjerstadvatnet]]
|county                 = Agder
|district               = Østre Agder
|capital                = [[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonyms               = Gjersdøl<br />Gjersdøling
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Gjerstad komm.svg 
|webpage                = www.gjerstad.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Steinar Pedersen
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 256
|area_total_km2         = 322.13
|area_land_km2          = 307.57
|area_water_km2         = 14.56
|area_water_percent     = 4.5
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 260
|population_total       = 2421
|population_density_km2 = 7.9
|population_increase    = -2.5
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|53|33|N|08|57|24|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6528095 |utm_easting = 0497503 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Gjerstad''' is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Agder]] [[counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Districts of Norway|traditional region]] of [[Sørlandet]], in the southeastern part of the county, along the border with [[Telemark]] county.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gjerstad municipality |url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/aust-agder/gjerstad/7635ea2479a1220/index.html |access-date=February 5, 2016 |publisher=gonorway.com}}</ref>  The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the village of [[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]. Other villages in the municipality include [[Ausland, Norway|Ausland]], [[Eikeland]], [[Fiane, Gjerstad|Fiane]], [[Gryting]], [[Østerholt]], [[Rød, Gjerstad|Rød]], [[Sundebru]], and [[Vestøl, Aust-Agder|Vestøl]].

The {{convert|322|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 256th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Gjerstad is the 260th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,421. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|7.9|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 2.5% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of Gjerstad was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). The borders have not changed since that time.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no |isbn=9788253746845}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality (originally the [[prestegjeld|parish]]) is named after the old ''[[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]'' farm ({{langx|non|Geirreksstaðir}}) since the first [[Gjerstad Church]] was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain. One possibility is that it is the [[genitive case]] of the male name {{lang|non|Geirrekr}}. Another possibility is that it comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|geirr}} which means "spear". The last element of the name is the plural form of {{wikt-lang|non|staðr}} which means "place", "abode", or "town". Historically, the name of the parish was spelled Gerikstadum (c. 1400), Gierestat (c. 1567), Gierrestad, and Gjerrestad.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |year=1905 |edition=8 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=11 |language=no |author-link=Oluf Rygh}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Gjerstad |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Gjerstad |access-date=2017-12-28 |date=2017-11-02 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 18 April 1986. The official [[blazon]] is ''"[[Gules]], three knives [[argent]] in [[fess]] [[palewise]] points to the base"'' ({{langx|no|På raud grunn tre opprette sølv knivar}}). This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is three [[knife|knives]] pointing downwards. The knives have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The knife was chosen as a symbol for the [[forge|smithies]] and knife makers in the municipality. Knife making has long been a local tradition for which Gjerstad is well known. The arms were designed by Odd Kjell Mostad. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Gjerstad |access-date=2023-01-19 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gjerstad, Aust-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-09-11.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-04-18 |title=Godkjenning av våpen og flagg |url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/LF/forskrift/1986-04-18-964?q=flagg |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Lovdata.no |publisher=Norges kommunal- og arbeidsdepartementet |language=no}}</ref> {{See also-text|the coat of arms of [[Vestre Toten#Coat of arms|Vestre Toten]]}}

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has one parish ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Gjerstad. It is part of the [[Aust-Nedenes prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Gjerstad'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Gjerstad||[[Gjerstad Church]]||[[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]||1848
|}

==History==
[[File:116340 Husmannsplassen Lia fra RA.jpg|thumb|left|View of a cotter's home at Lia in Gjerstad]]
Until about 1650, the [[prestegjeld]] of Gjerstad (the precursor to today's municipality) was named ''Vissedal'' (from ''vidr-ser-dalr'' meaning "wood-sea-dale"), a very proper description of the area. Gjerstad has been inhabited from the [[Stone Age]] and [[Viking Age]] through modern times. [[Agriculture]] has long been important, and until only decades ago the more marginal outfields in Upper Gjerstad were still utilized. [[Forestry]] also provided an important historic economic contribution, and logs were driven on rivers and streams in the municipality. To aid log transport by floating, numerous [[dam]]s were constructed. [[Eikeland]] Ironworks were a significant contribution to the economy as well.

==Geography==
Gjerstad municipality has numerous [[glacier|glacially]] formed features, including a U-shaped valley, [[Tarn (lake)|tarn]]s, and lakes, most notably the large lake [[Gjerstadvatnet]]. It located in [[Agder]] county and it is bordered to the north by [[Nissedal]] and [[Drangedal]] municipalities (both in [[Telemark]] county); to the east by [[Kragerø]] municipality (also in Telemark); to the south by [[Risør]] municipality; and to  the southwest by [[Vegårshei]] municipality. There are several larger roads that traverse Gjerstad: [[European route E18]], [[Norwegian County Road 417]], and [[Norwegian County Road 418]].

==Government==
Gjerstad Municipality is responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}}</ref> The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the [[Agder District Court]] and the [[Agder Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Gjerstad is made up of 17 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]].
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/aust-agder/gjerstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|DLF/V                     = 2
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|start                     = 1963
|end                       = 1967
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1959
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1955
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1951
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1947
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Gjerstad
|herad                     = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1941* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 7
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Gjerstad (incomplete list):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Gjerstad siden 1856 |url=https://www.gjerstad.kommune.no/politikk-og-organisasjon/politikk/ordforer-og-andre-valgte-representanter/ordforere-i-gjerstad-siden-1856/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Gjerstad kommune |language=no}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1856–1859: Nils T. Ulltveit
* 1860–1861: Gunder Hansen Ulltveit
* 1864–1867: Nils T. Ulltveit
* 1868–1869: Gunder Hansen Ulltveit
* 1870–1873: Knut N. Ausland
* 1874–1879: Nils Larsen Røed
* 1880–1881: Lars Th. Røed
* 1882–1883: Jens O. Trydal
* 1884–1884: Nils Larsen Røed
* 1892–1895: Nils Larsen Røed
* 1896–1898: Kittil Th. Moe
* 1899–1901: Peder K. Eikeland
* 1902–1907: Svend Tellefsen Kveim
* 1908–1916: Lars Th. Eskeland
* 1917–1922: Anders O. Moe
* 1923–1928: G.M. Skomedal
* 1929–1931: Kristen Fløgstad
* 1931–1934: Isak K. Strat
* 1934–1937: Torkjell Imenes
* 1937–1940: Isak K. Strat
* 1941–1945: Samuel Johannessen ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945–1946: Isak K. Strat
* 1947–1947: Olav Hegna ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1948–1955: Teodor Moen
* 1956–1957: Olav Hegna ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1958–1965: Torje Vehus
* 1966–1973: Knut H. Ulltveit ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1975–1979: Arthur Løite ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1980–1983: Finn Birkedal ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1984–1991: Knut H. Ulltveit ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1992–1999: [[Jan Olav Olsen]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1999–2003: Kjell Arild Haugen ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2003–2007: Odvar Voie Eikeland ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2007–2011: Rune Hagestrand ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2011–2015: Kjell Trygve Grunnsvoll ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2015–2022: [[Inger Løite]] ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2022-present: Steinar Pedersen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=Fornyet tillit som ordfører Gjerstad |url=https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/fornyet-tillit-som-ordforer-gjerstad-1.16555215 |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>{{div col end}}

==Attractions==
* The remains of [[Eikeland]] [[Ironworks]] can still be seen in the upper valley. Gjerstad was known for its handmade knives and the coat-of-arms recognizes this heritage.
* Horga was a former [[Norse paganism|pagan]] place of sacrifice which was destroyed by [[Olaf I of Norway|Olav Trygvason]], during the introduction of [[Christianity]] to Gjerstad. It lies {{convert|300|m}} from ''Holmen Gård''.
* ''[https://gjh.no/om-historielaget/historiske-turer-/holmen-gard-loypene Holmen Gård]'' in Gjerstad ({{langx|no|Holmen Gård i Gjerstad}}) is the site of a former farm. It was a Norwegian national center for folk art and [[handicraft]] until it was sold into private ownership in 2013. The site has been awarded the St. Olaf's Rose (''Olavsrosa''), a hallmark for Norwegian Heritage which designates especially distinguished places.
<gallery mode="packed">
Eikeland Verk.JPG|Eikeland verk building
Eikelands verk, Egelandsverk, Gata, Aust-Agder - Riksantikvaren-T179 01 0163.jpg|Road with houses at the Eikeland verk in 1939
Holmen Gård026.jpg|View of the buildings at Holmen Gård{{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}
Holmengard-040.jpg|Main house at Holmen Gård{{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}
</gallery>

==Notable people==
[[File:Holmengard-119.JPG|thumb|160px|right|[[Niels Henrik Abel|Abel]] Memorial near [[Gjerstad Church]] {{credit|©Torgrim Landsverk}}]]
* Hans Mathias Abel (1738–1803), the priest at [[Gjerstad Church]] from 1785 to 1804
* [[Søren Georg Abel]] (1772–1820), a politician and also priest at Gjerstad from 1804 to 1821
* [[Niels Henrik Abel]] (1802–1829), a distinguished [[mathematician]] who spent his boyhood in the [[rectory]] at Gjerstad and died young of [[Tuberculosis|TB]]
* [[Svenum Jensen Vævestad]] (1849 in Gjerstad – 1898), a farmer and politician
* [[Morten Ansgar Kveim]] (1892 in Gjerstad – 1966), a pathologist who described the [[Kveim test]]
* [[Magnhild Hagelia]] (1904 in Gjerstad – 1996), a politician
* [[Jan Olav Olsen]] (born 1950), a politician who was mayor of Gjerstad from 1991 to 1999
* [[Inger Løite]] (born 1958 in Gjerstad), a politician
* [[Knut Magne Valle]] (born 1974 in Gjerstad), a [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] guitarist, songwriter, composer, recording studio owner, record producer, and music arranger
* [[Torbjørn Urfjell]] (born 1977), a politician

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gjerstad}}
{{wiktionary|Gjerstad}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/gjerstad Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Aust-Agder}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160430185045/http://holmengard.blogspot.no/ Welcome to Holmen Gård in Gjerstad]
*[http://www.gjerstad.org/ Gjerstad.org] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060831030539/http://www.kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T921062&kommune=T961580 Culture in Gjerstad on the map] {{in lang|no}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Gjerstad
|North     =  [[Drangedal]]
|Northeast =  Drangedal
|East      =  [[Kragerø]]
|Southeast =  
|South     =  [[Risør]]
|Southwest =  [[Vegårshei]]
|West      =  
|Northwest =  [[Nissedal]]
}}
{{Agder}}
{{authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

[[Category:Gjerstad| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Agder]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]