Time Municipality

The parish of "Thime" (later spelled Time) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The municipal borders have been slightly changed twice since that time. On 1 January 1970, a small unpopulated area was moved from Time Municipality to Gjesdal Municipality. Then again on 1 January 1989 another unpopulated area was transferred to Gjesdal Municipality. Both times it was to make more room for the growing village of Ålgård in Gjesdal Municipality.

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Time farm (Old Norse: Þímin) since the first Time Church was built there. The meaning of the first element is uncertain. It may come from the Anglo-Saxon word Þínan which means "to get wet" or the Old Norse word þiðna which means "thawed" or "melted". Both possible meanings likely refer to the wet and marshy areas in Time. The last element is vin which means "meadow" or "pasture". Historically, the municipality name was spelled Thime, but the "h" was dropped as the Norwegian language was reformed over time.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 23 December 1977. The blazon is "Gules, a lapwing rising argent" (Norwegian: På raud botn ei sølv vipe med utslegne vengjer). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). The charge has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. This bird (known as a vipe in Norwegian) was chosen as a symbol for the municipality as it is a typical bird for the area. It is shown with wings upwards to symbolize optimism. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches

The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within Time Municipality. It is part of the Jæren prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Stavanger.

Time Municipality is located in the district of Jæren which is mostly flat and agricultural. The river Figgjoelva marks the northern border of Time with Sandnes Municipality. The large lake Frøylandsvatnet forms part of the northwest border with the neighboring Klepp Municipality. Hå Municipality is located to the southwest, Bjerkreim Municipality is located to the southeast, and Gjesdal Municipality is located to the east. The landlocked municipality also includes part of the "Høg-Jæren" ("high-Jæren") area which is not flat like the rest of the district. Høg-Jæren is more hilly, rugged, and less densely populated. The highest point in the municipality is the 430.24-metre (1,411.5 ft) tall mountain Brusaknuden.

Time Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Sør-Rogaland District Court and the Gulating Court of Appeal.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Time Municipality is made up of 27 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors

The mayor (Nynorsk: ordførar) of Time Municipality is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. The following people have held this position:

• 1838-1841: Ingebret Svennsson Mossige
• 1841-1843: Aadne Larsen Søiland
• 1844-1845: Ommund Svendsen Norum
• 1846-1847: Reier Torkelsen Norem
• 1848-1851: Aande Larsen Søiland
• 1852-1855: Reier Torkelsen Norem
• 1856-1862: Ommund Svendsen Norum
• 1863-1865: Reier Torkelsen Norem
• 1866-1869: Christopher C. Aasland
• 1870-1875: Reier Torkelsen Norem
• 1876-1877: Hans Evensen Hognestad
• 1878-1879: Stoffer C. Aasland
• 1880-1881: Lars Børgesen Løge
• 1882-1883: Stoffer C. Aasland
• 1884-1889: Lars Børgesen Løge
• 1890-1892: Hans Evensen Hognestad
• 1893-1901: Karl Helgesen Aanestad
• 1902-1910: Jon Ivarsen Hognestad
• 1911-1918: Eivind Hansen Hognestad
• 1919-1925: Nils Martinsen Kverneland (Bp)
• 1926-1931: Thore Nilsen Kalberg
• 1932-1941: Gunnar Aasland (Bp)
• 1942-1944: Nils T. Kalberg (NS)
• 1945-1954: Gunnar Aasland (Bp)
• 1955-1959: Bjarne Undheim (Sp)
• 1959-1963: Nils A. Undheim (Ap)
• 1964-1967: Christian Aasland (Sp)
• 1967-1969: Bert Tungland (V)
• 1969-1983: Børge N. Undheim (Sp)
• 1983-1987: Ingulf Bergstad (H)
• 1987-1991: Arthur Løvik (KrF)
• 1991-1995: Ingulf Bergstad (H)
• 1995-1999: Inge Haugland (Sp)
• 1999-2011: Arnfinn Vigrestad (KrF)
• 2011-2020: Reinert Kverneland (H)
• 2020-present: Andreas Vollsund (H)

Twin towns/Sister cities

Time has sister city agreements with the following places:

• Alnwick, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
• Älmhult, Kronoberg County, Sweden
• Lapinjärvi, Uusimaa, Finland
• Allerød, Zealand, Denmark

• Arne Garborg (1851-1924), a writer who used Landsmål (now known as Nynorsk)
• Ole Gabriel Kverneland (1854-1941), a ploughsmith and factory owner who founded Kverneland Group
• Peter Hognestad (1866-1931), a Lutheran theologian, writer, and Bishop of Bjørgvin
• Fritz Røed (1928-2002), a sculptor who was famous for Sverd i fjell (English: Swords in Rock)
• Sølve Grotmol (1939-2010), a TV presenter for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
• Janove Ottesen (born 1975), a musician and front figure of Kaizers Orchestra who grew up in Bryne
• Geir Zahl (born 1975), a musician and guitar player of Kaizers Orchestra
• Hanne Sigbjørnsen (born 1989), a cartoonist, blogger, and nurse

Sport

• Sissel Løchen (born 1969), a wheelchair curler, psychiatric nurse, and silver medallist at the 2018 Winter Paralympics
• Alf-Inge Haaland (born 1972), a former footballer who was raised in Bryne with 264 club caps and 34 for Norway
• Geir André Herrem (born 1988), a footballer with over 300 club caps
• Erling Haaland (born 2000), a footballer currently playing for Manchester City