The 183-square-kilometre (71 sq mi) municipality is the 309th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Time is the 66th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 19,781. The municipality's population density is 115.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (300/sq mi) and its population has increased by 13.4% over the previous 10-year period.[5][6]
General information
View from Lyefjell towards Bryne
The parish of "Thime" 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 to Gjesdal municipality. Then again on 1 January 1989 another unpopulated area was transferred to Gjesdal.[7] Both times it was to make more room for the growing village of Ålgård.
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.[8]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 23 December 1977. The blazon is "Gules, a lapwing risingargent" (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.[9][10]
Time is located in the district of Jæren which is mostly flat and agricultural. The river Figgjoelva marks the northern border of Time with the municipality of Sandnes. The large lake Frøylandsvatnet forms part of the border with the neighboring municipality of Klepp. 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.[4]
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Time 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.
+13.4%
