| Sparbu | |
| Former: | yes |
| Idnumber: | 1731 |
| County: | Nord-Trøndelag |
| District: | Innherred |
| Capital: | Sparbu |
| Established: | 1 Jan 1838 |
| Preceded: | none |
| Disestablished: | 1 Jan 1964 |
| Succeeded: | Steinkjer Municipality |
| Demonym: | Sparbygg |
| Area Total Km2: | 259 |
| Population As Of: | 1964 |
| Population Total: | 4,027 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Coordinates: | 63.9189°N 11.4328°W |
Sparbu is a former municipality in the old Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The 259km2 municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1964. It encompassed the southwestern part of what is now the municipality of Steinkjer, south of the town of Steinkjer, east of the Børgin bay off the Trondheimsfjorden, and southwest of the Ogndalen valley. The administrative centre was the village of Sparbu.[1]
The parish of Sparbu was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). The eastern Ogndalen valley (population: 1,441) was separated from Sparbu on 1 January 1885 to form the new municipality of Skei. This left Sparbu with 2,842 residents. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, a large merger took place: the neighboring municipalities of Beitstad (population: 2,563), Egge (population: 3,476), Kvam (population: 1,245), Ogndal (population: 2,678), Sparbu (population: 4,027), and Stod (population: 1,268) were all merged with the town of Steinkjer (population: 4,325) to form the new municipality of Steinkjer.[2]
The municipality (originally the parish) is named an old name for the area (Norse, Old: Sparabú). The first element is which has an uncertain meaning, however it is possible that it means "something excellent" or "something one saves for". The last element is which means "household" or "farm". Historically, the name was spelled Sparbuen (using the definite singular form).[3]
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 elected representatives, which in turn elected a mayor.[4]
The mayors of Sparbu:[5]
The municipal council Norwegian: (Herredsstyre) of Sparbu was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows:
. Norske gaardnavne: Nordre Trondhjems amt . 1903 . W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri . 15 . Kristiania, Norge . 202 . no . Oluf Rygh.