About Velfjord
Velfjord is located south in Nordland County, on Norway's geographical center line. The name Velfjord has become a collective term for several communities with connections to the village Hommelstø.
(Photo: Old Hommelstø)
Geography
Hommelstø is located 33 km from the municipal center Brønnøysund, with its 4500 inhabitants and the famous mountain Torghatten. On the 60 km road from RV17 to E6, you travel through these small villages: Salbu - Sæterlandet - Hommelstø - Strøm - Sausvatn - Vassbygda - Barstad and Tosbotn. This road has several sidetrips (Hilstad - Hegge - Hongset - Nevernes - Langfjord and Lande.)
Previously there have been shops, schools and post offices in most of these places, but today these facilities / services are all centralized to Hommelstø.
Residents
Although Velfjord is a sparsely populated area, it's also a very strong rural community. The region has relatively many jobs in solid businesses. From being threatened by depopulation, Velfjord is today a thriving rural community. Population figure is rising, which is not common in northern Norway.
Velfjord has approx. 1100 inhabitants, where about 500 lives in Hommelstø. Velfjord has a safe childhood environment and an active life in culture and sports, which is reflected in the many clubs and associations.
The fjord itself
There is evidence to suggest that an old name for Velfjord is "Harm". Harm is also mentioned in old Norse mythology. In Magnus Barefoot's saga there is told about when Steigar-Tore was captured in "Harmfjorden".
Velfjorden has many detours. These smaller fjords are now mostly abandoned, but old buildings and schools stands still, and bear witness of earlier times.
The fjord "Storbørja" is Brønnøy municipality's entrance to Lomsdal/Visten National Park.
Recent years
The recent years is characterized by great construction activity. Of newer buildings in Hommelstø are school, kindergarten, community center, library, day care, nursing home, shopping center, gas station and cafe & pub. At Nevernes there is raised a larger facility which includes Nevernes Harbor (Center for Coastal Culture in Helgeland), Nævernes Gaard (war museum) and Vassenget Lodgings.
In addition, Hilstad Sports Club has established one of the most compact sports facilities in Northen Norway, where football fields, ski jump, slopes, cross country and more, is loacated in close proximity to each other.
