The Municipality of Vevelstad is situated between Sandnessjøen and Brønnøysund, and covers the mainland area around the Visten fjord, as well as Hamnøya.
Agriculture has been on the rise for a while, and today it is the main source of income for the population. Dairy and meat production from cattle farming, combined with a little sheep farming, is the most common. There is some forestry and logging activity in Vistenfjorden, as well as a couple of smaller saw mills. Fishing is most important on Hamnøya and in Visten, and most fishermen combine fishing with agriculture. Most fishing vessels here are small, engaging predominantly in coastal fishing for cod and saithe. However, some also participate in the Lofoten seasonal fishery. In the municipality's administrative centre there is a fish landing facility. The municipality's industrial estate at Høyholm currently houses a lumber company. The municipality's power needs are covered by the coordinated power grid via Helgeland Kraftlag.
There are remains of Mesolithic era settlements at Hesstun on Hamnøya. Vevelstad Church was built in 1796, and an extension was added in 1871. Vevelstad Rural Museum is located right next to the church.
The rock carvings at Vistnesdalen, north of Forvik, are Vevelstad's contibution to the "Footprints in the North" project. This collection of rock carvings is from the Mesolithic era, and the carvings represent moose, reindeer, halibut, humans, etc. These rock carvings date back to when settlers transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to agriculture.
Fakta om Vevelstad kommune
Navnet: Fra norrønt “vivilstadir” - mannsnavnet Vifill sammensatt med stad.
Beliggenhet: Kystkommune på Sør-Helgeland - grenser i nord og øst til Vefsn og i sør til Brønnøy.
Folketall: 2021 465.
Utstrekning: 539 km2. 0,9 innbyggere pr. km2.
Administrasjon: Vevelstad.
Viktige næringer: Tjenesteytende næringer, industri
Kommunehistorikk: Vevelstad var fra 1838 en del av Alstahaug kommune. Tjøtta, inkludert Vevelstad, ble skilt ut i 1862. Vevelstad ble skilt ut fra Tjøtta og ble egen kommune i 1916.
Se kommunens nettside
Wikipedia