Gartland

Gartland is a township in the municipality of Grong, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. It is a rural area.

Gartland township in quite a large area on the western side of the salmon river Namsen about convert|8|km north of the county seat Mediaa along the main road E-6. On the eastern side of the river are townships Elstad and Rosset. Bordering townships are Fossland (in the southeast), Urstad and Fiskum (in the northeast), Brøndbo and Hammer to the northwest in Høylandet county.

In earlier days the center of those three townships Gartland, Elstad and Rosset was the village of Gartland with a general store, post office, school and Gløshaug Church (the old church in northern part of Grong, Harran). Now only the church is still here. The oldest parts of the church dates back to 1160/70-ties. Near the church is a store selling building materials.

The river Namsen is known for excellent salmon fishing. In the 1800 and 1900 centuries several Englishmen (some of those were noblemen) owned houses along the river at Gartland. Here they lived during their stay in Grong. One was Thomas Merthyr Guest, a man of considerable wealth. He bought two Gartland farms and in 1873 the old Gløshaug Church. Grong county wanted to tear down the old church and build a new church for Harran. Mr. Guests widow sold the church in 1908 to a local farmer who in turn in 1910 gave the church to the county.

Now Gartland township is a scarcely populated area of about fifteen smaller and larger farms.

The meaning of the name Gartland is uncertain. Some think it is derived from the small river "Galta" (Garta), now Gartland river running down into the main river Namsen. Others consider that "Galta" is a form of the male name Galti (i.e. male pig). "Land" means a large area of land. So Gartland may mean "Galtes land". Historians think Gartland was populated about the year 800.

There are not many people now living in the township. The Postal Office in Grong estimates the population to be about 100 while there are approximately 2,400 in Grong county.

The main means of living at Gartland is agriculture, forestry and salmon fishing during the summer.

Regarding Grong county there are several historical records like census, church books, taxes so on dating from 1520 henceforth. From 1800 records begin to be exact and contain information of interest for research.

Quite a number of people emigrated from Gartland to the United States, Canada and even Australia from about 1860 until 1930.

Sources

* Digitalarkivet : National Norwegian archives on baptism to death, including immigrants.
* Kvam, A.- Gløshaug kirke 300 år. – c1989
* Okkenhaug, A. - Immigrants from Grong and neighbouring counties.
* Rygh, O. - Norske Gaardnavne (website: Dokumentasjons-prosjektet)
* Strand, J. P. - Grong bygdebok : Vol. III : Gartland. - c1993