Hellvik is a village and a town in Eigersund municipality in
Rogaland. The settlement has 842 inhabitants as of 1 January 2020,
and is located north of Egersund. From ancient times a traditional
fishing community, but today there are few people who make a living
from fishing in Hellvik.
Hellvikkaia is a shipping point for
the export of white labradorite to mainly Sweden, Germany and the
Netherlands, where it is used for "white asphalt" and in the
construction industry. The white open pit is visible from several
places, along with large mounds with intermediate stages to finished
crushed stone and shingle.
The village is an active community
with its own sports team, prayer house, school, kindergarten and
many active associations and teams for all age groups. The village
has, among other things, its own golf course in Maurholen, belonging
to Egersund Golf Club.
The harbor at Hellvik is one of the
better on the coast between Flekkefjord and Stavanger.
Hellvik is also known for the large construction company Hellvik
Hus, they build homes and holiday homes all over southern Norway.
The famous revival preacher John Olav Larssen was born in
Hellvik.
The meaning of the name "Hellvik" is uncertain. It probably comes from gno. Helluvík, composed of coves and slabs; a flat rock that was used as a loading and unloading site. Another possibility is that the name was originally Helgavík which comes from the Norse word «Heilagr» which today is written «Holy».
Hellvik is a so-called Tettsted, i.e. a settlement that is counted as a town for statistical purposes. The place is located on the Norwegian south-west coast, north-west of the city of Egersund. The place extends around the fjord Marren. In Hellvik the river Hellvikåna flows into the Marren. The Hellvikåna flows out of the lake Nedra Hellvikvatnet northeast of Hellvik.
The railway line Sørlandsbanen runs through the east of the village,
i.e. further inland. Hellvik station was opened in 1878 when the
Jærbanen section was completed. The distance to Stavanger train station
is about 67 kilometers by rail. From the interior, south of Lake Nedra
Hellvikvatnet, Fylkesvei 44 leads towards Hellvik. At Hellvik he sets a
course north along the west coast of Norway. Fylkesvei 4302 leads in
Hellvik around the fjord Marren, which flows into Fylkesvei 44 in the
north of the town.
Hellvik has a longer tradition as a fishing
port. The timber industry is also important in the village. Outside of
Hellvik, white labradorite is quarried. This is mainly exported. From
1964 to 1984 anorthosite was processed at Folldal Verk.