fbpx
Wikipedia

Vest-Agder

January 06, 2023

Vest-Agder (Norwegian: [ˈvɛ̂stˌɑɡdər] (listen); "West Agder") was one of 18 counties (fylker) in Norway up until 1 January 2020, when it was merged with Aust-Agder to form Agder county. In 2016, there were 182,701 inhabitants, around 3.5% of the total population of Norway. Its area was about 7,277 square kilometres (2,810 sq mi). The county administration was located in its largest city, Kristiansand.

Vest-Agder fylke
Former County
Lindesnes Lighthouse in September 2011
Flag
Coat of arms
Vest-Agder within
Norway
Vest-Agder fylke
Vest-Agder within Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder fylke
Vest-Agder fylke (Norway)
Coordinates: 58°30′N 7°06′E / 58.5°N 07.1°E / 58.5; 07.1Coordinates: 58°30′N 7°06′E / 58.5°N 07.1°E / 58.5; 07.1
CountryNorway
CountyVest-Agder
DistrictSouthern Norway
Established1685
 • Preceded byAgdesiden
Disestablished1 Jan 2020
 • Succeeded byAgder county
Administrative centreKristiansand
Government
 • BodyVest-Agder County Municipality
 • Governor (2016-2019)Stein Arve Ytterdahl
 • County mayor
   (2011-2019)		Terje Damman (H)
Area
 (upon dissolution)
 • Total7,276.53 km2 (2,809.48 sq mi)
 • Land6,678.89 km2 (2,578.73 sq mi)
 • Water597.64 km2 (230.75 sq mi)
Population
 (30 September 2019)
 • Total188,722
 • Density27.4/km2 (71/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years)
 +12.6%
DemonymVestegde[1]
Official language
[2]
 • Norwegian formNeutral
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeNO-10
Income (per capita)137,000 kr (2001)
GDP (per capita)219,928 kr (2001)
GDP national rank#14 in Norway
(2.27% of country)
Data from Statistics Norway

Vest-Agder was a major source of timber for Dutch and later English shipping from the 16th century onwards. Historically, the area exported timber, wooden products, salmon, herring, ships, and later nickel, paper, and ferrous and silica alloys. Compared to other counties of Norway, today's exports-intensive industry produces shipping and offshore equipment (National Oilwell Varco), cranes (Cargotec), ships (Umoe Mandal, Flekkefjord Slip), wind turbine equipment, nickel (Glencore), and solar industry microsilica (Elkem). A major tourist attraction is Kristiansand Dyrepark.

Vest-Agder grew to political prominence with the decision of King Christian IV to establish Kristiansand as a key naval base, trading centre, and bishopric in 1641, forcing urban citizens and merchants from all over Agder to settle in the city. The county had large-scale emigration to North America from the 1850s onwards.

General information

Name

See also: Aust-Agder § Name

The meaning of the name is "(the) western (part of) Agder".

Lister og Mandal amt was created on 1 January 1662 and it consisted of the two old lens of Lister and Mandal. This name continued until 1 January 1919, when the name was changed to Vest-Agder.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1958. They show an oak tree in yellow on a green background, representing the historic rich nature and oak woods in the area.[3]

Geography

 
Vest-Agder county house in Kristiansand

Vest-Agder is the western and southernmost part of the current county of Agder, extending inland from the North Sea and its arm, the Skagerrak, to the southern fringes of Setesdalen, surrounded by the mountain range Setesdalsheiene. It includes the southernmost point of the entire country, Pysen island south of Mandal, and the southernmost part of continental Norway, Lindesnes. It has a very broken and hilly surface. From the coast there are six valleys that stretch north into the county: Audnedalen, Lyngdalen, Kvinesdalen, Mandalen, Sirdalen, and Otradalen (which continues into Aust-Agder where it is called Setesdalen).

Most of the habitation lies along the coast, including the towns Kristiansand, Mandal, Flekkefjord, and Farsund. About 31 fjords are located there. The northern portion is mountainous and sparsely settled, while the central upland moors are used for pasturing of cattle and sheep. Since the Gulf Stream touches the coast of Vest-Agder, it is also called "the Norwegian Riviera", and Agder as a whole is also called "The California of Norway".

History

Historical population
YearPop.±%
195196,942—    
1961109,083+12.5%
1971124,171+13.8%
1981136,718+10.1%
1991145,091+6.1%
2001156,878+8.1%
2011172,408+9.9%
Source: Statistics Norway.[4]
Religion in Vest-Agder[5][6]
religion percent
Christianity
 
 85.66%
Islam
 
 1.29%
Buddhism
 
 0.33%
Other
 
 12.72%

The oldest ever remains of a 8,000+ year old human in Norway has been found at Søgne, she endured an almost exclusively marine diet. In Kristiansand, a Sarup-style Neolithic funeral site from 3,400 BC has been excavated. Just before and after the onset of the common era, the region was uniquely rich in sites dedicated to the God Ull (Ullr), and also had a semi-urban settlement at Oddernes (Kristiansand). Norway's first possible all-national king, Halvdan Svarte, was raised probably in the Kvinesdal valley at a matrimonial manor, his mother was presumably the daughter of King Harald of Agder. He was followed by his son King Harald Fairhair, who had his easternmost manor at Kongsgård near Kristiansand. Churches are known since Viking ages. Vest-Agder was not particularly preeminent in the later Viking and Medieval Ages. Mandal (Vesterrisør) and Kristiansand (Ottrunes) had semi-urban trading centers from the 1300s onwards, but did not enjoy urban economic privileges until the 1632 (Mandal) and 1641 (Kristiansand). A general lack of agricultural fertility made the region remaining a relatively poor part of Norway through the centuries.

In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding. As the Netherlands developed in the 17th century, it began to suffer from a severe labor shortage, and many families from Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder emigrated to the Netherlands, especially the coastal areas.

In the 19th century, emigration to the United States started. One of the most important causes of this emigration was the emergence of steamships. While Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder historically had very strong positions in the manufacture and repair of sailing ships, the shift to steamships was poorly utilised and resulted in a cyclical slope for the shipbuilding and shipping industries. Emigration to the United States was a means of escaping from the high unemployment that followed.[7] Many Americans returning to the county after Norway became prosperous. This feature is particularly predominant in Kvinesdal and Farsund in the west, which maintains strong cultural links with the United States.

During World War II the area had substantial fortifications and German personnel, with major bases and airfields in Lista, Mandal and Kristiansand. Batterie Vara near Kristiansand was constructed as one out of two 40 cm coastal artillery forts covering the Skagerrak Sea in conjunction with a similar fort in northern Denmark. After the war, Kristiansand grew considerably whereas other cities lost much of their relative economic and demographic importance.

Municipalities

On 1 January 1838, all the counties were divided into local administrative units each with their own governments (see formannskapsdistrikt). The number and borders of these municipalities were based on the parishes of the Church of Norway. Over time the number and locations of these have changed, and at present there are 15 municipalities in Vest-Agder. The municipality of Åseral was part of the neighboring county of Nedenes until 1880, when it was moved to Vest-Agder.[8]

Municipalities before 2020

Cities

Main article: list of towns and cities in Norway

Parishes

Villages

Main article: list of villages in Vest-Agder

Former Municipalities

Main article: list of former municipalities of Norway

Notable residents

Category:People from Vest-Agder

See also

References

  1. ^ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.
  2. ^ "Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar" (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.
  3. ^ . Flags of the World. 28 June 2002. Archived from the original on 19 April 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  4. ^ "Projected population - Statistics Norway". Archived from the original on 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
  5. ^ Statistics Norway - Church of Norway.
  6. ^ Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010 November 2, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Follesdal, John. "Vest-Agder genealogy resources". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  8. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links

  •   Media related to Vest-Agder at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Vest-Agder travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • Vest-Agder fylkeskommune (in Norwegian)
  • Vest-Agder: Norway's southernmost county

January 06, 2023
vest, agder, norwegian, ˈvɛ, stˌɑɡdər, listen, west, agder, counties, fylker, norway, until, january, 2020, when, merged, with, aust, agder, form, agder, county, 2016, there, were, inhabitants, around, total, population, norway, area, about, square, kilometres. Vest Agder Norwegian ˈvɛ stˌɑɡder listen West Agder was one of 18 counties fylker in Norway up until 1 January 2020 when it was merged with Aust Agder to form Agder county In 2016 there were 182 701 inhabitants around 3 5 of the total population of Norway Its area was about 7 277 square kilometres 2 810 sq mi The county administration was located in its largest city Kristiansand Vest Agder fylkeFormer CountyLindesnes Lighthouse in September 2011FlagCoat of armsVest Agder within NorwayVest Agder fylkeVest Agder within Vest AgderShow map of Vest AgderVest Agder fylkeVest Agder fylke Norway Show map of NorwayCoordinates 58 30 N 7 06 E 58 5 N 07 1 E 58 5 07 1 Coordinates 58 30 N 7 06 E 58 5 N 07 1 E 58 5 07 1CountryNorwayCountyVest AgderDistrictSouthern NorwayEstablished1685 Preceded byAgdesidenDisestablished1 Jan 2020 Succeeded byAgder countyAdministrative centreKristiansandGovernment BodyVest Agder County Municipality Governor 2016 2019 Stein Arve Ytterdahl County mayor 2011 2019 Terje Damman H Area upon dissolution Total7 276 53 km2 2 809 48 sq mi Land6 678 89 km2 2 578 73 sq mi Water597 64 km2 230 75 sq mi Population 30 September 2019 Total188 722 Density27 4 km2 71 sq mi Change 10 years 12 6 DemonymVestegde 1 Official language 2 Norwegian formNeutralTime zoneUTC 01 00 CET Summer DST UTC 02 00 CEST ISO 3166 codeNO 10Income per capita 137 000 kr 2001 GDP per capita 219 928 kr 2001 GDP national rank 14 in Norway 2 27 of country Data from Statistics NorwayVest Agder was a major source of timber for Dutch and later English shipping from the 16th century onwards Historically the area exported timber wooden products salmon herring ships and later nickel paper and ferrous and silica alloys Compared to other counties of Norway today s exports intensive industry produces shipping and offshore equipment National Oilwell Varco cranes Cargotec ships Umoe Mandal Flekkefjord Slip wind turbine equipment nickel Glencore and solar industry microsilica Elkem A major tourist attraction is Kristiansand Dyrepark Vest Agder grew to political prominence with the decision of King Christian IV to establish Kristiansand as a key naval base trading centre and bishopric in 1641 forcing urban citizens and merchants from all over Agder to settle in the city The county had large scale emigration to North America from the 1850s onwards Contents 1 General information 1 1 Name 1 2 Coat of arms 2 Geography 3 History 4 Municipalities 4 1 Municipalities before 2020 5 Cities 6 Parishes 7 Villages 8 Former Municipalities 9 Notable residents 10 See also 11 References 12 External linksGeneral information EditName Edit See also Aust Agder Name The meaning of the name is the western part of Agder Lister og Mandal amt was created on 1 January 1662 and it consisted of the two old lens of Lister and Mandal This name continued until 1 January 1919 when the name was changed to Vest Agder Coat of arms Edit The coat of arms is from modern times They were granted on 12 December 1958 They show an oak tree in yellow on a green background representing the historic rich nature and oak woods in the area 3 Geography Edit Vest Agder county house in Kristiansand Vest Agder is the western and southernmost part of the current county of Agder extending inland from the North Sea and its arm the Skagerrak to the southern fringes of Setesdalen surrounded by the mountain range Setesdalsheiene It includes the southernmost point of the entire country Pysen island south of Mandal and the southernmost part of continental Norway Lindesnes It has a very broken and hilly surface From the coast there are six valleys that stretch north into the county Audnedalen Lyngdalen Kvinesdalen Mandalen Sirdalen and Otradalen which continues into Aust Agder where it is called Setesdalen Most of the habitation lies along the coast including the towns Kristiansand Mandal Flekkefjord and Farsund About 31 fjords are located there The northern portion is mountainous and sparsely settled while the central upland moors are used for pasturing of cattle and sheep Since the Gulf Stream touches the coast of Vest Agder it is also called the Norwegian Riviera and Agder as a whole is also called The California of Norway History EditHistorical populationYearPop 195196 942 1961109 083 12 5 1971124 171 13 8 1981136 718 10 1 1991145 091 6 1 2001156 878 8 1 2011172 408 9 9 Source Statistics Norway 4 Religion in Vest Agder 5 6 religion percentChristianity 85 66 Islam 1 29 Buddhism 0 33 Other 12 72 The oldest ever remains of a 8 000 year old human in Norway has been found at Sogne she endured an almost exclusively marine diet In Kristiansand a Sarup style Neolithic funeral site from 3 400 BC has been excavated Just before and after the onset of the common era the region was uniquely rich in sites dedicated to the God Ull Ullr and also had a semi urban settlement at Oddernes Kristiansand Norway s first possible all national king Halvdan Svarte was raised probably in the Kvinesdal valley at a matrimonial manor his mother was presumably the daughter of King Harald of Agder He was followed by his son King Harald Fairhair who had his easternmost manor at Kongsgard near Kristiansand Churches are known since Viking ages Vest Agder was not particularly preeminent in the later Viking and Medieval Ages Mandal Vesterrisor and Kristiansand Ottrunes had semi urban trading centers from the 1300s onwards but did not enjoy urban economic privileges until the 1632 Mandal and 1641 Kristiansand A general lack of agricultural fertility made the region remaining a relatively poor part of Norway through the centuries In the 16th century Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods Soon thereafter the export of timber began as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding As the Netherlands developed in the 17th century it began to suffer from a severe labor shortage and many families from Vest Agder and Aust Agder emigrated to the Netherlands especially the coastal areas In the 19th century emigration to the United States started One of the most important causes of this emigration was the emergence of steamships While Vest Agder and Aust Agder historically had very strong positions in the manufacture and repair of sailing ships the shift to steamships was poorly utilised and resulted in a cyclical slope for the shipbuilding and shipping industries Emigration to the United States was a means of escaping from the high unemployment that followed 7 Many Americans returning to the county after Norway became prosperous This feature is particularly predominant in Kvinesdal and Farsund in the west which maintains strong cultural links with the United States During World War II the area had substantial fortifications and German personnel with major bases and airfields in Lista Mandal and Kristiansand Batterie Vara near Kristiansand was constructed as one out of two 40 cm coastal artillery forts covering the Skagerrak Sea in conjunction with a similar fort in northern Denmark After the war Kristiansand grew considerably whereas other cities lost much of their relative economic and demographic importance Municipalities EditOn 1 January 1838 all the counties were divided into local administrative units each with their own governments see formannskapsdistrikt The number and borders of these municipalities were based on the parishes of the Church of Norway Over time the number and locations of these have changed and at present there are 15 municipalities in Vest Agder The municipality of Aseral was part of the neighboring county of Nedenes until 1880 when it was moved to Vest Agder 8 Municipalities before 2020 Edit Rank Name Inhabitants Area km21 Kristiansand 90 000 2612 Mandal 14 696 2123 Vennesla 13 116 3634 Sogne 12 509 1445 Farsund 9 310 2526 Flekkefjord 9 003 4827 Lyngdal 7 739 3728 Songdalen 5 940 2079 Kvinesdal 5 776 89310 Lindesnes 4 661 29911 Marnardal 2 231 37912 Sirdal 1 790 1 55513 Audnedal 1 670 25114 Haegebostad 1 624 42615 Aseral 917 801Total Vest Agder 182 377 7 281 Municipalities in Vest Agder before 2020 Cities EditMain article list of towns and cities in Norway Alleen Farsund Flekkefjord Kristiansand Lyngdal MandalParishes EditAustad Bakke Bjelland Eiken Egen Farsund Feda Finsland Fjotland Flekkefjord Flekkeroy Frelseren Greipstad Grim Grindheim Grindum Gyland Halse Halsaa Harkmark Haughom Hellemyr Herad Herred Hidra Hittero Holum Holme Haegebostad Ovre Kvinesdal Haegeland Heggeland Hanes Justvik Konsmo Korshamn Kristiansand Kristiansand tukthus Kvinesdal Kvaevemoen Kvas Qvas Laudal Liknes see Kvinesdal Lista Vanse Ljosland Lund Lunde Lyngdal Mandal Nes Nord Audnedal Netlandsnes Oddernes Randesund Sirdal Spangereid Spind Sogne Old Sogne Som Sor Audnedal Tonstad Torridal Tveit Valle Vanse Vennesla Vestbygda Vigmostad Voie Vagsbygd Ovrebo Ovre Sirdal Oyslebo Aknes Aseral Flekkefjord Branch LDS 1899 1904 Kristiansand Branch LDS 1856 1912 Kristiansand Katolske Apostoliske 1896 1925 Villages EditMain article list of villages in Vest Agder Alleen Andabeloy Aukland Austad Ausvika Birkeland Bjelland Bjornestad Breland Brennasen Eik Eiken Eikerapen Feda Finsland Fjotland Fleseland Grindheim Grovane Gyland Haddeland Harkmark Heddeland Homstean Haegeland Haeak Hollen Hollen Hanes Ime Justvik Gjusvik Kilen Kirkehavn Knaben Koland Konsmo Korshamn Krossen Kvas Kyrkjebygda Langenes Laudal Liknes Ljosland Lohne Loshavn Lunde Sirdal Lunde Mosby Mushom Nodeland Nodelandsheia Ny Hellesund Ore Randesund Rasvag Royknes Sande Skarpengland Skofteland Skomrak Sira Sirnes Skalevik Snartemo Storekvina Strai Svenevig Svenevik Tangvall Tingvatn Tonstad Trysnes Tveit Vanse Ve Vedderheia Vennesla Vestbygd Vigeland Vigmostad Volleberg Ovre Eikeland Ovrebo Oyslebo Aknes Alefjaer Alo Ana Sira Aros AvikFormer Municipalities EditMain article list of former municipalities of Norway Austad Bakke Bjelland Bjelland og Grindum Eiken Feda Finsland Fjotland Greipstad Grindheim Gyland Halse og Harkmark Herad Hidra Holum Haegeland Konsmo Kvas Laudal Lista Nes Nes og Hittero Nord Audnedal Oddernes Randesund Spangereid Spind Sor Audnedal Tonstad Tveit Undal Vigmostad Ovre Sirdal Ovrebo Ovrebo og Haegeland Oyslebo Oyslebo og LaudalNotable residents EditCategory People from Vest Agder Sofus Arctander 1845 1924 Liberal politician Prime Minister for a brief period in 1905 Bernt Balchen 1899 1973 aeronaut WWII pilot polar navigator military officer Jens Bjorneboe 1920 1976 author and playwright Camilla Collett Wergeland 1813 1895 author writer feminist emancipator Bjoro Haland country amp western musician Bjarne Lingas 1933 2011 heavyweight boxer amateur 198 14 losses and professional 14 2 losses Rolf Lovland musician composer director twice winning European Song Contest Herman Wedel Major 1814 1854 born in Ireland regarded as the founder of modern psychiatry in Norway Svein Mathisen 1952 2011 football player for IK Start Hibernian and Norway Mette Marit Crown Princess of Norway 1973 Crown Princess of Norway Jorgen Moe 1813 1882 writer folklorist Asbjornsen og Moe poet bishop of Kristiansand Nicolai Tangen 1966 hedgefund investor CEO of the Norwegian Soveregin Wealth Fund NBIM since 2020 Christian Rynning Tonnesen 1959 business leader CEO of Norske Skog Statkraft Emanuel Vigeland 1875 1948 artist sculptor painter creator of Vigeland Park in Oslo Gustav Vigeland 1869 1945 artist sculptor painter Henrik Wergeland 1808 1845 author writer playwright educator national archivar bureaucrat emancipator See also EditAust Agder Sorlandet Agder Former municipalities of Vest AgderReferences Edit Navn pa steder og personer Innbyggjarnamn in Norwegian Sprakradet Forskrift om malvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar in Norwegian Lovdata no Kommunevapen Flags of the World 28 June 2002 Archived from the original on 19 April 2008 Retrieved 28 September 2008 Projected population Statistics Norway Archived from the original on 2012 05 26 Retrieved 2012 05 26 Statistics Norway Church of Norway Statistics Norway Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway by religion life stance County 2006 2010 Archived November 2 2011 at the Wayback Machine Follesdal John Vest Agder genealogy resources Ancestry com Retrieved 2009 12 15 Jukvam Dag 1999 Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune og fylkesinndelingen PDF in Norwegian Statistisk sentralbyra a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help External links Edit Media related to Vest Agder at Wikimedia Commons Vest Agder travel guide from Wikivoyage Vest Agder fylkeskommune in Norwegian Vest Agder Norway s southernmost county Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vest Agder amp oldid 1118716593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.