List of towns and cities in Norway
This is a list of towns and cities in municipal councils for each municipality in Norway. In Norway today, towns/cities have no legal authority or powers and they are not an administrative body, it is simply a designation. All local government rests with the municipality which may or may not have a town/city located within it.[1]
History
Historically, the words
In 1946, Norwegian municipalities were each assigned a municipality number, a four-digit codes based on ISO 3166-2:NO. Towns/cities got a municipality number in which the third digit was a zero and rural municipalities were given other numbers. In 1952 the special classifications of for towns/cities (kjøpstad, bergstad, and ladested) were entirely rescinded from the law and replaced by the simple classification of by. Starting on 1 January 1965, the government's focus was moved from the individual towns/cities to their corresponding municipalities. All Norwegian towns/cities and rural municipalities were classified as either a bykommune (urban municipality) or herredskommune (rural municipality). This distinction was rescinded by The Local Government Act of 1992.[1]
Between 1960 and 1965 many Norwegian municipalities were merged. For instance when the urban municipality Brevik merged with the urban municipality Porsgrunn and the rural municipality Eidanger, the new municipality was called Porsgrunn and it kept the municipality number for Porsgrunn. As a result, Brevik was no longer considered an urban municipality/town. On another note, when the urban municipality Hønefoss was merged with the rural municipalities Hole, Norderhov, Tyristrand, and Ådal to form the new municipality of Ringerike, Ringerike retained the old municipality number of Hønefoss meaning that it retained its town/city status. The same thing happened to Egersund and Florø.[2]
Before 1996, the city status was awarded by the king and Government through the
Nordkapp Municipality, where the municipality actually has less than 5,000 inhabitants but declared city status before the limit was implemented by law in 1997.[3]
Because of the new laws in 1996-1997, Norway witnessed a rapid rise in the number of cities after that time. A number of relatively small settlements are now called by, such as Brekstad with 1,828 inhabitants and Kolvereid with 1,448 inhabitants. Among the cities of today which got this status before 1996, Tvedestrand with 1,983 inhabitants is the smallest. On another note, the laws of 1996 allowed some settlements which lost their city status in the 1960s to regain it.
Oslo County are all one unified unit of government.[1]
Cities and towns in Norway
Trondheim, the largest city in Trøndelag
countyStavanger, the oil capital and capital of Rogaland
countyKristiansand, the biggest city and capital of Agder
countyFredrikstad, the biggest city in Østfold
county and one of the 20 biggest cities in Norway
Sandnes, the second largest city in Rogaland
after StavangerDrammen, the largest city in and capital of Buskerud
county.jpg)
| City | Municipality | County | Town status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Type | Assigned by | |||
| Alta | Alta Municipality |
Finnmark | 2000[4] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Arendal | Arendal Municipality |
Agder | 1610 1723[5] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Christian IV Frederik IV |
| Askim | Indre Østfold Municipality |
Østfold | 1996[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Bergen | Bergen Municipality |
Vestland[a] | 1070 | Kjøpstad | Olav Kyrre
|
| Bodø | Bodø Municipality |
Nordland | 1816[7] | Kjøpstad | Karl II |
| Brekstad | Ørland Municipality |
Trøndelag | 2005[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Brevik | Porsgrunn Municipality |
Telemark | 1845–1963[9] 2009[10] |
Kjøpstad By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Brumunddal | Ringsaker Municipality |
Innlandet | 2010[11] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Bryne | Time Municipality |
Rogaland | 2001[12] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Brønnøysund | Brønnøy Municipality |
Nordland | 1923–1963[7] 2000[13] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
Drammen |
Drammen Municipality |
Buskerud | 1811[14] | Kjøpstad | Frederik VI |
| Drøbak | Frogn Municipality |
Akershus | 1842–1961[7] 2006[15] |
Kjøpstad By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Egersund | Eigersund Municipality |
Rogaland | 1798 | Ladested |
Christian VII |
| Elverum | Elverum Municipality |
Innlandet | 1996[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Fagernes | Nord-Aurdal Municipality |
Innlandet | 2007[16] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Farsund | Farsund Municipality |
Agder | 1795 | Ladested |
Christian VII |
| Fauske | Fauske Municipality |
Nordland | 1998[17] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Finnsnes | Senja Municipality |
Troms | 2000[4] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Flekkefjord | Flekkefjord Municipality |
Agder | 1842[7] | Kjøpstad | Karl III Johan
|
| Florø | Kinn Municipality |
Vestland | 1860[7] | Ladested |
Karl IV |
| Fosnavåg | Herøy Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 2000[18] | By | Kommunestyre |
| Fredrikstad | Fredrikstad Municipality |
Østfold | 1567 | Kjøpstad | Frederik II |
| Førde | Sunnfjord Municipality |
Vestland | 1997[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Gjøvik | Gjøvik Municipality |
Innlandet | 1860[7] | Kjøpstad | Karl IV |
| Grimstad | Grimstad Municipality |
Agder | 1791 1816[7] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Christian VII Karl II |
| Halden[b] | Halden Municipality |
Østfold | 1665 | Kjøpstad | Frederik III |
| Hamar | Hamar Municipality | Innlandet | 1848 | Kjøpstad | Oscar I |
| Hammerfest | Hammerfest Municipality |
Finnmark | 1789[19] | Kjøpstad | Christian VII |
| Harstad | Harstad Municipality |
Troms | 1904[13] | Ladested |
Oscar II |
Haugesund |
Haugesund Municipality |
Rogaland | 1854[7] 1866[7] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Oscar I Karl IV |
| Hokksund | Øvre Eiker Municipality |
Buskerud | 2002[20] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Holmestrand |
Holmestrand Municipality | Vestfold | 1744[21] 1752[21] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Christian VI Frederik V |
| Honningsvåg | Nordkapp Municipality |
Finnmark | 1996[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Horten | Horten Municipality |
Vestfold | 1858[7] 1907[7] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Oscar I Haakon VII |
| Hønefoss | Ringerike Municipality |
Buskerud | 1852[7] | Kjøpstad | Oscar I |
| Jessheim | Ullensaker Municipality |
Akershus | 2012[22] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Jørpeland | Strand Municipality |
Rogaland | 1998[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Kirkenes | Sør-Varanger Municipality |
Finnmark | 1998[13] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Kolvereid | Nærøysund Municipality |
Trøndelag | 2002[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Kongsberg |
Kongsberg Municipality |
Buskerud | 1624[23] 1802[23] |
Bergstad Kjøpstad |
Christian IV Christian VII |
| Kongsvinger | Kongsvinger Municipality |
Innlandet | 1854[7] | Kjøpstad | Oscar I |
| Kopervik | Karmøy Municipality |
Rogaland | 1866–1964[7] 1996[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Kragerø | Kragerø Municipality |
Telemark | 1666[9] | Kjøpstad | Frederik III |
Kristiansand |
Kristiansand Municipality |
Agder | 1641 | Kjøpstad | Christian IV |
| Kristiansund | Kristiansund Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 1742[24] | Kjøpstad | Christian VI |
| Langesund | Bamble Municipality |
Telemark | 1765–1963 1997[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Larvik | Larvik Municipality |
Vestfold | 1671 | Kjøpstad | Christian V |
| Leirvik | Stord Municipality |
Vestland | 1997[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Leknes | Vestvågøy Municipality |
Nordland | 2002[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Levanger | Levanger Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1836–1961[7] 1997[6] |
Kjøpstad By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Lillehammer | Lillehammer Municipality | Innlandet | 1827 | Kjøpstad | Karl III Johan
|
| Lillesand | Lillesand Municipality |
Agder | 1821–1961 1996 |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Lillestrøm | Lillestrøm Municipality |
Akershus | 1997[15] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Lyngdal |
Lyngdal Municipality |
Agder | 2001[25] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Mandal | Lindesnes Municipality |
Agder | 1921[7] | Kjøpstad | Haakon VII |
| Mo i Rana | Rana Municipality |
Nordland | 1923–1963[26] 1997[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Moelv | Ringsaker Municipality |
Innlandet | 2010[11] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Molde | Molde Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 1742[24] | Kjøpstad | Christian VI |
| Mosjøen | Vefsn Municipality |
Nordland | 1875–1961[7] 1998[13] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
Moss |
Moss Municipality |
Østfold | 1720 | Kjøpstad | Frederik IV |
| Mysen | Indre Østfold Municipality |
Østfold | 1997[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Måløy | Kinn Municipality |
Vestland | 2004[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Namsos | Namsos Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1845[7] | Ladested |
Oscar I |
| Narvik | Narvik Municipality |
Nordland | 1902[13] | Kjøpstad | Oscar II |
| Notodden | Notodden Municipality |
Telemark | 1913[7] | Kjøpstad | Haakon VII |
| Odda | Ullensaker Municipality |
Vestland | 2004[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Orkanger | Orkland Municipality |
Trøndelag | 2014[27] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Oslo | Oslo Municipality |
Oslo | 1048 | Kjøpstad | Harald Hardråde
|
| Otta | Sel Municipality |
Innlandet | 2000[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Porsgrunn | Porsgrunn Municipality |
Telemark | 1652 1842 |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Karl III Johan
|
| Raufoss | Vestre Toten Municipality |
Innlandet | 2019[28] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Risør | Risør Municipality |
Agder | 1630 1723 |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Christian IV Frederik IV |
| Rjukan | Tinn Municipality |
Telemark | 1996[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Røros[c] | Røros Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1646 | Bergstad | Christian IV |
| Rørvik | Nærøysund Municipality |
Trøndelag | 2020[29] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Sandefjord | Sandefjord Municipality |
Vestfold | 1845[7] | Kjøpstad | Oscar I |
| Sandnes | Sandnes Municipality |
Rogaland | 1860[7] | Ladested |
Karl IV |
| Sandnessjøen | Alstahaug Municipality |
Nordland | 1999[13] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Sandvika | Bærum Municipality |
Akershus | 2003[15] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Sarpsborg |
Sarpsborg Municipality |
Østfold | 1016 | Kjøpstad | Olav II |
| Sauda | Sauda Municipality |
Rogaland | 1999[30] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Ski |
Nordre Follo Municipality |
Akershus | 2004[15] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Skien | Skien Municipality |
Telemark | 1358 | Kjøpstad | Hákon VI Magnússon
|
| Skudeneshavn | Karmøy Municipality |
Rogaland | 1857–1964[7] 1996[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Sortland | Sortland Municipality |
Nordland | 1997[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Stathelle | Bamble Municipality |
Telemark | 1774–1963 1997[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Stavanger | Stavanger Municipality |
Rogaland | 1125 | Kjøpstad | Sigurd Jorsalfare
|
| Stavern[d] | Larvik Municipality |
Vestfold | 1943–1988[31] 1999[6] |
Kjøpstad By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Steinkjer | Steinkjer Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1857[7] | Ladested |
Oscar I |
| Stjørdalshalsen | Stjørdal Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1997[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Stokmarknes | Hadsel Municipality |
Nordland | 2000[13] | By | Kommunestyre
|
Svelvik |
Drammen Municipality |
Buskerud | 1845[7] | Ladested |
Oscar I |
| Svolvær | Vågan Municipality |
Nordland | 1918–1964[7][32] 1996[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
| Tromsø | Tromsø Municipality |
Troms | 1794[19] | Kjøpstad | Christian VII |
| Trondheim | Trondheim Municipality |
Trøndelag | 997 | Kjøpstad | Olav Tryggvason |
| Tvedestrand | Tvedestrand Municipality |
Agder | 1836–1960[7] 1997[6] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
Tønsberg |
Tønsberg Municipality | Vestfold | c. 871 | Kjøpstad | Unknown |
| Ulsteinvik | Ulstein Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 2000[33] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Vadsø | Vadsø Municipality |
Finnmark | 1833[7] | Kjøpstad | Karl III Johan
|
| Vardø | Vardø Municipality |
Finnmark | 1789[19] | Kjøpstad | Christian VII |
| Verdalsøra | Verdal Municipality |
Trøndelag | 1998[34] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Vinstra | Nord-Fron Municipality |
Innlandet | 2013[35] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Åkrehamn | Karmøy Municipality |
Rogaland | 2002[8] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Ålesund | Ålesund Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 1823[24] 1848[24] |
Ladested Kjøpstad |
Karl III Johan
Oscar I |
| Åndalsnes | Rauma Municipality |
Møre og Romsdal | 1996[6] | By | Kommunestyre
|
| Åsgårdstrand | Horten Municipality |
Vestfold | 1650–1964[36] 2010[37] |
Ladested By |
Kommunestyre
|
Notes:
| |||||
Former towns
| City | Municipality | County | Town status | Reason for lost status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Type | Assigned by | ||||
| Holmsbu | Hurum Municipality |
Buskerud | 1847–1964 | Ladested |
Oscar I | Municipal merger |
| Hvitsten | Vestby Municipality |
Akershus | 1837–1964 | Ladested |
Karl III Johan |
Municipal merger |
| Hølen | Vestby Municipality |
Akershus | 1837–1943 | Ladested |
Karl III Johan |
Municipal merger |
| Setermoen | Bardu Municipality |
Troms | 1999–1999 | By | Kommunestyre |
Disallowed by government[3] |
| Sogndal | Sokndal Municipality |
Rogaland | 1798–1944 | Ladested |
Christian VII | Municipal merger |
| Son | Vestby Municipality |
Akershus | 1604–1963 | Ladested |
Christian IV | Municipal merger |
See also
- List of cities in Europe
- List of urban areas in Norway by population
- Lists of villages in Norway
References
- ^ Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
- ISBN 9788253746845.
- ^ a b Kommunal Rapport (23 June 2005). "Byer i Norge". Archived from the original on 15 February 2006.
- ^ a b Greiner, Robert (2009-12-31). "2000-2009: Dette husker vi". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Arendals historie". Arendal kommune (in Norwegian). 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Holmquist, Tone (1997-09-05). "21 nye byer i Norge". Kommunal Rapport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Lov om opphevelse av foreldede lover". Lovdata.no (in Norwegian). Norges arbeids- og administrasjonsdepartementet. 1990-06-15. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Soot-Ryen, Tron (2008-08-21). "Norges nye byer". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b "Brevik and Kragerø". Norske Folkemuseum. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Hoftun, Hanne (2009-01-12). "Brevik blir by". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b Øyhovden, Asbjørn; Haugan, Olav (2010-06-24). "Brumunddal og Moelv får bystatus". TV 2 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Time kommune". NRK (in Norwegian). 2002-09-03. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g Andreassen, Skjalg (2016-11-03). "De Eldste Byene". Vi som elsker Nord-Norge (in Norwegian).
- ^ "Kort oversikt over byens historie". Drammens historie (in Norwegian). 2004-07-06. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ a b c d "Jessheim er fylkets største tettsted uten bystatus". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ Kessel, Dag (2007-06-14). "Fagernes blir by" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Fauske fikk bystatus i 1998". altomfauske.no. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Fosnavåg". Historikk.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c Gabrielsen, Trond (2015-12-02). "Hevder handelsborgerne innvandret til Finnmark på 1500-tallet". Finnmark-Forlag (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Hokksund blir by fra nyttår". NRK (in Norwegian). 2001-11-08. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "En by i vekst". Fremtidens By (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ a b c d Viseth, Sindre (2019). Fiskenæringens betydning for byutviklingen i Ålesund på 1800-tallet (PDF) (Master's thesis) (in Norwegian). University of Oslo. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ Sundsdal, Svein (2001-01-02). "Lyngdal - ny by på Sørlandet". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1922. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 277. 1922.
- ^ Sandmo, Espen; Haugen Egge, Julie (2014-06-30). "Velkommen til Ny Ork?". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Raufoss fikk bystatus". NRK (in Norwegian). 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
- ^ Hatland, Lena Erikke (2020-09-18). "Nå har Nærøysund to byer". Namdalsavisa (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Sauda, Jørpeland og Bryne nye byer". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). 2000-10-03. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1946. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 190. 1946.
- ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1918. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 127. 1918.
- ^ "Foto fra Ulsteinvik". Nordmørsmusea (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ "Fakta om Verdal". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 2002-01-01. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ Holmquist, Tone (2013-09-02). "Nå er Vinstra by". Kommunal Rapport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ "Åsgårdstrand før og nå". Gjengangeren (in Norwegian). 2002-12-28. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
- ^ "Fakta og historie". Åsgårdstrand.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cities and villages in Norway.
- Map with Norwegian cities
- City Population: Norway (statistics & map) – Municipalities & Urban Settlements
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