List of towns and cities in Norway

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Map of Norway with important cities

This is a list of towns and cities in

municipal councils for each municipality in Norway. (kaas) In Norway today, there are 108 towns/cities, but they 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

ladested places on this list were later upgraded to kjøpstads. During the 1800s, urbanization took hold in Norway and many new towns/cities were added. The special trading rights for towns/cities were abolished in 1857.[1]

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 In 1952 the special classifications of for towns/cities (kjøpstad, bergstad, and ladested) were entirely rescinded from the law and replaced by the simple classification of by.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 This distinction was rescinded by The Local Government Act of 1992.[1]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 Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Since then, the status of town/city is decided by each municipal council and then it is formally accepted by the state. Since 1997, a municipality must have a minimum of 5,000 inhabitants in order to declare city status for one of its settlements. In 1999, the municipal council of Bardu Municipality declared city status for Setermoen, only to be rejected because the municipality fell short of the population limit. One exception is Honningsvåg in 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

Oslo, the capital of Norway and among the fastest growing cities in Europe
Bergen, the capital of Vestland county
Stavanger, the oil capital and capital of Rogaland
county
Trondheim, the largest city in Trøndelag
county
Kristiansand, the biggest city and capital of Agder
county
Fredrikstad, the biggest city in Østfold
county and one of the 20 biggest cities in Norway
Tromsø, the capital of Troms
county
Sandnes, the second largest city in Rogaland
after Stavanger
Drammen, the largest city in and capital of Buskerud
county
Skien
Bodø
Ålesund
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
Bardufoss Målselv Municipality Troms 2021[7] By Kommunestyre
Bergen
Bergen Municipality
Vestland[a] 1070 Kjøpstad
Olav Kyrre
Bodø
Bodø Municipality Nordland 1816[8] Kjøpstad Karl II
Brekstad Ørland Municipality Trøndelag 2005[9] By Kommunestyre
Brevik
Porsgrunn Municipality
Telemark 1845–1963[10]
2009[11]
Kjøpstad
By
Kommunestyre
Brumunddal
Ringsaker Municipality
Innlandet 2010[12] By
Kommunestyre
Bryne
Time Municipality
Rogaland 2001[13] By
Kommunestyre
Brønnøysund Brønnøy Municipality Nordland 1923–1963[8]
2000[14]
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Drammen
Drammen Municipality
Buskerud 1811[15] Kjøpstad Frederik VI
Drøbak
Frogn Municipality
Akershus 1842–1961[8]
2006[16]
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[17] By
Kommunestyre
Farsund
Farsund Municipality
Agder 1795
Ladested
Christian VII
Fauske Fauske Municipality Nordland 1998[18] By Kommunestyre
Finnsnes Senja Municipality Troms 2000[4] By Kommunestyre
Flekkefjord
Flekkefjord Municipality
Agder 1842[8] Kjøpstad
Karl III Johan
Florø
Kinn Municipality
Vestland 1860[8]
Ladested
Karl IV
Fosnavåg
Herøy Municipality
Møre og Romsdal 2000[19] By Kommunestyre
Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad Municipality
Østfold 1567 Kjøpstad Frederik II
Førde
Sunnfjord Municipality
Vestland 1997[6] By
Kommunestyre
Gjøvik
Gjøvik Municipality
Innlandet 1861[8] Kjøpstad Karl IV
Grimstad
Grimstad Municipality
Agder 1791
1816[8]
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian VII
Karl II
Halden[b]
Halden Municipality
Østfold 1665 Kjøpstad Frederik III
Hamar Hamar Municipality Innlandet c.1050–1587
1848
Kjøpstad
Kjøpstad
Harald Hardråde
Oscar I
Hammerfest Hammerfest Municipality Finnmark 1789[20] Kjøpstad Christian VII
Harstad Harstad Municipality Troms 1904[14]
Ladested
Oscar II
Haugesund
Haugesund Municipality
Rogaland 1854[8]
1866[8]
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Oscar I
Karl IV
Hokksund
Øvre Eiker Municipality
Buskerud 2002[21] By
Kommunestyre
Holmestrand
Holmestrand Municipality Vestfold 1744[22]
1752[22]
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian VI
Frederik V
Honningsvåg Nordkapp Municipality Finnmark 1996[6] By Kommunestyre
Horten
Horten Municipality
Vestfold 1858[8]
1907[8]
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Oscar I
Haakon VII
Hønefoss
Ringerike Municipality
Buskerud 1852[8] Kjøpstad Oscar I
Jessheim
Ullensaker Municipality
Akershus 2012[23] By
Kommunestyre
Jørpeland
Strand Municipality
Rogaland 1998[9] By
Kommunestyre
Kirkenes Sør-Varanger Municipality Finnmark 1998[14] By Kommunestyre
Kolvereid Nærøysund Municipality Trøndelag 2002[9] By Kommunestyre
Kongsberg
Kongsberg Municipality
Buskerud 1624[24]
1802[24]
Bergstad
Kjøpstad
Christian IV
Christian VII
Kongsvinger
Kongsvinger Municipality
Innlandet 1854[8] Kjøpstad Oscar I
Kopervik
Karmøy Municipality
Rogaland 1866–1964[8]
1996[6]
Ladested
By
Kommunestyre
Kragerø
Kragerø Municipality
Telemark 1666[10] Kjøpstad Frederik III
Kristiansand
Kristiansand Municipality
Agder 1641 Kjøpstad Christian IV
Kristiansund Kristiansund Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1742[25] 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[9] By Kommunestyre
Levanger Levanger Municipality Trøndelag 1836–1961[8]
1997[6]
Kjøpstad
By
Karl III Johan
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[16] By
Kommunestyre
Lyngdal
Lyngdal Municipality
Agder 2001[26] By
Kommunestyre
Mandal
Lindesnes Municipality
Agder 1921[8] Kjøpstad Haakon VII
Mo i Rana Rana Municipality Nordland 1923–1963[27]
1997[6]
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Moelv
Ringsaker Municipality
Innlandet 2010[12] By
Kommunestyre
Molde
Molde Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1742[25] Kjøpstad Christian VI
Mosjøen Vefsn Municipality Nordland 1875–1961[8]
1998[14]
Ladested
By
Oscar II
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[8]
Ladested
Oscar I
Narvik Narvik Municipality Nordland 1902[14] Kjøpstad Oscar II
Notodden
Notodden Municipality
Telemark 1913[8] Kjøpstad Haakon VII
Odda
Ullensaker Municipality
Vestland 2004[6] By
Kommunestyre
Orkanger Orkland Municipality Trøndelag 2014[28] By Kommunestyre
Oslo
Oslo Municipality
Oslo 1048 Kjøpstad
Harald Hardråde
Otta
Sel Municipality
Innlandet 2000[9] By
Kommunestyre
Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn Municipality
Telemark 1652
1842
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Karl III Johan
Raufoss
Vestre Toten Municipality
Innlandet 2019[29] 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[30] By Kommunestyre
Sandefjord
Sandefjord Municipality
Vestfold 1845[8] Kjøpstad Oscar I
Sandnes
Sandnes Municipality
Rogaland 1860[8]
Ladested
Karl IV
Sandnessjøen Alstahaug Municipality Nordland 1999[14] By Kommunestyre
Sandvika
Bærum Municipality
Akershus 2003[16] By
Kommunestyre
Sarpsborg
Sarpsborg Municipality
Østfold 1016 Kjøpstad
Olav II
Sauda
Sauda Municipality
Rogaland 1999[31] By
Kommunestyre
Ski
Nordre Follo Municipality
Akershus 2004[16] By
Kommunestyre
Skien
Skien Municipality
Telemark 1358 Kjøpstad
Hákon VI Magnússon
Skudeneshavn
Karmøy Municipality
Rogaland 1857–1964[8]
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[32]
1999[6]
Kjøpstad
By
Kommunestyre
Steinkjer Steinkjer Municipality Trøndelag 1857[8]
Ladested
Oscar I
Stjørdalshalsen Stjørdal Municipality Trøndelag 1997[6] By Kommunestyre
Stokmarknes Hadsel Municipality Nordland 2000[14] By Kommunestyre
Svelvik
Drammen Municipality
Buskerud 1845[8]
Ladested
Oscar I
Svolvær Vågan Municipality Nordland 1918–1964[8][33]
1996[6]
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Tromsø
Tromsø Municipality Troms 1794[20] Kjøpstad Christian VII
Trondheim
Trondheim Municipality
Trøndelag 997 Kjøpstad Olav Tryggvason
Tvedestrand
Tvedestrand Municipality
Agder 1836–1960[8]
1997[6]
Ladested
By
Kommunestyre
Tønsberg
Tønsberg Municipality Vestfold c. 871 Kjøpstad Unknown
Ulsteinvik
Ulstein Municipality
Møre og Romsdal 2000[34] By
Kommunestyre
Vadsø Vadsø Municipality Finnmark 1833[8] Kjøpstad
Karl III Johan
Vardø Vardø Municipality Finnmark 1789[20] Kjøpstad Christian VII
Verdalsøra Verdal Municipality Trøndelag 1998[35] By Kommunestyre
Vinstra
Nord-Fron Municipality
Innlandet 2013[36] By
Kommunestyre
Åkrehamn
Karmøy Municipality
Rogaland 2002[9] By
Kommunestyre
Ålesund
Ålesund Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1823[25]
1848[25]
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Karl III Johan
Oscar I
Åndalsnes Rauma Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1996[6] By Kommunestyre
Åsgårdstrand
Horten Municipality
Vestfold 1650–1964[37]
2010[38]
Ladested
By
Kommunestyre
Notes:
  1. ^ Bergen was a separate county until 1 January 1972.
  2. ^ Previously known as "Fredrikshald"
  3. ^ Røros is technically not designated as a town/city. It has a special distinction as being a bergstad (mining town).
  4. ^ Previously known as "Fredriksvern"
  5. ^ Stavern was designated a kjøpstad in 1943 under the Quisling regime. In 1946, after World War II, the Norwegian government formally approved this change effective in 1943.

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

References

  1. ^
    Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget
    . Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. .
  3. ^ a b Kommunal Rapport (23 June 2005). "Byer i Norge". Archived from the original on 15 February 2006.
  4. ^ a b Greiner, Robert (2009-12-31). "2000–2009: Dette husker vi". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  5. ^ "Arendals historie". Arendal kommune (in Norwegian). 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Bardufoss får bystatus". NRK (in Norwegian). 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Soot-Ryen, Tron (2008-08-21). "Norges nye byer". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  10. ^ a b "Brevik and Kragerø". Norske Folkemuseum. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  11. ^ Hoftun, Hanne (2009-01-12). "Brevik blir by". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  12. ^
    TV 2
    (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  13. ^ "Time kommune". NRK (in Norwegian). 2002-09-03. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Andreassen, Skjalg (2016-11-03). "De Eldste Byene". Vi som elsker Nord-Norge (in Norwegian).
  15. ^ "Kort oversikt over byens historie". Drammens historie (in Norwegian). 2004-07-06. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  16. ^ a b c d "Jessheim er fylkets største tettsted uten bystatus". Romerikes Blad (in Norwegian). 2006-11-21. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  17. ^ Kessel, Dag (2007-06-14). "Fagernes blir by" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  18. ^ "Fauske fikk bystatus i 1998". altomfauske.no. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  19. ^ "Fosnavåg". Historikk.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  20. ^ a b c Gabrielsen, Trond (2015-12-02). "Hevder handelsborgerne innvandret til Finnmark på 1500-tallet". Finnmark-Forlag (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  21. ^ "Hokksund blir by fra nyttår". NRK (in Norwegian). 2001-11-08. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  22. ^
    Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget
    . Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  23. ^ "En by i vekst". Fremtidens By (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  24. ^
    Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget
    . Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Sundsdal, Svein (2001-01-02). "Lyngdal - ny by på Sørlandet". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  27. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1922. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 277. 1922.
  28. ^ Sandmo, Espen; Haugen Egge, Julie (2014-06-30). "Velkommen til Ny Ork?". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  29. ^ "Raufoss fikk bystatus". NRK (in Norwegian). 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  30. ^ Hatland, Lena Erikke (2020-09-18). "Nå har Nærøysund to byer". Namdalsavisa (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  31. ^ "Sauda, Jørpeland og Bryne nye byer". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). 2000-10-03. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  32. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1946. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 190. 1946.
  33. ^ "Norsk Lovtidende. 2den Afdeling. 1918. Samling af Love, Resolutioner m.m". Norsk Lovtidend (in Norwegian). Oslo, Norway: Grøndahl og Søns Boktrykkeri: 127. 1918.
  34. ^ "Foto fra Ulsteinvik". Nordmørsmusea (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  35. ^ "Fakta om Verdal". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 2002-01-01. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  36. ^ Holmquist, Tone (2013-09-02). "Nå er Vinstra by". Kommunal Rapport (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  37. ^ "Åsgårdstrand før og nå". Gjengangeren (in Norwegian). 2002-12-28. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  38. ^ "Fakta og historie". Åsgårdstrand.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-21.