Borge, Østfold facts for kids
Borge is a place in Østfold county, Norway. It used to be its own municipality, which is like a local government area. Today, Borge is part of the larger Fredrikstad municipality. You can find it in the northeast part of Fredrikstad, close to the border with Sarpsborg.
History of Borge
Borge became its own municipality on January 1, 1838. This was part of a big change in Norway where many local areas got their own governments.
Over the years, the borders of Borge changed a few times:
- On January 1, 1910, a nearby area called Torsnes separated from Borge to become its own municipality. After this, Borge had about 6,466 people.
- In 1951, a small part of Borge, with 53 residents, became part of Fredrikstad municipality.
- On January 1, 1964, two more areas, Gansrød and Ulfeng (with 30 people), also joined Fredrikstad. But on the same day, most of Torsnes rejoined Borge. After this, Borge's population grew to 9,219 people.
- Finally, on January 1, 1994, Borge merged with the city of Fredrikstad. Other nearby areas like Kråkerøy, Onsøy, and Rolvsøy also joined Fredrikstad at this time. Before this big merger, Borge had 11,959 residents.
Borge Church
Borge Church (called Borge Kirke in Norwegian) was built in 1861. It is made of stone and has space for 270 people. The church was repaired and updated in 1950.
The very first church on this spot was dedicated to St. Olav, a famous Norwegian king. Churches built here have burned down several times throughout history.
What's in a Name?
The name "Borge" comes from an old farm called Borge. The first church was built on this farm's land. In Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, the name was Borgar.
The word borg means 'hill fort'. So, "Borge" is the plural form, meaning 'forts' or 'places with forts'. However, people haven't found any remains of an old fort in the area.
Famous People from Borge
One very famous person born in Borge was Roald Amundsen. He was a brave polar explorer who was the first person to reach the South Pole!
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