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List of towns and cities in Norway facts for kids

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Map of Norway with important cities

This is a list of towns and cities in Norway. The Norwegian language word by means a town or city–there is no distinction between the two words as there is in English. Historically, the designation of town/city was granted by the king, but since 1996 that authority was given to the local 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.

History

Historically, the words kjøpstad (market town), ladested (small seaport), or bergstad were used for a town or city. Each of these were granted certain special rights based on their classification and they did hold administrative authority within their borders. A ladested was subordinate to a kjøpstad and over time some of the ladesteds were "upgraded" to the status of kjøpstad in order to gain more trading rights. In 1665, Norway had 20 towns. There were 9 full market towns (kjøpstad): Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim, Tønsberg, Stavanger, Skien, Fredrikstad, Halden, and Kristiansand. There were two mountain towns {bergstad): Kongsberg and Røros. There were 9 market seaports (ladested): Larvik, Moss, Porsgrunn, Molde, Kragerø, Risør, Holmestrand, Mandal, and Drammen (which was actually 2 towns: Bragernes and Strømsø). All of the 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.

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 In 1952 the special classifications of for towns/cities (kjøpstad, bergstad, and ladested) were entirely rescinded from the law and replaced by the simple classification of by.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.

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.

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.

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, founded in the 11th century, is the largest city and also the capital of Norway. Oslo is the only city in Norway that is consolidated with its municipality and county, thus the city of Oslo, Oslo Municipality, and Oslo County are all one unified unit of government.

Cities and towns in Norway

Oslo newer montage 2013
Oslo, the capital of Norway and among the fastest growing cities in Europe
BergenComposite
Bergen, the capital of Vestland county
Overview of Trondheim 2008 03
Trondheim, the largest city in Trøndelag county
Stavangercollage2
Stavanger, the oil capital and capital of Rogaland county
Kristiansand set fra havnen
Kristiansand, the biggest city and capital of Agder county
Fredrikstad bryggepromenade fra Kråkerøybroa
Fredrikstad, the biggest city in Østfold county and one of the 20 biggest cities in Norway
Morketidettermiddag
Tromsø, the capital of Troms county
Sandnes edit
Sandnes, the second largest city in Rogaland after Stavanger
Drammen from east
Drammen, the largest city in and capital of Buskerud county
Skien - town centre (east-west)
Skien
Bodø 2006
Bodø
Vista de Ålesund desde Aksla, Noruega, 2019-09-01, DD 16
Ålesund
City Municipality County Town status
Year Type Assigned by
Alta Alta Municipality Finnmark 2000 By Kommunestyre
Arendal Arendal Municipality Agder 1610
1723
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian IV
Frederik IV
Askim Indre Østfold Municipality Østfold 1996 By Kommunestyre
Bergen Bergen Municipality Vestland 1070 Kjøpstad Olav Kyrre
Bodø Bodø Municipality Nordland 1816 Kjøpstad Karl II
Brekstad Ørland Municipality Trøndelag 2005 By Kommunestyre
Brevik Porsgrunn Municipality Telemark 1845–1963
2009
Kjøpstad
By
Oscar I
Kommunestyre
Brumunddal Ringsaker Municipality Innlandet 2010 By Kommunestyre
Bryne Time Municipality Rogaland 2001 By Kommunestyre
Brønnøysund Brønnøy Municipality Nordland 1923–1963
2000
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Drammen Drammen Municipality Buskerud 1811 Kjøpstad Frederik VI
Drøbak Frogn Municipality Akershus 1842–1961
2006
Kjøpstad
By
Karl III Johan
Kommunestyre
Egersund Eigersund Municipality Rogaland 1798 Ladested Christian VII
Elverum Elverum Municipality Innlandet 1996 By Kommunestyre
Fagernes Nord-Aurdal Municipality Innlandet 2007 By Kommunestyre
Farsund Farsund Municipality Agder 1795 Ladested Christian VII
Fauske Fauske Municipality Nordland 1998 By Kommunestyre
Finnsnes Senja Municipality Troms 2000 By Kommunestyre
Flekkefjord Flekkefjord Municipality Agder 1842 Kjøpstad Karl III Johan
Florø Kinn Municipality Vestland 1860 Ladested Karl IV
Fosnavåg Herøy Municipality Møre og Romsdal 2000 By Kommunestyre
Fredrikstad Fredrikstad Municipality Østfold 1567 Kjøpstad Frederik II
Førde Sunnfjord Municipality Vestland 1997 By Kommunestyre
Gjøvik Gjøvik Municipality Innlandet 1860 Kjøpstad Karl IV
Grimstad Grimstad Municipality Agder 1791
1816
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian VII
Karl II
Halden Halden Municipality Østfold 1665 Kjøpstad Frederik III
Hamar Hamar Municipality Innlandet 1848 Kjøpstad Oscar I
Hammerfest Hammerfest Municipality Finnmark 1789 Kjøpstad Christian VII
Harstad Harstad Municipality Troms 1904 Ladested Oscar II
Haugesund Haugesund Municipality Rogaland 1854
1866
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Oscar I
Karl IV
Hokksund Øvre Eiker Municipality Buskerud 2002 By Kommunestyre
Holmestrand Holmestrand Municipality Vestfold 1744
1752
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian VI
Frederik V
Honningsvåg Nordkapp Municipality Finnmark 1996 By Kommunestyre
Horten Horten Municipality Vestfold 1858
1907
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Oscar I
Haakon VII
Hønefoss Ringerike Municipality Buskerud 1852 Kjøpstad Oscar I
Jessheim Ullensaker Municipality Akershus 2012 By Kommunestyre
Jørpeland Strand Municipality Rogaland 1998 By Kommunestyre
Kirkenes Sør-Varanger Municipality Finnmark 1998 By Kommunestyre
Kolvereid Nærøysund Municipality Trøndelag 2002 By Kommunestyre
Kongsberg Kongsberg Municipality Buskerud 1624
1802
Bergstad
Kjøpstad
Christian IV
Christian VII
Kongsvinger Kongsvinger Municipality Innlandet 1854 Kjøpstad Oscar I
Kopervik Karmøy Municipality Rogaland 1866–1964
1996
Ladested
By
Karl IV
Kommunestyre
Kragerø Kragerø Municipality Telemark 1666 Kjøpstad Frederik III
Kristiansand Kristiansand Municipality Agder 1641 Kjøpstad Christian IV
Kristiansund Kristiansund Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1742 Kjøpstad Christian VI
Langesund Bamble Municipality Telemark 1765–1963
1997
Ladested
By
Frederik V
Kommunestyre
Larvik Larvik Municipality Vestfold 1671 Kjøpstad Christian V
Leirvik Stord Municipality Vestland 1997 By Kommunestyre
Leknes Vestvågøy Municipality Nordland 2002 By Kommunestyre
Levanger Levanger Municipality Trøndelag 1836–1961
1997
Kjøpstad
By
Karl III Johan
Kommunestyre
Lillehammer Lillehammer Municipality Innlandet 1827 Kjøpstad Karl III Johan
Lillesand Lillesand Municipality Agder 1821–1961
1996
Ladested
By
Karl III Johan
Kommunestyre
Lillestrøm Lillestrøm Municipality Akershus 1997 By Kommunestyre
Lyngdal Lyngdal Municipality Agder 2001 By Kommunestyre
Mandal Lindesnes Municipality Agder 1921 Kjøpstad Haakon VII
Mo i Rana Rana Municipality Nordland 1923–1963
1997
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Moelv Ringsaker Municipality Innlandet 2010 By Kommunestyre
Molde Molde Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1742 Kjøpstad Christian VI
Mosjøen Vefsn Municipality Nordland 1875–1961
1998
Ladested
By
Oscar II
Kommunestyre
Moss Moss Municipality Østfold 1720 Kjøpstad Frederik IV
Mysen Indre Østfold Municipality Østfold 1997 By Kommunestyre
Måløy Kinn Municipality Vestland 2004 By Kommunestyre
Namsos Namsos Municipality Trøndelag 1845 Ladested Oscar I
Narvik Narvik Municipality Nordland 1902 Kjøpstad Oscar II
Notodden Notodden Municipality Telemark 1913 Kjøpstad Haakon VII
Odda Ullensaker Municipality Vestland 2004 By Kommunestyre
Orkanger Orkland Municipality Trøndelag 2014 By Kommunestyre
Oslo Oslo Municipality Oslo 1048 Kjøpstad Harald Hardråde
Otta Sel Municipality Innlandet 2000 By Kommunestyre
Porsgrunn Porsgrunn Municipality Telemark 1652
1842
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Frederik III
Karl III Johan
Raufoss Vestre Toten Municipality Innlandet 2019 By Kommunestyre
Risør Risør Municipality Agder 1630
1723
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Christian IV
Frederik IV
Rjukan Tinn Municipality Telemark 1996 By Kommunestyre
Røros Røros Municipality Trøndelag 1646 Bergstad Christian IV
Rørvik Nærøysund Municipality Trøndelag 2020 By Kommunestyre
Sandefjord Sandefjord Municipality Vestfold 1845 Kjøpstad Oscar I
Sandnes Sandnes Municipality Rogaland 1860 Ladested Karl IV
Sandnessjøen Alstahaug Municipality Nordland 1999 By Kommunestyre
Sandvika Bærum Municipality Akershus 2003 By Kommunestyre
Sarpsborg Sarpsborg Municipality Østfold 1016 Kjøpstad Olav II
Sauda Sauda Municipality Rogaland 1999 By Kommunestyre
Ski Nordre Follo Municipality Akershus 2004 By Kommunestyre
Skien Skien Municipality Telemark 1358 Kjøpstad Hákon VI Magnússon
Skudeneshavn Karmøy Municipality Rogaland 1857–1964
1996
Ladested
By
Oscar I
Kommunestyre
Sortland Sortland Municipality Nordland 1997 By Kommunestyre
Stathelle Bamble Municipality Telemark 1774–1963
1997
Ladested
By
Christian VII
Kommunestyre
Stavanger Stavanger Municipality Rogaland 1125 Kjøpstad Sigurd Jorsalfare
Stavern Larvik Municipality Vestfold 1943–1988
1999
Kjøpstad
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Steinkjer Steinkjer Municipality Trøndelag 1857 Ladested Oscar I
Stjørdalshalsen Stjørdal Municipality Trøndelag 1997 By Kommunestyre
Stokmarknes Hadsel Municipality Nordland 2000 By Kommunestyre
Svelvik Drammen Municipality Buskerud 1845 Ladested Oscar I
Svolvær Vågan Municipality Nordland 1918–1964
1996
Ladested
By
Haakon VII
Kommunestyre
Tromsø Tromsø Municipality Troms 1794 Kjøpstad Christian VII
Trondheim Trondheim Municipality Trøndelag 997 Kjøpstad Olav Tryggvason
Tvedestrand Tvedestrand Municipality Agder 1836–1960
1997
Ladested
By
Karl III Johan
Kommunestyre
Tønsberg Tønsberg Municipality Vestfold c. 871 Kjøpstad Unknown
Ulsteinvik Ulstein Municipality Møre og Romsdal 2000 By Kommunestyre
Vadsø Vadsø Municipality Finnmark 1833 Kjøpstad Karl III Johan
Vardø Vardø Municipality Finnmark 1789 Kjøpstad Christian VII
Verdalsøra Verdal Municipality Trøndelag 1998 By Kommunestyre
Vinstra Nord-Fron Municipality Innlandet 2013 By Kommunestyre
Åkrehamn Karmøy Municipality Rogaland 2002 By Kommunestyre
Ålesund Ålesund Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1823
1848
Ladested
Kjøpstad
Karl III Johan
Oscar I
Åndalsnes Rauma Municipality Møre og Romsdal 1996 By Kommunestyre
Åsgårdstrand Horten Municipality Vestfold 1650–1964
2010
Ladested
By
Frederik III
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
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
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