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List of towns and cities in Norway

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, 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 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.[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 In 1952 the special classifications of for towns/cities (kjøpstad, bergstad, and ladested) were entirely rescinded from the law and replaced by the simple classification of by.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, 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.[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		 Oscar I
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		 Karl III Johan
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 1860[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		 Karl IV
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		 Frederik V
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		 Karl III Johan
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		 Frederik III
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		 Oscar I
Kommunestyre
Sortland Sortland Municipality Nordland 1997[6] By Kommunestyre
Stathelle Bamble Municipality Telemark 1774–1963
1997[6]		 Ladested
By		 Christian VII
Kommunestyre
Stavanger Stavanger Municipality Rogaland 1125 Kjøpstad Sigurd Jorsalfare
Stavern[d] Larvik Municipality Vestfold 1943–1988[32]
1999[6]		 Kjøpstad
By		 Haakon VII[e]
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		 Karl III Johan
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		 Frederik III
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. ^ a b c d Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2024-02-13). "Byer i Norge". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. ^ Jukvam, Dag (1999). "Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845.
  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. ^ a b Øyhovden, Asbjørn; Haugan, Olav (2010-06-24). "Brumunddal og Moelv får bystatus". 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. ^ a b Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2024-02-21). "Holmestrand". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  23. ^ "En by i vekst". Fremtidens By (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  24. ^ a b Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2024-02-21). "Kongsberg". 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.
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