Vestfold

coat of arms	map

Basic data
Country :	Norway
Administrative center :	Tonsberg
Area :	2,236 km²
Residents :	251,078 (January 1, 2019)
Population density :	108 inhabitants / km²
Municipalities :	9
ISO 3166-2	NO-07
Fylkesstein :	Larvikite

Vestfold is a landscape in Østlandet and a former province ( Fylke ) in Norway , which borders the landscapes and former Fylker Buskerud and Telemark . On January 1, 2019, the population was 251,078 people (4.73% of the total population of Norway). The total area was 2,225 km² (of which land area 2,148 km²). The administrative seat was Tønsberg . On January 1, 2020, Vestfold (excluding the municipality of Svelvik ) merged with Telemark to form the new Fylke Vestfold og Telemark . The basis for the merger was a resolution of the Storting on June 8, 2017, which provided for a reduction to eleven areas as part of a regional reform . From January 1, 2019, there was only one common Fylkesmann for the two provinces, namely Per Arne Olsen .

geography

Vestfold was west of Oslo Bay. Vestfold was home to numerous well-known Norwegian cities such as Larvik , Horten , Holmestrand , Tønsberg and Sandefjord . The Numedalslågen River flowed through the Fylke. Many islands were off the coast. Vestfold used to be known mainly as the home of the Norwegian whaling fleets . The coastal towns of Vestfolds concentrated their economic strength on fishing and shipyards. The wood industry also offered jobs. The arable land was the most fertile compared to other regions in Norway.

The family of Harald I , the first king of Norway, goes back to the legendary Ynglinger Olaf Trätelgja and came from the Vestfold area. Kaupang , a Viking town supposedly founded by Olaf , is also located in Vestfold and is said to have been Norway's first town-like settlement. During the 10th century, the kings who lived here began subjugating free Nordic tribes, thereby establishing Norway.

The name is derived from the medieval landscape name Fold . At that time, Østfold and Vestfold were seen as a single landscape, either called Fold or Vik ( Viken ).

Before the reform of 1919, the province was called Jarlsberg og Laurviks amt (also Larvik ) and emerged in 1821 from the union of the counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik .

Municipalities

Vestfold was divided into 12 municipalities until Larvik and Lardal , Tjøme and Nøtterøy, and Hof and Holmestrand merged on January 1, 2018 .

Municipality number	Surname	Residents January 1, 2019	Area in km²
0701	Hoard	27,334	70.37
0704	Tonsberg	45,976	110.23
0710	Sandefjord	63.271	433.27
0711	Svelvik	6685	57.72
0712	Larvik	47.107	812.66
0713	Sands	9904	178.33
0715	Holmestrand	14,371	249.18
0716	re	9730	224.66
0729	Færder	26,700	99.96
total	Vestfold	251.078	2,236.38