Egersund
Encyclopedia
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund
January 1, 1965.
Egersund has one of the best natural harbours in Norway, and used to be the largest harbour in Norway when measured in quantity of fish brought in each year (surpassed by Ålesund
during 2006). Several internationally known companies have divisions here, like Navico (earlier Robertson autopilots) and Jeppesen
Norway formerly C-MAP Norway (producer of electronic sea-maps). In addition, the Aker Solutions corporation owns and runs a large installation here which specializes in the building of parts for oil platform
s. Most of the industry is related to the sea and to boats.
of Olav the Holy, written by Icelandic author Snorri Sturlasson in the 13th century. From around the year 1000 Olav the Holy's fleet was here often. We can also find the name in texts and scaldic poems from Olav's saga.
There used to be a church here, the Church of St. Mary, mentioned in 1292 in a privilege of indulgence issued in Rome on February 5, 1292 by Pope Nicholas IV
as Ecclesia beatæ Mariæ de Eikundarsund. It was the first church in Eikundarsund, and was the parish church of Maria parish. It is believed to have been located where the present church stands today. Old folklore from Egersund also says that before the Church of St. Mary, an altar where people sacrificed to the old Norse gods was placed here, but this has not been verified from any sources except old stories.
There was also a chapel, the chapel of St. Laurenti, mentioned in a letter issued on February 5 of 1308 as Ecclesia beati Laurentii de Eikundarsund, where Pope Clement V
gives King Håkon V Magnusson extensive privileges concerning the king's 14 chapels (including the chapel of St. Laurenti), which was founded by himself or his father, King Magnus Lagabøte, and his grandfather, King Håkon Håkonson. Since these chapels often were built on the king's estates it is presumed to have been on grounds owned by the Husabø estate. An old tradition says it was located at what is now Strandgata 43, but the exact position is somewhat uncertain.
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund
Eigersund
Eigersund is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. Egersund landdisstrikt was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Augne was separated from Eigersund in 1839. Helleland and the town of Egersund were merged with Eigersund on 1 January 1965.-Location:Eigersund extends from the...
January 1, 1965.
Egersund has one of the best natural harbours in Norway, and used to be the largest harbour in Norway when measured in quantity of fish brought in each year (surpassed by Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
during 2006). Several internationally known companies have divisions here, like Navico (earlier Robertson autopilots) and Jeppesen
Jeppesen
Jeppesen is an American company that specializes in navigational information, operations management solutions and flight training products and services...
Norway formerly C-MAP Norway (producer of electronic sea-maps). In addition, the Aker Solutions corporation owns and runs a large installation here which specializes in the building of parts for oil platform
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
s. Most of the industry is related to the sea and to boats.
General
People have lived around the district of Egersund since the stone ages. Several places one can find ruins of settlements dating back to the age of migrations in Norway (400–600 BC). The name "Egersund" derives from the Norse name for the strait between Eigerøy and the mainland, which was called Eikundarsund. The name of Eigerøy (Norse: Eikund) comes from the rich deposits of oak trees (Eik = Norwegian for oak). The name is among the oldest placenames in Norway. It can already be found in the form Eikundarsund in the Norse sagaNorse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
of Olav the Holy, written by Icelandic author Snorri Sturlasson in the 13th century. From around the year 1000 Olav the Holy's fleet was here often. We can also find the name in texts and scaldic poems from Olav's saga.
There used to be a church here, the Church of St. Mary, mentioned in 1292 in a privilege of indulgence issued in Rome on February 5, 1292 by Pope Nicholas IV
Pope Nicholas IV
Pope Nicholas IV , born Girolamo Masci, was Pope from February 22, 1288 to April 4, 1292. A Franciscan friar, he had been legate to the Greeks under Pope Gregory X in 1272, succeeded Bonaventure as Minister General of his religious order in 1274, was made Cardinal Priest of Santa Prassede and...
as Ecclesia beatæ Mariæ de Eikundarsund. It was the first church in Eikundarsund, and was the parish church of Maria parish. It is believed to have been located where the present church stands today. Old folklore from Egersund also says that before the Church of St. Mary, an altar where people sacrificed to the old Norse gods was placed here, but this has not been verified from any sources except old stories.
There was also a chapel, the chapel of St. Laurenti, mentioned in a letter issued on February 5 of 1308 as Ecclesia beati Laurentii de Eikundarsund, where Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
gives King Håkon V Magnusson extensive privileges concerning the king's 14 chapels (including the chapel of St. Laurenti), which was founded by himself or his father, King Magnus Lagabøte, and his grandfather, King Håkon Håkonson. Since these chapels often were built on the king's estates it is presumed to have been on grounds owned by the Husabø estate. An old tradition says it was located at what is now Strandgata 43, but the exact position is somewhat uncertain.
Timeline
- In 1623 the old church (probably the Church of St. Mary) was demolished and a new church was erected. This is the same church still standing today, built in wood.
- The township of Egersund dates from July 18, 1798, when it was approved to have its own Customs office.
- The town fire in 1843 burned down two thirds of the buildings downtown. After this a major redesign of the streets was issued.
- In 1847 the A/S Egersunds Fayancefabriks Co. was founded by Johan Feyer. The factory was the cornerpiece of the municipality until it was shut down in 1979. Its products are collectors items today, and many are worth hundreds of dollars.
- July 7, 1859 there was a new town fire.
- October 20, 1862 there was yet another town fire. It was to be the last since town planners finally understood how vulnerable wooden houses are and constructed extra wide streets to prevent fires from spreading.
- In 1878 the railway between Egersund and StavangerStavangerStavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
was opened. - In 1905 Egersund is the first town in the county of RogalandRogalandis a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
to get electrical lighting. - April 9, 1940, Egersund was amongst the first towns and cities in Norway occupied by the Germans during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Egersund was important to the Germans because of its good harbour and the telegraph line between NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and England which was situated there. The Germans built up large camps in the area, and several important events happened in the vicinity.
Communication
- Egersund has good connections by road to StavangerStavangerStavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
and KristiansandKristiansand-History:As indicated by archeological findings in the city, the Kristiansand area has been settled at least since 400 AD. A royal farm is known to have been situated on Oddernes as early as 800, and the first church was built around 1040...
, via European route E39European route E39E 39 is the designation of a 1330 km long north-south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Orkanger, Vinjeøra, Halsa ... Straumsnes, Krifast, Batnfjordsøra, Molde ... Vestnes, Skodje, Ålesund ... Volda ... Nordfjordeid ... Sandane, Førde,...
. There is also a more scenic coastal highway number 44. - There is an hourly train connections northwards to Stavanger, while express and regional trains run southwards towards Kristiansand and Oslo.
Neighborhoods
- Central
- Damsgård
- Havsøyne
- Husabø
- Lervige
- Mosbekk
- Årstad
- Årstaddalen
- Hestnes
- Lagård
- Rundevoll
- Sandbakkan
- Slettebø
- Søra Eigerøy
- Tengs
- Åsan
Points of interest
- Dalane Folkemuseum: Museum of antiquities and history of Egersund.
- Egersund Fayancemuseum: Museum of the glazed earthenware and porcelain made by Egersund Fayancefabrik from 1847 till 1979.
- «StoplesteinanStoplesteinanStoplesteinan is a stone circle in the town of Egersund, Rogaland in Norway. The local people often refer to it as a Stonehenge in miniature, although the only thing the two stone rings have in common is that they both are made of stone positioned in a circular manner...
». A rather unknown attraction, since it has not been embraced by the local tourist bureau. «Stoplesteinan» is a smaller «StonehengeStonehengeStonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
», i.e. a stone circle. It is more than a thousand years old, and believed by some to be almost 2000 years old. Who built it and why, is unknown. The stone circle is situated directly above Skårabrekkå just outside downtown Egersund. - Central Egersund houses some of the best preserved wood buildings in Norway. They are built in late Empire style, and most of the buildings are protected by law.
Known people from Egersund
- Peter C. AssersenPeter C. AssersenPeter C. Assersen was Norwegian-born civil engineer and Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.-Background:Assersen was born during 1839, the youngest of twelve children, on the Midtbrøt farm in Egersund parish, today located in the municipality of Eigersund, in Rogaland county, Norway...
(1839–1906), Rear AdmiralRear AdmiralRear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
in the United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... - Anna BuggeAnna BuggeAnna Wicksell Bugge was a Norwegian feminist. She helped found the debate society Skuld in high school...
(1862–1928), internationally known feminist and diplomat in Geneva (Switzerland) for Sweden - Albert Henry Iversen (1896–?), Priscilla PresleyPriscilla PresleyPriscilla Presley is an American actress and businesswoman. She is the ex-wife of singer Elvis Presley, and the mother of singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley....
's grandfather - Bengt SæternesBengt SæternesBengt Sæternes is a football player from Egersund, Norway. He plays in the striker position for Viking FK. His former clubs are Egersund IK, IL Eiger, Viking FK, Odd Grenland, FK Bodø/Glimt, Club Brugge, SK Brann, OB, and Vålerenga.-Career:Bengt Sæterners had short stints in boths Viking and Odd...
, footballer - Jacob ThorkelsonJacob ThorkelsonJacob Thorkelson was an American elected official, Naval officer and medical doctor.-Biography:Thorkelson was born in Egersund, a coastal town in the county of Rogaland, Norway. Thorkelson immigrated to the United States in 1892 and worked as a navigator...
, Member of the United States House of Representatives - Kaare Tronitz Refsland, writer
- Gunnar KvassheimGunnar KvassheimGunnar Kvassheim is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Rogaland in 1997, but not re-elected in 2001. During Bondevik's Second Cabinet, Kvassheim was appointed state secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister...
, Politician - Jørgen TengesdalJørgen TengesdalJørgen Tengesdal is a Norwegian football manager and a former footballer from Eigersund in Rogaland. He currently is the assistant coach at Egersunds IK in the Norwegian Third Division. He has formerly played in the Norwegian Premier League for Viking FK, Tromsø IL and Lyn, and for Skeid in the...
, footballer. - Kai Ove Stokkeland, Captain at Bryne Footballteam.
- Johan Lædre BjørdalJohan Lædre BjørdalJohan Lædre Bjørdal is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Norway's Viking.Bjørdal began his career with his hometown club, Egersund IK, in 2003, but was signed up by Viking FK. He went on loan to FK Tønsberg in the 2005 season, having played just one game for Viking, and returned...
, Soccerplayer in Bodø/Glimt. - Ingvar Hovland (1954-), songwriter, play writer and poet.
- Øystein AarsethEuronymousØystein Aarseth , who went by the pseudonym Euronymous, was a Norwegian guitarist and co-founder of the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem...
(1968–1993) Lead Guitarist and founder of pioneering Black Metal band Mayhem