Seljord

Infobox_Kommune
name=Seljord
idnumber=0828
county=Telemark
landscape=Vest-Telemark
capital=Seljord
governor=John Kleivstaul (Sp)
governor_as_of=2003
arearank=155
area=715
arealand=670
areapercent=0.22
population_as_of=2004
populationrank=279
population=2,899
populationpercent=0.06
populationdensity=4
populationincrease=-6.1
language=Nynorsk
lat_deg=59| lat_min=30| lat_sec=48| lon_deg=8| lon_min=38| lon_sec=56
utm_zone=32V| utm_northing=6597271 |utm_easting=0480132| geo_cat=adm2nd


munwebpage=www.seljord.kommune.no

Seljord is a municipality in the county of Telemark, Norway.

The parish of "Siljord" was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). Seljord is famous for its sea serpent, Selma, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet).

The yearly "Dyrsku'n" market, held since 1866, attracts 60-80,000 visitors.

The name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old farm Seljord (Norse "Seljugerði"), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of "selja" f 'sallow-tree, willow', the last element is "gerði" n 'field'.

Until 1889 the name was written "Silgjord" (or "Sillejord").

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1989). It shows the sea serpent Selma.