Vest-Telemark

The river Bora in Vinje on the border to Hordaland.

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1769	8,858	—
1951	16,375	+84.9%
1960	17,037	+4.0%
1970	15,846	−7.0%
1980	15,746	−0.6%
1990	15,706	−0.3%
2000	14,770	−6.0%
2010?	14,265	−3.4%
2020?	14,300	+0.2%
2030?	14,635	+2.3%
Source: Statistics Norway.

The Vest-Telemark traditional district of Norway comprises the upper and western areas of the county of Telemark. The region consists of six municipalities: Fyresdal, Tokke, Vinje, Nissedal, Kviteseid and Seljord.

The region is known for its folk traditions within music, clothing, handcrafts, food and architecture. The region is also distinctly marked by its dialect of Norwegian. This form of Norwegian is the variety containing most traces of the Old Norse language and grammar.

Vest-Telemark have 14,252 innhabitants 1. April 2009. The area is 7 700 km².

Vest-Telemark is also the home of slalom (slalåm), Telemark skiing and ski jumping (with its characteristic Telemark landing). "The Cradle of Modern Skiing" is found in Morgedal.

Municipalities

Crest	Name	Population	Municipality no.	Language form	Webpage
center|30px	Fyresdal	1371	0831	Nynorsk	Fyresdal.kommune.no
center|30px	Kviteseid	2530	0829	Nynorsk	Kviteseid.kommune.no
center|30px	Nissedal	1395	0830	Nynorsk	Nissedal.kommune.no
center|30px	Seljord	2937	0828	Nynorsk	Seljord.kommune.no
center|30px	Tokke	2341	0833	Nynorsk	Tokke.kommune.no
center|30px	Vinje	3675	0834	Nynorsk	Vinje.kommune.no

Famous people from Vest-Telemark

• Aslaug Vaa, author from Rauland in Vinje
• Vidkun Quisling, politician from Fyresdal
• Aasmund Olavsson Vinje, author from Vinje
• Tarjei Vesaas, author from Vinje
• Odd Nordstoga, musician from Vinje
• Sondre Norheim, father of modern skiing ; from Morgedal .
• Ivar Peterson Tveiten, politician from Fyresdal
• Anne Grimdalen, sculptor from Skafså in Tokke
• Eivind Groven, composer from Lårdal in Tokke
• Eivind Hovden, guitarist from Dalen in Tokke
• Dyre Vaa, sculptor from Rauland in Vinje
• Halldis Moren Vesaas, author from Vinje
• Terje Haakonsen, master snowboarder Vinje
• Sven Erik Kristiansen, internationally acclaimed musician Rauland in Vinje