Akershus

Infobox Fylke
name = Akershus
idnumber = 02
capital = Oslo
governor = Hans J. Røsjorde
governor_party = Fremskrittspartiet
governor_date = 1998
mayor = Nils Aage Jegstad
mayor_party = Høyre
mayor_date = 2007
region = Østlandet
arearank = 16
area = 4918
arealand = 4579
areapercent = 1.50
population_as_of = 2008
populationrank = 2
population = 523,272
populationpercent = 10.67
populationdensity = 107
populationincrease = 13.7
gdp_as_of = 2001
gdprank = 3
gdppercent = 7.12
gdpcapita = 228,868
incomecapita = 182,400

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munwebpage = www.akershus.no
language = Bokmål

Audio|Akershus.ogg|Akershus is a county in Norway, bordering Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud, Oslo and Østfold. It has a short border with Sweden (Värmland). Akershus is the second largest county by population after Oslo, with more than half a million inhabitants. The county is named after Akershus Fortress. The county administration is in Oslo, which is not part of the county per se.

Geography

The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small enclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum. This became the result after the transferring of the great municipality of Aker (surrounding Oslo) from Akershus county to Oslo in 1948.

Embracing numerous suburbs of Oslo, notably Bærum, Akershus is one of the most densely populated areas in the country. The main national railway lines into Oslo run through Akershus with many junctions and stations such as Asker, Sandvika, Ski and Lillestrøm. Akershus includes some of the lake Mjøsa and some of the river Glomma.

The county also includes the historical place Eidsvoll, 48 km north of Oslo, in which the National assembly voted the Norwegian constitution in 1814. South of Eidsvoll is the international airport of Oslo Airport at Gardermoen. The estate of the crown prince is located in Asker.

Infrastructure

The county has a major international airport, the Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. It also has two hospitals, Akershus University Hospital and Sunnaas Hospital.

History

Akershus became a fief in the 16th century, and then also included the current counties of Hedmark, Oppland, Buskerud and Oslo, as well as the municipalities of Askim, Eidsberg and Trøgstad in the county of Østfold. In 1662 Akershus became an "Amt", and in 1685 Buskerud was separated from Akershus and became an "Amt" of its own. In 1768 Hedmark and Oppland were also separated from Akershus to become "Oplandenes Amt" (and Askim, Eidsberg and Trøgstad were transferred to Østfold). In 1842 the city of Christiania (Oslo) was made a separate "Amt" as well. In 1919 the name "Amt" was changed to "Fylke". In 1948 was Aker, the greatest and the most populous municipality of Akershus, transferred to the county of Oslo.

The name

The county is named after Akershus Fortress. The fortress was built in 1299, and the meaning of the name is "the (fortified) house of (the district) Aker". The name is actually misleading nowadays, since the fortress today lies outside Akershus (since 1842 in the county of Oslo). In fact, the administration of Akershus meets outside the county as well (in the center of Oslo).

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1987). It shows a gable from Akershus fortress.

Municipalities

Akershus has a total of 22 municipalities:

Asker Aurskog-Høland Bærum Eidsvoll Enebakk Fet Frogn Gjerdrum Hurdal Lørenskog Nannestad

Nes Nesodden Nittedal Oppegård Rælingen Skedsmo Ski Sørum Ullensaker Vestby Ås

External links

* [http://www.akershus-f.kommune.no/index.php?page_id=201 Akershus county website]