Haugesund

Infobox_Kommune
name = Haugesund
idnumber = 1106
county = Rogaland
landscape = Haugaland
capital = Haugesund
governor = Petter Steen jr. (H)
governor_as_of = 2006
arearank = 403
area = 73
arealand = 68
areapercent = 0.02
population_as_of = 2004
populationrank = 24
population = 31,738
populationpercent = 0.69
populationdensity = 459
populationincrease = 9.4
demonym = arabar/-er or haugesundar/-er
language =Bokmål
lat_deg = 59 | lat_min = 26 | lat_sec = 47 | lon_deg = 5 | lon_min = 17 | lon_sec = 54
utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6595628 | utm_easting = 0290177 | geo_cat = adm2nd


munwebpage = www.haugesund.kommune.noaudio|Haugesund.ogg|Haugesund is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.

Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a city and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund 1 January 1958.cite paper | author=Dag Jukvam / Statistics Norway | title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |date=1999 | url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdfl no icon] Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km². The population is 31,738, giving the municipality a population density of 459 people per km².

The city is situated at a strategically important sound through which ships could pass without heavy sea. In the early years the coastal waters of Haugesund were a huge source of herring, and the city grew accordingly. Despite being a young city, king Harald Fairhair lived on Avaldsnes, very close to the modern city. In the last decades, the city, like its neighbours, has been turning towards the petroleum industry, the herring being long gone.

Haugesund is a cultural centre for its region, and is home to several festivals, the largest being the Norwegian International Film Festival and Sildajazz, an international jazz festival with approximately 70 bands and close to 200 concerts.Fact|date=October 2007

As of 2007, Haugesund's agglomeration has a population of 41,183, of which 31,140 live in Haugesund and 10,043 live in Karmøy.Cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/beftett_en/tab-2007-06-07-01-en.html|title=Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality. 1 January 2007|accessdate=2007-10-24|publisher=Statistics Norway|year=2007|language=Norwegian] The Haugesund Region, a statistical metropolitan area, consisting of the municipalities Karmøy, Haugesund, Tysvær, Sveio and Bokn, has a population of 83,309 as of 2004.

History

Haugesund was founded in 1855 when it was divided from Torvastad, a former neighbouring municipality, consequently celebrating its 150-year anniversary in 2004. At the time of division, Haugesund had a population of 1,066. The city is named after the strait Haugesundet. The first element is the genitive case of the name of the farm Hauge (Norse "Haugar"), the last element is "sund" ("n") 'strait, sound'. The name of the farm is the plural form of "haugr" ("m") 'hill, mound'.

In the early years, the coastal waters of Haugesund were huge sources of herring, and the city grew accordingly. Despite being a fairly young city, the Haugesund areas were lands of power during the age of Vikings. Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway, had his home on Avaldsnes, very close to the city. Fairhair was buried on Haug lying by Karmsund, an area that later would name the city and municipal "Haugesund". The national monument "Haraldstøtten" is erected where Harald is believed to be interred.

The protective sounds of Smedasund and Karmsund, gave the city a possibility to grow in both fishing and shipping. Even to this day, Karmsund is one of Norways busiest fairways. The city is still growing geographically even though the population has increased only moderately the last decade. Today the herring is long gone, and the city is turning more and more towards the petroleum industry, like its neighbour Stavanger.

The coat-of-arms is from 1929,Cite web|url=http://www.haugesund.kommune.no/cgi-bin/haugesund/imaker?id=46065|title=Haugesund byvåpen|accessdate=2007-10-24|publisher=Haugesund kommune|language=Norwegian] and shows three seagulls. It replaced the old coat-of-arms which showed a herring barrel, an anchor, and three seagulls. The current coat-of-arms was drawn by Hallvard Trætteberg.

Geography

The city has a coastline with the North Sea, however, the island of Karmøy and the archipelago Røvær shelter most of the city from the rough waters of the ocean. The sound of Karmsund, located between Karmøy and Haugesund used to be very strategically important, since ships could pass without having to sail through heavy sea. Haugesund's city centre has a distinctive street layout, similar to those found in Kristiansand and Oslo. Haugesund has a typical maritime climate with mild winters, cool but pleasant springs, and mild summers lasting until the end of September. Monthly 24-hr average range from 1.1 °C in February to 14 °C in August. Mean annual precipitation is 1520 mm, with September - December as the wettest period. [ [http://met.no/observasjoner/rogaland/normaler_for_kommune_1106.html?kommuner met.no: Normaler for
Haugesund ] ]

The population is 31,738, and with an area of only 73 km², this gives a population density of 459 people per km². As of 2007, Haugesund's agglomeration has a population of 41,183, of which 31,140 live in Haugesund and 10,043 live in Karmøy. The Haugesund Region, a statistical metropolitan area, consisting of the municipalities Karmøy, Haugesund, Tysvær, Sveio and Bokn, has a population of 83,309 as of 2004.

Cityscape

Haugesund's city hall was built in 1931, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2006.Cite web|url=http://www.haugesund.kommune.no/cgi-bin/haugesund/imaker?id=46943&visdybde=2&aktiv=46943|title=Haugesund Rådhus|accessdate=2007-10-24|publisher=Haugesund kommune|year=2006|author=Idar H. Pedersen|language=Norwegian] The pink city hall, designed by Gudolf Blakstad and Herman Munthe-Kaas,Cite web|url=http://www.haugesund.kommune.no/cgi-bin/haugesund/imaker?id=52062|title=Den italienske drømmen|accessdate=2007-10-24|year=2007|author=Idar H. Pedersen|language=Norwegian] is one of the finest neo-classical buildings in Norway, and has been elected the most beautiful building in Haugesund.Cite web|url=http://www.haugesund.no/data/f/0/48/38/8_2401_0/Brosjyre_hgsd.pdf|title=The City Hall in Haugesund|accessdate=2007-10-24|publisher=Haugesund kommune|language=Norwegian] It is also included in the new Norwegian edition of monopoly after it was successful in a national vote. The building may not be altered in any way without permission from the national preservation agency. It overlooks the town square and a park which was inaugurated on 28 August 1949.

The city has during the last 20 years established its position as the main trading centre for Haugaland and southern parts of Hordaland. It has several relatively large shopping centres, considering the size of the city. However, this has led to a decline of the trade and shopping activity in the city centre. Fact|date=September 2008

Transport

Haugesund Airport, located on the island of Karmøy to the southwest of Haugesund, is connected to Oslo (operated by Scandinavian Airlines System, 7 flights a day), Bergen, Fagernes, Sandefjord, and London (operated by Ryanair, three flights a week), as well as some destinations in Southern Europe in the winter. The Norwegian airline Coast Air was based at Haugesund airport, but filed for bankruptcy on 23 January 2008. [http://www.aftenposten.no/english/business/article2213723.ece]

Haugesund is connected to Stavanger and Bergen by catamaran and bus services, and to Oslo by bus. Local bus transport is provided by Kolumbus. The city is connected to Utsira, Røvær, Feøy, Randaberg, Hanstholm in Denmark and Newcastle in the United Kingdom by ferry. The road connection to Stavanger is interrupted by one ferry from Arsvågen to Mortavika, while taking the ferry from Sandvikvåg in Fitjar to Halhjem in Os is needed if going to Bergen by road.

Culture

Traditionally, the people of Haugesund were mostly fishermen. Fact|date=May 2008 In the second weekend of August each year, the herring is celebrated at the jazz-festival "Sildajazz" ("Sild" is Norwegian for herring). Local, as well as national and international jazz musicians, are presented at Sildajazz. "Safe as milk" is a sub culture music festival started in 1999Fact|date=August 2007. The festival is held every year in late July.

Every year in June there is also held a rock festival in Haugesund called "Rockfest", with international as well as national and local bands. The festival was held for the first time in 2004, then as a part of the celebration of the city's 150 year anniversary.

The Norwegian International Film Festival has since 1973 been held in Haugesund each year, showing films for the cinema representing a wide geographical and cultural selection. The Amanda Award, Norway's most honoured film award, has been held in Haugesund since 1985Fact|date=August 2007 in concurrence with the film festival.

Haugesunds Avis is a daily newspaper published in Haugesund, but with branches in Bømlo, Kopervik, Odda, Sauda and Stord. Founded in 1895, it is today owned by the investment group Mecom Group, and is as such part of the media group Edda Media. In 2006, Haugesunds Avis had a circulation of 33 448.Cite web|url=http://mediebedriftene.no/index.asp?id=71672|title=Avisenes leser- og opplagstall for 2006|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=oktober 26|publisher=Mediebedriftenes Landsforening|year=2007|language=Norwegian] As of 2007, the executive editor is Tonny Nundal. The newspaper owns the local radio channel "Radio 102".

Education

The main campus of Stord/Haugesund University College is located in Haugesund. Established as recently as 1994, it is the result of the merger between "Haugesund Nursing College", "Stord Teachers College" and "Stord Nursing College".Cite web|url=http://www.hsh.no/om_hsh.htm|title=HSH | Om HSH|accessdate=2007-10-24|publisher=Høgskolen Stord/Haugesund|year=2007|language=Norwegian] The university college has approximately 2500 students and 250 employees, thus making it one of the smallest university colleges in Norway.

ister cities

*flagicon|Denmark Søllerød, DenmarkCite web|url=http://www.haugesund.kommune.no/cgi-bin/haugesund/imaker?id=12128&visdybde=2&aktiv=12128|title=Vennskapsbyer|accessdate=2007-10-25|publisher=Haugesund kommune|year=2004|author=Idar H. Pedersen|language=Norwegian]
*flagicon|Sweden Ystad, Sweden
*flagicon|Finland Ekenäs, FinlandEach of the sister cities have given name to a street in Haugesund.Fact|date=October 2007 The streets are located in the same area in the city centre.

Famous people from Haugesund

* Jon Fosse, playwright
* Einherjer, Viking metal band
* Vamp, Folk rock band
* Kolbein Falkeid, poet
* Christian Grindheim, footballer
* Moritz Rabinowitz, memorialized in plays and documentaries
* Susanne Sundfør, singer
* Susanne Wigene, long distance runner

References

External links

* [http://www.visithaugalandet.no/ Tourist information (English, German and Norwegian language)]
* [http://www.haugesund.kommune.no/ Municipality website (Norwegian language)]
* [http://www.haugalandet.net/ Haugalandet.net]