Egersund

Egersund is a coastal town in the municipality of Eigersund in the county of Rogaland, Norway. The municipality has 13,418 (2006) inhabitants, of whom 9,528 (2006) live in the town. The town has an area of 6.0 km².

The city of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). It was merged with 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 C-Map (producer of electronic sea-maps). In addition, the Aker Kværner corporation owns and runs a large installation here which specializes in the building of parts for oil platforms. Most of the industry is related to the sea and to boats.

History

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 saga of Olav the Holy, written by Icelandic author Snorri Sturlasson in the 1200s. 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 Owe Andrè Mikkelsen 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 standing in the same place where the church of Egersund stands today.

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.

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 precious houses made of wood are and constructed extra wide streets to prevent new fires from spreading.
*In 1878 the railway between Egersund and Stavanger was opened.
*In 1905 Egersund is the first town in the county of Rogaland to get electrical lighting.
*April 9 1940, Egersund was amongst the first towns and cities in Norway occupied by the Germans during World War II. Egersund was important to the Germans because of its good harbour and the telegraph line between Norway and England which was situated there. The Germans built up large camps in the area, and several important events happened in the vicinity.

Communication

* There is a ferry connection between Egersund and Hanstholm (Denmark).
* Egersund has good connections by road to Stavanger and Kristiansand, via European route E39. There is also a more scenic coastal highway number 44.
* There are train connections northwards to Stavanger, and southwards to Kristiansand.

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.
*"«Stoplesteinan»". A rather unknown attraction, since it has not been embraced by the local tourist bureau. «Stoplesteinan» is a smaller «Stonehenge», 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

* Anna Bugge (1862–1928), internationally known feminist and diplomat in Geneva (Switzerland) for Sweden
* Bengt Sæternes, known soccer player. And his relative Ørjan Nodland is also a known soccer player.
* Priscilla Presley, was married to Elvis Presley. Her Grandfather was born in Egersund in 1899.
* Jacob Thorkelson, Member of the United States House of Representatives
* Arild Sleveland, local patriot. The director of SeaProd and also committed to Timeout Dataparties.
* Kaare Tronitz Refsland, writer
* Gunnar Kvassheim, Politician
* Jørgen Tengesdal, known soccerplayer. Currently in Viking FK
* Kai Ove Stokkeland, Captain at Bryne Soccerteam.
* Johan Lædre Bjørdal, Soccerplayer in Bodø/Glimt.
* Ingvar Hovland (1954-), writer

External links

* [http://egersund.brr.no Egersund - Unofficial home page]
* [http://eiger.no]
* [http://www.eigersund.kommune.no Egersund - Official home page]