Holmestrand
Holmestrand | |
---|---|
![]() View of the town harbour | |
Coordinates:59°29′15″N10°19′03″E/ 59.48761°N 10.31758°E | |
Country | Norway |
Region | Eastern Norway |
County | Vestfold |
District | Jarlsberg |
Municipality | Holmestrand Municipality |
Established as | |
Ladested | 1744 |
Kjøpstad | 1752 |
Area | |
• Total | 4.52 km2(1.75 sq mi) |
Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
Population (2024)[2] | |
• Total | 8,258 |
• Density | 1,826/km2(4,730/sq mi) |
Demonym | Holmestranding |
Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
Post Code | 3080 Holmestrand |
town[1]inHolmestrand MunicipalityinVestfoldcounty,Norway.The town is theadministrative centreof the municipality. It is located along the shore of theYtre Oslofjord,about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northwest of thetown of Hortenand about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the village ofSande i Vestfold.The largetown of Drammenlies about 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the north.[4]
is aThe 4.52-square-kilometre (1,120-acre) town has a population (2024) of 8,258 and apopulation densityof 1,826 inhabitants per square kilometre (4,730/sq mi).[2][4]
History
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Jarlsberg_og_Larviks_amt_nr_50-_Kart_over_Holmestrand%2C_1903.jpg/220px-Jarlsberg_og_Larviks_amt_nr_50-_Kart_over_Holmestrand%2C_1903.jpg)
Located around theOslofjord,Holmestrand developed as a timber/lumberport starting around 1550, when theDutchcame here for timber. In 1663, the place became a customs office under the nearby city ofTønsberg.In 1716, the northern part of Holmestrand was reduced to ashes after a large fire spread through the area. In 1744, KingChristian VIdesignated it aladested.In 1752, the new KingFrederik Vgranted itkjøpstad(town) status. In the era ofsailing ships,the town had a period of prosperity, but when the transition to steamships it was left in a backwater as a shipping town. In the 19th century, the town was known for its medicalspas.In 1838, the newformannskapsdistriktlaw gave the small town self-governing municipality status. TheVestfoldbanenRailway, which was opened in 1881, led to a lot of new business. In 1884, the entire southern part of the town burned down after another fire. In 1902, after the opening of theHolmestrand–Vittingfossrailway, Holmestrand became the shipping port forwood pulpfromHvittingfossin what is nowKongsberg Municipality.The track was closed in 1938.[5]
A factory foraluminum processingwas built just south of the city in 1917. In 1967, the company became part ofÅrdal og Sunndal Verk(ÅSV), which was later acquired byNorsk Hydroin 1986. The factory made aluminum products, including under the well-knownHøyangbrand, usingaluminumfromHøyanger.TheHolmestrand Aluminium Museumis now located in the city, celebrating the history of this industry in Holmestrand.
Name
[edit]The municipality (originally the town) is namedHolmestrand(Old Norse:Holmastrand). The first element is thegenitive caseof the wordholmiwhich means "rocky islet". The last element isstrandwhich means "shore"or"beach".This is likely referring to three small islets that were located just offshore where the town is now located. The islets are no longer visible due to infilledland reclamationefforts.[5]
Transportation
[edit]TheEuropean route E18highway is the main north-south road throughVestfoldcounty. It runs just to the west of the town of Holmestrand and secondary roads connect the city centre to this highway. TheVestfoldbanenrailwayline runs through the centre of Holmestrand, and the city is served by theHolmestrand Station.[5]
Notable people
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abIn the Norwegian language, the wordbycan be translated as "town" or "city".
- ^abcStatistisk sentralbyrå(1 January 2023)."Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
- ^"Holmestrand by".yr.no.Retrieved24 March2024.
- ^abMæhlum, Lars, ed. (20 December 2023)."Holmestrand (tettsted)".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.Retrieved24 March2024.
- ^abcThorsnæs, Geir; Lundbo, Sten, eds. (21 February 2024)."Holmestrand".Store norske leksikon(in Norwegian).Kunnskapsforlaget.Retrieved24 March2024.