Vest-Agder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 58°34′59″N 7°34′59″E / 58.583°N 7.583°E
| Vest-Agder fylke | |||
| — County — | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
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| County | Vest-Agder | ||
| Region | Sørlandet | ||
| County ID | NO-10 | ||
| Official language form | Neutral | ||
| Demonym | Vestegde | ||
| Administrative centre | Kristiansand | ||
| Government | |||
| - Governor | Ann-Kristin Olsen (since 1998) |
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| - County Mayor | Thore Westermoen Kristelig Folkeparti (since 2003) |
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| Area (#15 in Norway, 2.19% of Norway's land area) | |||
| - Total | 7,276 km2 (2,809.3 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 6,677 km2 (2,578 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2008) | |||
| - Total | 166,976 | ||
| - Density | 24/km2 (62.2/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | 7.8 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 14 (3.50% of nation) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Income (per capita) | 137,000 NOK | ||
| GDP (per capita) | 219,928 NOK (2001) | ||
| National Rank: | 14 (2.27% of nation) | ||
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| Website | www.vaf.no | ||
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | %± |
| 1951 | 96,942 | — |
| 1960 | 108,172 | 11.6% |
| 1970 | 123,048 | 13.8% |
| 1980 | 135,696 | 10.3% |
| 1990 | 144,026 | 6.1% |
| 2000 | 155,691 | 8.1% |
| 2007 | 163,702 | 5.1% |
| 2008 | 165,944 | 1.4% |
| 2009 | 168,233 | 1.4% |
| Source: Statistics Norway. | ||
Vest-Agder (help·info) (West Agder) is a county in Norway, bordering Rogaland to the west and Aust-Agder to the east. In 2002 there were 157,851 inhabitants, which is 3.4% of the total population in Norway. Its area is 7,281 km². The county administration is in Kristiansand.
It is the southernmost county in Norway, extending inland from the North Sea and its arm, the Skagerrak, to the southern fringes of Setesdalen, surrounded by the mountain range Setesdalsheiene. It includes the southernmost point of the entire country, Pysen island south of Mandal, and the southernmost part of continental Norway, Lindesnes. It has a very broken and hilly surface.
Vest-Agder is noted for the highest level of foreign exports compared to other counties of Norway. Another international dimension linked to the county is the large-scale emigration to North America that took place from the 1850s and onwards, which resulted in many Americans returning to the county after Norway became prosperous. This feature is particularly predominant in Kvinesdal and Farsund, which maintains strong cultural links with the United States.
Most of the habitation lies along the coast, including the towns Kristiansand, Mandal, Flekkefjord, and Farsund. Some 31 fjords are located there. Shipping, commerce and recreation are the main industries. As the Gulf Stream touches the coast of West Agder, it is also called "the Norwegian Riviera".
The northern portion is mountainous and sparsely settled, while the central upland moors are used for pasturing of cattle and sheep.
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[edit] General information
[edit] Name
The meaning of the name is "(the) western (part of) Agder". Before 1919, the name of the county was Lister og Mandal amt. The amt was created in 1662 and it consisted of the two old lens of Lister (now Lista) and Mandal.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1958. They show an oak tree in yellow on a green background, representing the rich nature in the area. [1]
[edit] Municipalities
In 1837, the counties were divided into local administrative units each with their own governments. The number and borders of these municipalities have changed over time, and at present there are 15 municipalities in Vest-Agder.
| Municipalities of Vest-Agder | |
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| Key |  |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Kommunevåpen". Flags of the World. 28 June 2002. http://fotw.us/flags/no-10.html. Retrieved on 28 September 2008.
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