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Porsgrunn (town)
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Porsgrunn has been an important harbor town in the <a href="/facts/Grenland/IMn6xR0K">Grenland</a> area since the late 16th century. In <a href="/facts/1653_in_Norway/JNaYpq6q">1653</a>, the <a href="/facts/Customs_House,_Porsgrunn/jRxuv7z2">Customs House</a> was moved further down the <i><a href="/facts/Skiensvassdraget/rS2a3rmK">Skien river</a></i> from <a href="/facts/Skien_(town)/zvRa9QHe">Skien</a> to Porsgrunn mainly because industrial waste such as sawdust and mud made the river too shallow to allow boats to go any further up the river.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> Moving the Custom House to Porsgrunn added to the flourishing harbor activity and Porsgrunn became a thriving <a href="/facts/Market_town/gLsYmDe6">market town</a> with a <a href="/facts/Ladested/urgDq9Qh">ladested</a> status.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>In the 18th century, Porsgrunn was the home of some of Norway's most influential families at the time, such as the <a href="/facts/Aall_(Norwegian_family)/P6rID6R7">Aalls</a>, <a href="/facts/Cappelen_(family)/F1e8GLvr">Cappelens</a>, <a href="/facts/L%C3%B8venskiold/DmFxHhB9">Løvenskiolds</a>, and Deichmans. Also in this period, Porsgrunn was considered the cultural centre of Norway. On the ecclesiastical side, Porsgrunn was separated from the ancient rural parishes of <a href="/facts/Eidanger/eDRDuIYE">Eidanger</a>, <a href="/facts/Solum,_Norway/z51ygjTj">Solum</a>, and <a href="/facts/Gjerpen/1T0974xb">Gjerpen</a> in <a href="/facts/1764_in_Norway/bWuG5DA2">1764</a> to become a <a href="/facts/Prestegjeld/MWpX3XUr">prestegjeld</a> with its own minister. Churches within the Porsgrunn prestegjeld include <a href="/facts/%C3%98stre_Porsgrunn_Church/bvL2N8NP">Østre Porsgrunn Church</a> and <a href="/facts/Vestre_Porsgrunn_Church/Tv11kW8b">Vestre Porsgrunn Church</a>. The city was granted limited city status as a <a href="/facts/Kj%C3%B8pstad/urgDq9Qh">kjøpstad</a> in <a href="/facts/1807_in_Norway/oAISTWu4">1807</a>, but this was expanded to full city status in 1842.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>On 1 January 1838, the seaport of Porsgrunn was established as a municipality (see <a href="/facts/Formannskapsdistrikt/XN6Mu6cG">formannskapsdistrikt</a> law). During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the <a href="/facts/Schei_Committee/Vn58pym9">Schei Committee</a>. On 1 January 1964, there was a major municipal merger where the following areas were merged to form a new <a href="/facts/Porsgrunn_Municipality/CjgKMUuM">Porsgrunn Municipality</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>the town of Porsgrunn (population: 10,863)</li> <li>the town of <a href="/facts/Brevik,_Norway/h12pE1TV">Brevik</a> (population: 2,498)</li> <li>all of <a href="/facts/Eidanger/eDRDuIYE">Eidanger Municipality</a> (population: 13,018)</li> <li>the Bakke area (population: 75) of <a href="/facts/Hedrum/g2kcPqIx">Hedrum Municipality</a> in <a href="/facts/Vestfold/sbgHIwsB">Vestfold</a> county</li> <li>the Enigheten, Høyberg, and Skavåsen areas (population: 12) of <a href="/facts/Brunlanes/xS98tupR">Brunlanes Municipality</a> in <a href="/facts/Vestfold/sbgHIwsB">Vestfold</a> county</li></ul> <p>Porsgrunn was once home to <i><a href="/facts/Skomv%C3%A6r_(barque)/ef1Uyb33">Skomvær</a></i>, the country's largest <a href="/facts/Sailing_ship/uJ61Kmxs">sailing ship</a>. In 1985, the sculpture <i><a href="/facts/Amphitrite,_the_wave_and_the_sea_birds/7nCglSuE">Amphitrite, the wave and the sea birds</a></i> was unveiled in Porsgrunn. The sculpture, which is one of <a href="/facts/J%C3%B8rleif_Uthaug/9xM6pwQW">Jørleif Uthaug</a>'s best known works, has a nautical theme in honor of Porsgrunn's maritime history. </p> <h2 id="government">Government</h2> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Porsgrunn/CjgKMUuM">Porsgrunn § Government</a></p> <p>From its establishment, the town had some self-governing ability. Under the <a href="/facts/Formannskapsdistrikt/XN6Mu6cG">formannskapsdistrikt</a> law of 1838 it received full local self-government control similar to all other municipalities of Norway. It maintained this authority until 1 January 1964 when the town became part of the larger <a href="/facts/Porsgrunn_Municipality/CjgKMUuM">Porsgrunn Municipality</a>. Prior to 1964, the town was governed by a <a href="/facts/Municipal_council_(Norway)/nrnR6T5p">municipal council</a> of <a href="/facts/Direct_election/mEu2tH8w">directly elected</a> representatives <a href="/facts/Norwegian_language/TGEyeerM">Norwegian</a>: <i>Bystyre</i>. The town <a href="/facts/Mayor/KN24kwhp">mayor</a> was <a href="/facts/Indirect_election/MQjdSerX">indirectly elected</a> by a vote of the municipal council.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p><p> During its time as a self-governing town, Porsgrunn used a <a href="/facts/Coat_of_arms/PcwQ5lH8">coat of arms</a> that was approved for use on 16 January 1905 until the municipal merger on 1 January 1964. The new <a href="/facts/Porsgrunn_Municipality/CjgKMUuM">Porsgrunn Municipality</a> adopted the same arms that the town had previously used.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Porsgrunn/CjgKMUuM">Porsgrunn § Coat of arms</a></p> <h2 id="industry">Industry</h2> <p>Porsgrunn is an important center of industry and has a long history of <a href="/facts/Heavy_industry/yFY3ovdz">heavy industry</a>. Important industries in Porsgrunn include: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Norsk_Hydro/ApJX3Puo">Norsk Hydro</a> (<a href="/facts/Magnesium/XyIhd2FG">magnesium</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Elkem/YAS6q71j">Elkem</a> (<a href="/facts/Silicon/cgWx0hdr">silicon</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Yara_International/Pf95xJjT">Yara International</a> (<a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a> <a href="/facts/Fertilizer/ysh3r6NJ">fertilizers</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Porsgrund_Porcel%C3%A6nsfabrik/HJxtwtpm">Porsgrund Porcelænsfabrik</a> (<a href="/facts/Porcelain/deuLm3sb">porcelain</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Renewable_Energy_Corporation/7zbHBbzg">Renewable Energy Corporation</a> (solar power products)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Isola_(Company)/HRUj2pRR">Isola</a> (<a href="/facts/Building_material/Kk7GB0KY">building materials</a>, roofing)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Norcem/JEqoACee">Norcem</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Eramet/CtN82olM">Eramet</a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_Norway/ybS1Q6YA">List of towns and cities in Norway</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://runeberg.org/norgeslof/8-2/0720.html">Map of the town of Porsgrunn in 1900</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Statistisk sentralbyrå (1 January 2022). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality". <a href="/wiki/Statistics_Norway" target="_blank">/wiki/Statistics_Norway</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>""Historien vår"-byhistorisk utstilling" (in Norwegian). Porsgrunn Kommune. Retrieved 16 June 2007. <a href="http://www.porsgrunn.kommune.no/" target="_blank">http://www.porsgrunn.kommune.no/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Tønnessen, Johan N. (1956–1957). Porsgrunns historie (in Norwegian). <a href="https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012010208006" target="_blank">https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012010208006</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Moseng, Ole Georg (2006). Porsgrunns historie . Bind I . Byen i emning (in Norwegian). ISBN 9788299738811. <a href="9788299738811" target="_blank">9788299738811</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Schrumpf, Ellen (2006). Porsgrunns historie . Bind II . Byen ved elva (in Norwegian). ISBN 9788299738804. <a href="9788299738804" target="_blank">9788299738804</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Tønnessen, Johan N. (1956–1957). Porsgrunns historie (in Norwegian). <a href="https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012010208006" target="_blank">https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012010208006</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Moseng, Ole Georg (2006). Porsgrunns historie . Bind I . Byen i emning (in Norwegian). ISBN 9788299738811. <a href="9788299738811" target="_blank">9788299738811</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Schrumpf, Ellen (2006). Porsgrunns historie . Bind II . Byen ved elva (in Norwegian). ISBN 9788299738804. <a href="9788299738804" target="_blank">9788299738804</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Jukvam, Dag (1999). Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statistisk sentralbyrå. ISBN 9788253746845. <a href="9788253746845" target="_blank">9788253746845</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Hansen, Tore; Vabo, Signy Irene, eds. (20 September 2022). "kommunestyre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 3 August 2023. <a href="https://snl.no/kommunestyre" target="_blank">https://snl.no/kommunestyre</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen". Heraldry of the World. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023. <a href="https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Porsgrunn" target="_blank">https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Porsgrunn</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>