From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vestfold fylke

Coat of arms of Vestfold
County	NO-07
Region	Østlandet
Administrative centre	Tønsberg
County mayor
Area  - Total  - Percentage	Ranked 18 2,224 km² 0.71 %
Population  - Total (2007)  - Percentage  - Change (10 years)  - Density	Ranked 10 223,804 4.78 % 8.7 % 102/km²
Gross Regional Product  - Total (2001)  - Percentage  - GRP/capita	Ranked 10 47,457 million NOK 3.11 % 219,970 NOK

Vestfold (help·info) is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg. Vestfold is located west of the Oslo Fjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs through the district. Many islands are located at the coast. Vestfold is mostly dominated by lowland and is among the best agricultural areas of Norway. Winters lasts about three months, while pleasant summer temperatures lasts from May to September, with a July average of 17°C (Tønsberg climate).

Vestfold is known for shipping and sailing. Formerly a headquarters for whaling fleets, the coastal towns of Vestfold now engage in fishing and shipbuilding. Some lumbering is carried on in the interior. The district also includes some of the best farmland in Norway.

Vestfold is the only county in which all municipalities have declared Bokmål to be their official written form of the Norwegian language.

The family of Harald Fairhair, who was most likely the first king of the whole Norway, is said to have come from this area. At that time Vestfold, including Lier and Eiker, was a petty kingdom. Kings of Vestfold include:

• Erik Agnarsson
• Halfdan Hvitbeinn (part of Vestfold)
• Eystein Halfdansson
• Halfdan the Mild
• Gudrød the Hunter
• Halfdan the Black, together with his brother, Olaf Gudrødsson
• Ragnvald the Mountain-High, Cousin of Harold Fairhair
• Harald Fairhair
• Bjørn Farmann
• Olaf Haraldsson Geirstadalf, brother of Bjørn
• Harald Gudrødsson Grenske, 976-987

Kaupang, a town from the Viking Age is believed to be the first town in Norway, although Tønsberg is the oldest town in Norway still existing. By the 10th century the local kings had established themselves as the first dynasty to begin the unification of Norway.

Vestfold is the old name of the region - revived in modern times. Fold was the old name of the Oslofjord, and the meaning of the name Vestfold is 'the region west of the Fold'.

Before 1919 the county was called Jarlsberg og Larvik Amt. The amt was created in 1821, consisting of the two old counties of Jarlsberg and Larvik.

Vestfold County has a total of 14 municipalities:

1. Andebu
2. Hof
3. Holmestrand
4. Horten
5. Lardal
6. Larvik
7. Nøtterøy
8. Re
9. Sande
10. Sandefjord
11. Stokke
12. Svelvik
13. Tjøme
14. Tønsberg

v • d • e Counties of Norway
Akershus · Aust-Agder · Buskerud · Finnmark · Hedmark · Hordaland · Møre og Romsdal · Nordland · Nord-Trøndelag · Oppland · Oslo · Østfold · Rogaland · Sogn og Fjordane · Sør-Trøndelag · Telemark · Troms · Vest-Agder · Vestfold