Fredrikstad

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Fredrikstad kommune

County	Østfold
District
Municipality	NO-0106
Administrative centre	Fredrikstad
Mayor (2006)	Ole Haabeth (Ap)
Official language form	Bokmål
Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage	Ranked 283 288 km² 283 km² 0.09 %
Population  - Total (2005)  - Percentage  - Change (10 years)  - Density	Ranked 7 71,019 1.53 % 7.7 % 249/km²
Coordinates	59°12′N 10°57′E
www.fredrikstad.kommune.no Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 59°12′N 10°57′E

Fredrikstad (previously Frederiksstad) (literally Fredrik's Town) is a city and municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway. The city straddles the river Glomma where it meets the sea.

With Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad forms the fifth largest urban area in Norway. As of April 1st 2006, according to Statistics Norway these two municipalitites have a total population of 121,097 - 70,962 in Fredrikstad and 50,135 in Sarpsborg.

Fredrikstad was built at the mouth of Glomma as a replacement, after Sarpsborg (15 km upstream) was burned down by the Swedes. It was founded in 1567 by king Frederik II. Almost half the population of Sarpsborg stayed behind, and rebuilt their old town at its original site.

The city centre is situated on the west bank of river Glomma, while the old town on the east bank is Northern Europe's best preserved fortified town.

Fredrikstad used to have a large sawmill industry and was an important harbour for timber export, then later on shipbuilding, until the main yard was closed in the 1980s. The main industries are currently various chemical plants and other light industry.

In 2005, Fredrikstad was a host port for the Tall Ships' Race.

Contents 1 History 2 Coat-of-arms 3 Well known residents from Fredrikstad 4 References

[edit] History

After Sarpsborg was burned to the ground during the Northern Seven Years' War, the ruling king, Frederick II of Denmark, decided by a royal decret to rebuild the city 15 km south of the original location. This new location's vicinity to the sea and with large accessible surrounding areas, made it more ideal than the old location. The name Fredrikstad was first used in a letter from the King dated february 6th 1569. The temporary fortification built during the Hannibal War (1644-1645) between Sweden and Denmark/Norway, became permanent in the 1660s. The work on the fortifications was first led by William de Coucheron and later Johan Caspar von Cicignon. During the next 60 years several fortifications around Fredrikstad were built, including Isegran, Kongsten and Cicignon. In 1735 a suburb on the western side of Glomma, Vestsiden, was founded. This part later grew faster than the old city, and became the dominant city centre. Most of the buildings in the old city burnt down during a fire in 1764.

In the 1840s timber exporting from Fredrikstad started to gain momentum. In the 1860s several steam powered saws were built along the river, and in 1879 the railway reached Fredrikstad, leading to further growth. With the decline of the timber exports as a result of the modernisation of wood-processing industries in the early 1900s, Fredrikstad's production changed to other types of products. It later became one of Norway's most important industrial centres, famous for its large shipyard, Fredrikstad Mekaniske Verksted.

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1967), but it is based upon a seal from 1610. It shows a bear guarding a castle.

[edit] Well known residents from Fredrikstad

• Roald Amundsen, explorer of polar regions. Born nordre Borge.
• Petronella Barker, Norwegian actress
• Jørn Christensen, Norwegian artist and producer.
• Johan Caspar von Cicignon, General, engineer and city planner
• Hans Nielsen Hauge, revivalist Norwegian preacher
• Katti Anker Møller, feminist and advocate for reproductive rights
• Egil «Drillo» Olsen, successful manager of Norwegian national football team.
• Ole Peter Petersen, founder of Methodism in Norway
• Dennis Storhøi, Norwegian actor
• Harald Zwart, Norwegian film director
• Andy LaPlegua, Industrial Artist, Combichrist, Icon Of Coil, Panzer AG, DJ Scandy

[edit] References

• Aschehougs Konversasjonsleksikon, Bind 7. H. Aschehoug & Co, Oslo, 1969.

Municipalities of Østfold
Aremark | Askim | Eidsberg | Fredrikstad | Halden | Hobøl | Hvaler | Marker | Moss | Rakkestad | Rygge | Rømskog | Råde | Sarpsborg | Skiptvet | Spydeberg | Trøgstad | Våler