Lier, Norway
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| Lier kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Buskerud | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-0626 | ||
| Administrative centre | Lier | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2003) | Ulla Nævestad (H) | ||
| Area (Nr. 277 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 301 km² (116.2 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 281 km² (108.5 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 21,594 | ||
| - Density | 77/km² (199.4/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | 9.8 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 40 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Bokmål | ||
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| Website: www.lier.kommune.no | |||
Lier is a municipality in the county of Buskerud, Norway.
Lier was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The area Åssiden was transferred from Lier to Drammen July 1, 1951.
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[edit] Geography
It borders to the municipalitys of Asker (Akershus), Bærum (Akershus), Drammen (Buskerud), Modum (Buskerud), Nedre Eiker (Buskerud), Røyken (Buskerud). It includes the villages Lier (Lierbyen), Sylling, Sjåstad, Nøste, Gullaug, Lierskogen (Where Norway's longest indoor shopping lane, Liertoppen, is situated) and Tranby.
Lier is appreciated as a green lung for Norway's capital Oslo with its vast number of fields and apple trees. It is also famous for its agricultural products as strawberries and vegetables.
The Gilhusodden Nature Preserve is home of many different bird species. The area is also used for recreation, espescially swimming and sunbathing, with its long, shallow beach.
[edit] The name
The Norse form of the name was Líðir. The name is the plural form of líð f 'hillside'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1970). It shows five flowers of apple (to represent fertility).
[edit] History
Oslo's Patron Saint, St. Hallvard, was born in Lier.
[edit] Sights in Lier include:
- "Bygdeborgen", a village stronghold from the middle ages on Fosskollen
- St. Hallvard's minne, a memorial of St. Hallvard
- Gjellebekk skanse, a defence stand which prevented a Swedish invasion of Norway
- Gilhusodden, a Nature Preserve
- Ten British RAF Airmen from World War II buried in Sjåstad cemetery.
[edit] Famous people from Lier
- Hans Christian Heg, American Civil war officer
- Sten Stensen, speedskater
- Thorleif Haug (1894–1934), skier/skijumper
- Thorbjørn Jagland, politician, former prime minister, currently president of parliament
- Bjørn Eidsvåg, artist and preacher, living in Lier, born in Sauda
- Gert Nygaardshaug, author
- Karin Fossum, author, living in Sylling/Lier
- Martin Kolberg, secretary of The Norwegian Labour Party.
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