Ringerike

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Ringerike kommune

Ringerike

Administrative centre

Hønefoss

Mayor (2003)

Kolbjørn Kværum (Ap)

Official language form

Bokmål

Area
- Total
- Land
- Percentage

Ranked 47
1,552 km²
1,423 km²
0.48 %

Population
- Total (2004)
- Percentage
- Change (10 years)
- Density

Ranked 26
28,060
0.61 %
2.4 %
20/km²

Coordinates

60°12′N, 10°9′E

www.ringerike.kommune.no

Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 60°12′N, 10°9′E

Ringerike is a municipality in the county of Buskerud, Norway. The town of Hønefoss is the administrative center. Ringerike is bordered on the north by Sør-Aurdal and Søndre Land, on the east by Gran, Jevnaker, Lunner and Oslo, in the south by Bærum, Hole and Modum, and in the west by Krødsherad and Flå.

1 Coat-of-arms
2 The name
3 History
4 Economy
5 Born in Ringerike

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1967). It shows a (royal) ring - and the colours red and gold also represent royalty. (See below under name and history.)

[edit] The name

The Norse form of the name was Hringaríki. The first element is (probably) the plural genitive case of hringir - the name of an old Germanic tribe. The last element is ríki n 'realm, kingdom'.

The historic Ringerike included not just the modern municipality of Ringerike but also Hole - and (sometimes) the eastern parts of Modum and Krødsherad.

[edit] History

There are many archaeological remains in the area, dating from the earliest times as well as from the medieval period. Ringerike has been mentioned in Norwegian history since the earliest times.

In the early Viking Age, before Harald Fairhair, the landscape was a petty kingdom. Sigurd Hjort Helgasson, a king of Ringerike, was the father of Ragnhild, the mother of Harald Harfargr, unifier of Norway. Following Harald's consolodation of Norway in the late 800s, the kingdom appears to have been ruled by a series of local jarls and client kings. One, Harald's son Halfdan Haleg, met his end in Orkney at the hands of Jarl Turf-Einar, who reputedly performed the blood-eagle on him. A later subking of Ringerike, Sigurd Syr, was the father of Harald Hardråde.

[edit] Economy

Ringerike is famous for two agriculture products; Ringerike potato (Ringerikspotet) and Ringerike pea (Ringeriksert). Ringerike pea has obtained PDO (protected designation of origin). The Ringerike potato has applied for the same protection, and is waiting for the result from the Agriculture department.

[edit] Born in Ringerike

Jens Aabel, started production of Ringerike potato ca. 1867.
Lars Berger, Norwegian biathlete
Frode Andresen, Norwegian biathlete
Erik Hagen, Norwegian soccer player

Municipalities of Buskerud
Drammen \| Flesberg \| Flå \| Gol \| Hemsedal \| Hol \| Hole \| Hurum \| Kongsberg \| Krødsherad \| Lier \| Modum \| Nedre Eiker \| Nes \| Nore og Uvdal \| Ringerike \| Rollag \| Røyken \| Sigdal \| Øvre Eiker \| Ål