Sarpsborg

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Sarpsborg kommune

County	Østfold
District
Municipality	NO-0105
Administrative centre	Sarpsborg
Mayor (2003)	Jan O. Engsmyr (Ap)
Official language form	Bokmål
Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage	Ranked 238 406 km² 370 km² 0.13 %
Population  - Total (2006)  - Percentage  - Change (10 years)  - Density	Ranked 13 50,115 1.08 % 6.6 % 134/km²
Coordinates	59°17′N, 11°12′E
www.sarpsborg.com Data from Statistics Norway

Coordinates: 59°17′N, 11°12′E

Sarpsborg is a city and municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway. It was founded by the Viking King Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olav) in 1016. Unfortunately most of the old city landed in the river Glomma, after a mudslide between 1200-1400. The city was rebuilt at a safer location but was burnt down to the ground by the Swedish invaders in 1567. The whole city evacuated downstream to what we today call Fredrikstad, about 15 km downstream. But Sarpsborg was rebuilt, and the population is steadily growing. During the summer of 2005 it reached 50,000.

Together with Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg 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 - 50,135 in Sarpsborg and 70,962 in Fredrikstad.

Borregaard Industries has been the most important industry of the city. The city is also the location for the Borg Bryggerier, part of the Hansa Borg Bryggerier, Norway's second largest brewery-group.

In the 1960s, Sarpsborg was famous for its football team, Sarpsborg FK, but is now more famous for its hockey team, Sparta Warriors. In football, Sparta Sarpsborg has taken over the local throne, currently playing on the 2nd highest national level.

Contents 1 The name 2 Coat-of-arms 3 Well known residents from Sarpsborg 4 Districts of Sarpsborg 5 Sister cities

[edit] The name

In Norse times the city was just called Borg (after borg f 'castle'). The background for this was the the fortification built by Olav Haraldsson (see above). Later the genitive case of the name of the waterfall Sarpr (now Sarpsfossen) was added.

In Norse times the county Østfold was called Borgarsýsla ('the county/sýsla of Borg'). And the law district of Southeast Norway was called Borgarþing ('the thing/court of Borg'). (The name Borgarting was revived in xx.)

[edit] Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1966), but it is based upon a seal from 1556. It shows a bear over a castle.

[edit] Well known residents from Sarpsborg

• Oscar Torp (1893–1958), former Prime Minister of Norway
• Raymond Kvisvik (1974–), football player
• Walther Aas (1928–1990), artist
• Robert Normann (1916–1998), legendary guitar player
• Nils Ole Oftebro, actor
• Jens Arne Svartedal, international skiing champion
• Arnold Haukeland, artist (sculptor)
• British author Roald Dahl's father, Harald Dahl
• Thomas Myhre, goalkeeper (soccer)

[edit] Districts of Sarpsborg

• Hasle
• Sarpsborg
• Ise
• Skjeberg
• Alvim
• Greåker
• Grålum
• Borgenhaugen
• Yven
• Høysand
• Varteig
• Hafslund
• Gleng
• Lande
• Valaskjold
• Brevik

[edit] Sister cities

Sarpsborg has several sister cities (twin towns):

• Betlehem, Israel
• Berwick-Upon-Tweed, United Kingdom
• Södertälje, Sweden
• Grand Forks, USA
• Struer, Denmark
• Forssa, Finland

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