Kragerø

Kragerø is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is located in the traditional districts of Grenland and the smaller Vestmar. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kragerø. Villages in Kragerø include Helle, Vadfoss, Kil, and Portør.

The 305 km2 municipality is the 262nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Kragerø is the 111th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 10,413. The municipality's population density is 36.1 PD/km2 and its population has decreased by 2.7% over the previous 10-year period.

In the days of the sailing ships, Kragerø was one of Norway's largest port cities. The London-based newspaper The Independent, published an article on Kragerø stating that "When Norwegians want to get away from it all they head for Kragero. Forests, fjords and islands await them at the place where Edvard Munch found peace and relaxation." The population of Kragerø quadruples during its summer months due to high tourism. Edvard Munch fell in love with Kragerø in his time, and called it "The Pearl of the Coastal Towns" (Perlen blandt kystbyene.) In 2002, The Independent published an article on the region's coastline saying that "It may not have many sandy beaches, but the coast of Norway offers sophistication and stunning scenery."

General information
The town of Kragerø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). Since it had been a town since 1666, the small town was granted self-governing rights under this new law. It was fully surrounded by the Sannikedal Municipality. On 1 January 1861, an area of Sannikedal (population: 857) that was adjacent to the growing town of Kragerø was annexed and transferred from Sannikedal to Kragerø. On 1 January 1891, an area of Skåtøy (population: 809) that was adjacent to the growing town of Kragerø was annexed and transferred from Skåtøy to Kragerø. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1960, the town of Kragerø (population: 4,638) was merged with the neighboring Skåtøy Municipality (population: 3,208) and Sannidal Municipality (population: 2,604).

Name
The municipality (originally the town of Kragerø) is named after the island of Kragerø (Krákarey) since the town was built on the island and mainland near it. The first element is which means "crow". The last element is which means "island". The Norwegian spelling would have a k instead of the g, but Kragerø uses the Danish form of the name, established in the 17th century.

Coat of arms
Kragerø received town privileges as a kjøpstad in 1666. Upon being granted this status, the town was given an obligation to provide a galley with five canons to the King for use in the Navy. From 1666 until 1842, Kragerø was dependent on the nearby town of Skien and had to pay taxes to Skien. Because of this, Kragerø used a seal which was identical to that of Skien depicting two skis, a cross, and flower decorations. After 1842, Kragerø began using a galley as its seal.

The coat of arms was granted on 28 January 1938 for the town of Kragerø and they were re-granted on 13 May 1960 after a municipal merger creating the present Kragerø Municipality. The official blazon is "Sable, a galley argent" (På svart bunn en sølv galei). This means the arms have a black field (background) and the charge is a galley. The galley has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms were designed by Einar Foss after a sketch made by Olaf Lia. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.

Churches
The Church of Norway has five parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Kragerø. It is part of the Bamble prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Agder og Telemark.

Geography
Kragerø is the southernmost municipality in Telemark. To the southwest, it borders the municipality of Risør (in Agder county); to the west is Gjerstad (also in Agder county); to the northwest is Drangedal; and to the northeast is Bamble. Kragerø is popular among Norwegians (as well as foreigners) as a vacation destination during the summer, when the population swells considerably.

The municipality includes 495 islands, islets, and skerries along with 4,000 leisure houses. There are also 190 freshwater lakes in the municipality. The main offshore islands include Tåtøy, Kragerø, Skåtøy, Langøy, Bærøy, Gumøy, Stråholmen, and Jomfruland. The Fossingfjord and Kilsfjord both are found in Kragerø. The large lake Toke is partially located in the northern part of Kragerø.

Government
Kragerø Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Telemark District Court and the Agder Court of Appeal.

Municipal council
The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Kragerø is made up of 35 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors
The mayors (ordfører) of Kragerø:


 * 1838–1842: Daniel Bremer Juell
 * 1843–1843: Hans Kamstrup
 * 1844–1844: Albert Biørn
 * 1845–1846: Tellef Dahll Schweigaard
 * 1847–1847: Folkman Freck
 * 1848–1848: Hans Biørn Wenneberg
 * 1849–1849: Hans Schaanning
 * 1850–1850: L. Larsen
 * 1851–1851: Hans Schaanning
 * 1852–1852: L. Larsen
 * 1853–1853: Thomas Doran
 * 1854–1854: Lars Bastian Ridder Stabell
 * 1855–1855: Thomes Thomesen
 * 1856–1856: Hans Biørn Wenneberg
 * 1857–1858: Christian Rømer
 * 1859–1859: Peter Bredsdorff
 * 1860–1860: Hans Doran
 * 1861–1862: Halvor Andreas Bentsen
 * 1863–1863: Christian Homann
 * 1864–1864: Thomes Thomesen
 * 1865–1866: Lauritz Bentzon Thrap
 * 1867–1867: Halvor Andreas Bentsen
 * 1868–1868: Thomas Møller Wiborg
 * 1869–1869: Christian Homann
 * 1870–1870: Halvor Andreas Bentsen
 * 1871–1871: Christian Homann
 * 1872–1872: Peter Bredsdorff
 * 1873–1874: Johan Dahll
 * 1875–1875: Christian Rømer
 * 1876–1876: Halvor Andreas Bentsen
 * 1877–1878: Anton Larsen-Naur (H)
 * 1879–1880: Fredrik J. Mürer
 * 1881–1884: Anders Daae
 * 1885–1885: Anton Larsen-Naur (H)
 * 1886–1886: Nils August Synnestvedt
 * 1887–1887: Christian Gierløff (H)
 * 1888–1888: Jacob Aalborg
 * 1889–1890: Anton Larsen-Naur (H)
 * 1891–1891: Nils Christian Stockfleth Aall
 * 1892–1894: Søren Anton Wenneberg
 * 1895–1900: Carl Bundi (V)
 * 1901–1905: Ambortius Lindvig (V)
 * 1906–1907: Nicolay Wiborg (SmP)
 * 1908–1910: Godske Nielsen (H)
 * 1911–1913: Hartvig Johnsen (AvH)
 * 1914–1915: Knud Emanuel Olsen
 * 1916–1916: Nicolay Wiborg (FV)
 * 1917–1919: Rolf Svendsen (AvH)
 * 1920–1920: Hartvig Johnsen (AvH)
 * 1921–1921: Christen Eriksen Berg (V)
 * 1922–1922: Einar Juell (H)
 * 1923–1925: Anders Jørgensen (AvH)
 * 1926–1932: Anders Eide (H)
 * 1933–1934: Thorvald Naper (H)
 * 1935–1937: Tor Kivle (Ap)
 * 1938–1940: Daniel Bull (H)
 * 1941–1941: Henry Karlsen (NS)
 * 1941–1943: A.E. Abrahamsen (NS)
 * 1943–1944: L.P. Thoresen (NS)
 * 1944–1945: Olav Kvaalen (NS)
 * 1945–1945: Daniel Bull (H)
 * 1946–1946: Petter Bentsen (Ap)
 * 1946–1957: Thorbjørn Nilsen (Ap)
 * 1957–1959: Reidar Soløy (Ap)
 * 1960–1963: Arne Midgaard (Ap)
 * 1964–1975: Thorleif Knutsen (Ap)
 * 1976–1981: Einar Barland (KrF)
 * 1982–1983: Per Espeli (H)
 * 1984–1999: Magnar Kalseth (Ap)
 * 1999–2003: Kari Fosso (H)
 * 2003–2007: Erling Laland (Ap)
 * 2007–2015: Kåre Preben Hegland (H)
 * 2015–2019: Jone Blikra (Ap)
 * 2019–2023: Grunde Wegar Knudsen (Sp)
 * 2023-present: Charlotte Therkelsen (R)

Notable people



 * Anton Martin Schweigaard (1808–1870), a jurist and economic reformer
 * Nels Anderson (born 1828), a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
 * Johan Christian Heuch (1838–1904), a Bishop of the Diocese of Agder
 * Theodor Kittelsen (1857–1914), a painter who also illustrated fairy tales, legends, and trolls
 * Hans Daae (1865–1926), a physician, military officer and sports official
 * Johan Søhr (1867–1949), a jurist and police officer
 * Thomas Krag (1868–1913), a novelist, playwright and writer of short stories
 * Samson Eitrem (1872–1966), a philologist, expert in ancient literature, religion and magic
 * Edvard Amundsen (1873–1928), a Lutheran missionary in China and Tibet and an explorer
 * Inge Debes (1882–1945), a jurist, editor, and politician
 * Ronald Fangen (1895–1946), a novelist, playwright, psalmist, journalist, and literary critic
 * Eugen Skjønberg (1889–1971), an actor
 * Kirsten Heiberg (1907–1976), a Norwegian/German actress and singer
 * Else Heiberg (1910–1972), an actress
 * Ole Myrvoll (1911–1988), a professor of economics, liberal politician, and Minister of Finance
 * Carsten Hopstock (1924–2014), an art historian who was the curator of Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
 * Alf Cranner (1936–2020), a folk singer, lyricist and painter who lived in Kragerø from the 1960s
 * Robert Mood (born 1958), a Major General and Head of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS)

Sport

 * Olaf Ørvig (1889–1939), a sailor and team gold medalist at the 1920 Summer Olympics
 * Knut Lundstrøm (born 1951), an athlete and winter paralympian
 * Geir Borgan Paulsen (born 1957), an IFBB Pro bodybuilder
 * Preben Fjære Brynemo (born 1977), a Nordic combined skier who competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Twin towns — Sister cities
The following cities are twinned with Kragerø:
 * 🇦🇽 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland
 * Slagelse, Region Sjælland, Denmark
 * 🇫🇮 Valkeakoski, Western Finland, Finland
 * 🇸🇪 Visby, Gotland County, Sweden