Gjøvik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gjøvik kommune | |||
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Norway | ||
| County | Oppland | ||
| District | Gjøvik | ||
| Municipality ID | NO-0502 | ||
| Administrative centre | Gjøvik | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor (2005) | Bjørn Iddberg (Arbeiderpartiet) | ||
| Area (Nr. 165 in Norway) | |||
| - Total | 672 km² (259.5 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 630 km² (243.2 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - Total | 27,500 | ||
| - Density | 44/km² (114/sq mi) | ||
| - Change (10 years) | 2.8 % | ||
| - Rank in Norway | 28 | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Official language form | Bokmål | ||
| Demonym | Gjøvikenser[1] | ||
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| Website: www.gjovik.kommune.no | |||
Gjøvik is a town and municipality in the county of Oppland, Norway.
Gjøvik was separated from Vardal as a town and municipality of its own in 1861. The rural municipalities of Biri, Snertingdal and Vardal were merged with Gjøvik January 1, 1964.
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[edit] Name
The town is named after the farm Gjøvik (Old Norse Djúpvík), since the town is built on its ground. The first element is djúpr 'deep', the last element is vík f 'inlet'.
[edit] Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from 1960. It shows a white swan (Cygnus cygnus). (The boat Skibladner, also called 'the white swan of Mjøsa', regularly visits the town in summertime.) The former coat-of-arms was a tree, with the statement "Vis et voluntas" (Force and will) on the lower part of the shield. The runner up to the somewhat irrational choice of a swan was a so called "poutpourri" vase, the most significant design of the glassworks that was the funding industry of the town.
(See also the coat-of-arms of Eide and Høylandet.)
[edit] Geography
Gjøvik is one of the three towns bordering on Lake Mjøsa, Norway's biggest lake, along with Hamar and Lillehammer. The town administration of Gjøvik also covers the rural districts of Biri, Snertingdal, and Vardal. The municipality population is about 27,000. About 16,000 people live in the urban area proper.
Gjøvik is bordered on the north by Lillehammer municipality, in the south by Østre Toten and Vestre Toten, and in the west by Søndre Land and Nordre Land. Across Lake Mjøsa to the east lies Ringsaker municipality in Hedmark county.
The highest point is Ringsrudåsen with a height of 842 meters.
[edit] Economy
Gjøvik owes much of its early growth to a glassworks, which was established there in 1807. In the early 19th century there was considerable immigration there from Valdres and Vestlandet, aiding Gjøvik’s growth. It was granted a town charter in 1864. Later, Mustad became one of the world's largest manufacturers of fish hooks.
Today, it is the center of regional trade, industry, agriculture, services and education. Gjøvik University College specializes in engineering and medical services.
Gjøvik is the northern terminus for the Gjøvikbanen railway line.
The local paper is the Oppland Arbeiderblad.
[edit] Main sights
- The world’s largest arena excavated in rock can be found in Gjøvik. The Gjøvik Olympic Hall ( Fjellhallen in Norwegian), was one of the sites of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics ice hockey games in 1994.
- Gjøvik farm
- Gjøvik glassworks
- Eiktunet cultural-history museum
- The world's oldest paddle steamer still on a regular schedule SS/Skibladner
- For more information see the tourist information internet pages;[1]
[edit] Famous residents
- Paul Olaf Bodding (1865-1938), missionary
- Kjell Ola Dahl (1958 - ), author
- Vazelina Bilopphøggers, comedic rockabilly band
[edit] Sister cities of Gjøvik
Stoughton, Wisconsin, USA
Næstvedt, Denmark
Gävle, Sweden
Inparuddy, Sri Lanka
[edit] References
- East Norway and its Frontier by Frank Noel Stagg, George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. 1956
[edit] External links
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