Østfold is a traditional region, a former county and a current electoral district in southeastern Norway. It borders

Akershus Akershus () is a traditional region and current electoral district in Norway, with Oslo as its main city and traditional capital. It is named after the Akershus Fortress in Oslo. From the middle ages to 1919, Akershus was a fief and main county ...

and southwestern

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

( Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Buskerud and Vestfold are on the other side of Oslofjord. The county's administrative seat was Sarpsborg. The county controversially became part of the newly established Viken County on 1 January 2020. Many manufacturing facilities are situated here, such as the world's most advanced biorefinery,

Borregaard Borregaard is a Norwegian company, established in 1889 in the southeastern town of Sarpsborg in Østfold county. Its main products were traditionally pulp and paper. The company later started producing chemicals based on timber as a raw ma ...

in Sarpsborg. Fredrikstad has shipyards. There are granite mines in Østfold and stone from these were used by Gustav Vigeland. The county slogan is "The heartland of Scandinavia". The local dialects are characterized by their geographical proximity to Sweden.

The name

The old name of the Oslofjord was ''Fold''; ''Østfold'' means 'the region east of the Fold' (see also Vestfold). The name was first recorded in 1543; in the Middle Ages the name of the county was ''Borgarsysla'' 'the county/sýsla of the city Borg (now Sarpsborg)'. Later, when Norway was under Danish rule, the Danish king divided the area into many baronies. These were merged into one county ( amt) in 1662 - and it was then named ''Smaalenenes Amt'' 'the amt consisting of small len'. The name was changed back to ''Østfold'' in 1919.

History

Østfold is among the nation's oldest inhabited regions, with petroglyphs (rock drawings) and burial mounds throughout the area. In the Viking Age, the area was part of Vingulmark, which in turn was part of Viken and included Båhuslen (which is now the Swedish province called ''Bohuslän''). It was partly under Danish rule until the time of Harald Fairhair. Later, when Norway was under Danish rule, the Danish king divided the area into many baronies. The barony of ''Heggen og Frøland'', consisting of the municipalities Askim,

Eidsberg Eidsberg was a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality was the town of Mysen. In 2020, Eidsberg was absorbed into the Indre Østfold municipality. Eidsberg was established as a municipality on 1 Jan ...

and Trøgstad, originally belonged to

- but it was transferred to Østfold in 1768. In October 2018, Norwegian archaeologists headed by the archaeologist Lars Gustavsen announced the discovery of a buried long Gjellestad Viking ship. An ancient well-preserved Viking cemetery for more than 1000 years was discovered using ground-penetrating radar. Archaeologists also revealed at least seven other previously unknown burial mounds and the remnants of five longhouses with the help of the radar survey.

Geography

Østfold sits between the Oslo Fjord and

. It is dominated by flat landscape with a lot of woodland in the north and along the Swedish border, a major lake system in the central part, and densely populated lowland area along the coast, with a relatively large archipelago. Norway’s longest river, the Glomma, flows through the county and out into the Oslo Fjord in Fredrikstad.

Demography

Most of the county's population is located in the coastal area. The cities of

Moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...

, Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, and Halden are situated here, along with some relatively highly populated rural municipalities. Including these coastal cities, Østfold also has another two cities, Askim and Mysen.

Transport and infrastructure

Østfold is located strategically between Oslo and Sweden. The main highway E6 between Oslo and Gothenburg runs as a motorway through the county from the southern border with Sweden and the border with Akershus county. The main highway E18 between Oslo and Stockholm goes through the county from the Swedish border in a southeast-northwest direction. The railway from Oslo to Gothenburg runs roughly parallel with E6, and there is also a railway between Ski and Sarpsborg that covers the inner part. There is no public airport in the county. Moss Airport was one but is now closed. The main airport for Østfold is the Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, with a population of more than 2 million people within two hours distance.

Health care

Aimed at covering general medical needs of Østfold County and

estby Municipality Estby is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Fred Estby (born 1972), Swedish drummer * Helga Estby (1860–1942), American suffragist See also *Estey (surname) Estey is a surname of English origin. Notable people with the surname ...

Østfold Hospital provides medical services, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation to the population of the area. Hospitals, clinics or health stations are located in all municipalities of the county.

Municipalities

Østfold had 18 municipalities:

Districts

* Kala *

Skjeberg Skjeberg is a district of Sarpsborg, Østfold County, Norway. Skjeberg was formerly a municipality in Østfold County. The last administrative centre was at Borgenhaugen. As of 2018, Skjeberg has a population of 1,397. The parish of Skjeberg ...

Cities

* Askim * Fredrikstad * Halden *

* Sarpsborg

Parishes

* Aremark * Asak * Askim * Berg * Borge * Båstad * Degernes * Domkirken i Borge, see Vestre Fredrikstad *

* Enningdal * Fredrikshald, see Halden * Fredrikstad * Glemmen * Gressvik * Hafslund * Halden * Heli * Hobøl * Hovin * Hvaler * Hærland * Idd * Ingedal * Kråkerøy * Moss * Onsøy * Os * Rakkestad * Rokke * Rolvsøy * Rygge * Rødenes * Rømskog * Råde * Sarpsborg *

Skiptvet Skiptvet is a municipality in Viken county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Meieribyen. Skiptvet was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see ''formannskapsdistrikt''). General informatio ...

* Skjeberg * Skjebergdalen * Spjærøy (Dypedal) * Spydeberg * St. Peter's * Svinndal * Tom * Tomter * Torsnes * Trøgstad * Trømborg * Tune * Ullerøy (Ullerø) * Varteig * Vestre Fredrikstad * Våler * Østre Fredrikstad * Øymark * Fredrikstad Branch (LDS, 1852–1925) * Fredrikstad (Kristi Menighet, 1893–1914) * Vestre Fredrikstad (Kristi Menighet, 1904–1933) * Halden Branch (LDS, 1854–1949) * Moss Branch (LDS, 1905–1949) * Sarpsborg Branch (LDS, 1931–1949) * Sarpsborg (Metodistkirken, 1840–1923)

Villages

* Alshus *

Borgenhaugen Borgenhaugen is a borough in the city of Sarpsborg, Norway, located east of the city centre. Before 1992, Borgenhaugen was a part of Skjeberg municipality. The old Skjeberg council hall (''rådhus'') is located here Local placenames * Surfellingen ...

* Degernes * Elvestad * Engalsvik * Fosby *

Fuglevik Fuglevik is a village in the municipality of Rygge, Norway. It is located near the Oslofjord, a few kilometres south of Moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryoph ...

Glosli Glosli is a village in the eastern part of Fredrikstad municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost porti ...

Gressvik Gressvik is a village located in the municipality of Fredrikstad, Norway. The river named Seut separates Gressvik from the city of Fredrikstad. Gressvik stretches from Ørebekk in the north, to Rød and Viker in the south. Consisting only of two ...

* Greåker * Grimstad * Hafslund *

Hamnås Havnås is a village in the municipality of Trøgstad, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Sc ...

* Hasle * Hauge *

Heiås Heiås is a village in the municipality of Trøgstad, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scand ...

* Herføl *

Hærland Hærland is a village in the municipality of Eidsberg, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Sc ...

Høysand Høysand is a village in Sarpsborg municipality, Norway. Located just south of the village Skjeberg, it is a part of the urban area of the same name, which has a population of 1,919 at the 2006 census. References

Villages in Østfold S ...

* Ise *

Isebakke Isebakke is a village in the municipality of Halden, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandin ...

Jelsnes Jelsnes is a village in Sarpsborg municipality, Norway. Its population is 308. Jelsnes is located in the north of Tunøya, and belonged to Tune municipality before 1992. The mayor of Sarpsborg Sarpsborg ( or ), historically Borg, is a city and m ...

* Kambo * Karlshus *

Kirkebygden Kirkebygden is the administrative centre of Våler municipality, Østfold, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost ...

* Knapstad *

Kornsjø Kornsjø is a village in Enningdalen in Halden, Norway on the border to Sweden. The village has 250 residents (2001). At Kornsjø is the border crossing for the railway lines the Østfold Line (Norway) and the Norway/Vänern Line (Sweden). Previou ...

* Korshavn * Kykkelsrud * Larkollen * Lervik * Missingmyr * Mørkfoss * Prestebakke * Ringvoll *

Rostadneset Rostadneset is a village in the municipality of Fredrikstad, Norway, north of the city of Fredrikstad in the former municipality Rolvsøy. Its population (Statistics Norway, SSB 2005) is 277. References Villages in Østfold ...

* Rygge * Rød * Saltnes * Sandbakken *

Sandum Sandum is a village in Rømskog municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian ...

* Sellebakk *

Skantebygda Skantebygda is a village in Rakkestad municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandina ...

Skjærhalden Skjærhalden is the administrative centre of Hvaler municipality, Norway. It is located on the island Kirkeøy Kirkeøy is the largest island in the Norwegian municipality of Hvaler. Its name means "church island" and is derived from Hvaler Church ...

* Skjærvika * Skjønhaug *

Slevik Slevik is a village in the southern part of Fredrikstad municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost porti ...

Slitu Slitu is a village in the former municipality of Eidsberg, Norway, now part of the municipality of Indre Østfold. Its population (2005) is 543, of which seven people lived within the border of the neighboring former municipality of Trøgstad Tr� ...

* Solbergfoss *

Sponvika Sponvika is a village in Halden municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian ...

Stikkaåsen Stikkaåsen is a village in Sarpsborg municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandina ...

* Strømsfoss *

Svinesund Svinesund is a sound separating the Swedish municipality of Strömstad in the province of Bohuslän in the county of Västra Götaland from the Norwegian municipality of Halden in the county of Viken. Two bridges, the old and new Svinesund Bri ...

Svinndal Svinndal is a village and parish in the municipality of Våler, Østfold, Norway. The population of the village (2009) is 353. Svinndal shares its coat-of-arms with Våler. Svinndal church (''Svinndal kirke'') was constructed in mixed Gothic and ...

Tistedalen Tistedalen is a part of Halden in Østfold Østfold is a traditional region, a former county and a current electoral district in southeastern Norway. It borders Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while ...

* Tomter *

Tosebygda Tosebygda is a village in the municipality of Trøgstad, Norway. It is located at in the western part of the municipality, between Askim and Skjønhaug Skjønhaug is a village in the municipality of Trøgstad, Norway Norway, officially ...

Trømborg Trømborg is a small village in the municipality of Eidsberg, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of t ...

Ullerøy Ullerøy is a peninsula and urban area in the municipality of Sarpsborg in Østfold, Norway. As of 2009, the population was 363. Before 1992 Ullerøy was a part of Skjeberg municipality. Ullerøy Church Ullerøy Church (''Ullerøy kirke'') was fi ...

* Utgård *

Varteig Varteig is a village in Sarpsborg and a former municipality in Østfold County, Norway. Summary Varteig is located north of the city of Sarpsborg and east of the Glomma river. Varteig was part of the Tune municipality until 1861. It was designat ...

* Våk *

Yven Yven is a borough in the city of Sarpsborg in Østfold, Norway. It is located east of the city centre on the west side of the Glomma river between Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad. Yven was previously assigned to the former municipality of Tune. As of 1 ...

* Ørje * Ørmen *

Øyenkilen Øyenkilen is a village in the southern part of Fredrikstad municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost ...

Årum Årum is a village in the north-eastern part of Fredrikstad municipality, Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost ...

Former Municipalities

* Berg * Borge * Degernes * Glemmen * Idd * Jeløy * Kråkerøy * Mysen * Onsøy * Rolvsøy * Rødenes *

* Torsnes * Tune *

* Øymark

Coat of arms

The coat of arms is from modern times (1958). The lines represent sunrays at sunrise in the east. (See above under the name.) They also represent the worship of the Sun in the Bronze Age (depicted in several

rock carvings A petroglyph is an image created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions ...

found in the county).

Notable people

* Roald Amundsen (1872–1928) - Explorer of polar regions * Berit Ås - Politician, professor and feminist. * Thea Foss (1857–1927) - founder of Foss Maritime * Hans Nielsen Hauge - (3 April 1771 – 29 March 1824) - Lay preacher *

Peder Christian Hjorth Peder Christian Hjorth (February 16 1792 – 1 January 1855) was a Norwegian politician. He served in the Parliament of Norway The Storting ( no, Stortinget ) (lit. the Great Thing) is the supreme legislature of Norway, established in 1814 by ...

- (1792-1855) - Norwegian politician * Egil Olsen - Norwegian Football coach. *

Karl Ouren Karl Ouren (February 5, 1882 – January 3, 1943) was an American artist best known for his paintings of Norwegian landscapes and scenes, particularly those featuring winter and snow. Background Karl Peter Andreas Ouren was born in Halden, i ...

(1882–1943) - Norwegian-American artist * Petter Solberg - Rally driver * Nils Otto Tank (1800–1864) - Moravian Church religious leader * Harald Zwart - Movie director and producer

External links

Østfold fylke website (in Norwegian and English)

Statistics and basic interpretation regarding Østfold (in Norwegian)

Excavation of longhouse from the Roman Iron Age

References

;Notes {{DEFAULTSORT:Ostfold Former counties of Norway 2020 disestablishments in Norway Populated places disestablished in 2020 States and territories disestablished in 2020