Telemark

Telemark fylke
County

Coat of arms

Telemark within Norway
Country Norway
County Telemark
Region Østlandet
County ID NO-08
Administrative centre Skien
Government
 • Governor Sven Tore Løkslid
  Arbeiderpartiet
  (2015–present)
 • County mayor Gunn Marit Helgesen
  Høyre
  (2003–present)
Area
 • Total 15,299 km2 (5,907 sq mi)
 • Land 13,854 km2 (5,349 sq mi)
Area rank #10 in Norway, 4.55% of Norway's land area
Population (2014)
 • Total 171,333
 • Rank 13 (3.63% of country)
 • Density 12/km2 (30/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years) 1.8 %
Demonym(s) Teledøl or Telemarketer
Time zone UTC+01 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+02 (CEST)
Official language form Neutral
Income (per capita) 139,900 NOK
GDP (per capita) 219,404 NOK (2001)
GDP national rank 12 (2.38% of country)
Website www.telemark.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Telemark [²teːləmɑrk] ( listen) is a traditional region and county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The name means the "mark of the thelir", the ancient North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as Upper Telemark in the Migration Period and the Viking Age. Historically the name Telemark only referred to Upper Telemark, while the coastal areas of the modern county were considered separate regions. The modern county was established as the fief Bratsberg in the late middle ages, during Norway's union with Denmark. With the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1662 it became a county, and it was renamed Telemark in 1919. The county administration is in the port town Skien, which was in the early modern period Norway's most important city, ahead of Christiania.

Upper Telemark or Telemark proper has a varied and often scenic landscape, with many hills, mountains, valleys and lakes. It traditionally lacked cities and is marked by its distinct cultural traditions in regards to language, music, clothing, handcrafts, food, architecture and its traditionally egalitarian farmer society dating back to the Viking Age. It retained Norse culture and linguistic heritage to a larger degree than other regions in Norway, and was historically regarded as the most violent society in Norway. The region resisted both Christianization and later the Reformation longer than other Norwegian regions. It has more buildings from medieval times than any other Norwegian region, and is known as the birthplace of skiing and the Bunad movement.

Grenland, the flatter coastal areas of the modern county, is traditionally characterized by its wealthy cities and its involvement in seafaring and trade with the Low Countries, northern Germany and the British isles, with a more urban and continental culture, also influenced by its closer contact with Denmark. It was also Norway's most important industrial region since the 16th century, with its ironworks and sawmills.

Telemark county will merge with neighboring Vestfold County on January 1, 2020 as part of a nationwide regional reform, to become part of the combined Telemark and Vestfold county.[1][2]

History

The 13th century Eidsborg Stave Church in Lårdal, Upper Telemark
Summer landscape in Vinje, Upper Telemark
Winter landscape in Upper Telemark

The modern county of Telemark consists of several distinct historical regions. It takes its name from the largest of them, which is now called Upper Telemark, but which was historically simply called Telemark. Telemark is named for the thelir (Þilir in Old Norse), the ancient Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as Upper Telemark since the Migration Period and during the Viking Age. The Norse form of the name was Þelamǫrk. The first element is the genitive plural case of þelir while the last element is mǫrk "woodland, borderland, march".

Traditional Telemark, i.e. Upper Telemark, is located in the inland of the modern county, and comprises more than two thirds of it according to its traditional definition. Both in medieval times and later (Upper) Telemark was the region of Norway with the most self-owning farmers.[3] It retained Norse culture to a larger degree than any other region in Norway, with respect to its more egalitarian organisation of society, religion, traditional values and language. Thus the people of Telemark were often described during the middle ages and early modern era as the most violent in Norway.[4] The dialects of Upper Telemark are also the dialects of Norwegian that are closest to Old Norse. The farmers of Telemark were marked by a strong-willed conservatism and belief in their traditional values that often defied the central authorities of Denmark-Norway; for example they held on to aspects of both Old Norse religion and later of Catholicism longer than other regions in Norway. (Upper) Telemark traditionally lacks cities entirely.

Grenland and the Skien fjord are flatter regions located closer to or at the coast. Historically Grenland referred to what is now called Midt-Telemark, but over time the name Grenland has come to refer to the Skien fjord area. The latter is traditionally characterized by its cities and its involvement in seafaring and trade. It also includes several larger agricultural properties and estates, as well as industry. The culture and social structure are more urban, far less traditional, more influenced by contact with continental Europe and far less egalitarian. The most important city of the region, Skien, was historically one of Norway's most important cities, although its importance declined after the Napoleonic Wars. The playwright Henrik Ibsen was a native of Skien, and many of his plays are set in places reminiscent of the city and area.

During the Dano-Norwegian union the traditional regions of Telemark and Grenland/the Skien fjord became the fief (len) and later county (amt) of Bratsberg (Bradsberg). The fief and county was named after the farm Bratsberg (Norse Brattsberg), since this was the seat of the governor. The first element is the genitive case of brattr m "steep mountain", the last element is berg n "mountain". (The name is referring to a steep mountainside behind the farm.) In 1919 Bratsberg county was renamed Telemark. Despite this, Grenland retains a separate identity that is distinct from Telemark proper; the minority in the Storting voted for the name Grenland–Telemark in 1918.

(Upper) Telemark, particularly Kviteseid, is known as the birthplace of skiing as a modern sport. Telemark lent its name to Telemark skiing, a style invented by Sondre Norheim, and the characteristic Telemark landing of ski jumping. Telemark is also known as the centre of the Bunad movement. Telemark has more buildings from medieval times than any other Norwegian region.

Geography

Nisser Lake in Nissedal is Telemark's largest lake at 76 km2.[5]
Fjelltun in Drangedal.

The county is located in southeastern Norway, extending from Hardangervidda to the Skagerrak coast. The coastline extends from Langesundsfjorden to Gjernestangen at the border with Aust-Agder. Telemark has a very broken and heterogeneous landscape, including many hills and valleys.

Infrastructure

The international road E18 goes through the southern parts of Telemark, namely Grenland and the municipality of Kragerø. E134, another important motorway and the fastest route between Oslo and Bergen, goes through the municipalities of Vinje, Tokke, Kviteseid, Seljord, Hjartdal and Notodden. RV36, stretching from Porsgrunn to Seljord, links the E18 and E134 motorways.

Telemark is well served by railways. The Sørlandet Line runs through the traditional districts of Vestmar and Midt-Telemark, serving the municipalities of Drangedal, Nome, Bø and Sauherad. Grenland is primarily served by the Vestfold Line, but also has connections through the Bratsberg Line which runs between Skien and Notodden.

From Langesund, Fjordline operates ferry services to Sweden and Denmark.

The main bus lines in the county are operated by Telemark Bilruter, serving western and middle parts of the county, and Nettbuss which serves the middle, eastern and southern parts of the county. Drangedal Bilruter serves the Vestmar region.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1951136,519—    
1961149,943+9.8%
1971156,778+4.6%
1981162,050+3.4%
1991162,869+0.5%
2001165,595+1.7%
2011169,185+2.2%
2021?180,966+7.0%
2031?191,552+5.8%
Source: Statistics Norway.[6]
Religion in Telemark[7][8]
religion percent
Christianity
 
 86.60%
Islam
 
 1.50%
Buddhism
 
 0.24%
Other
 
 11.66%

The largest population centres are Skien, Porsgrunn, Notodden, Rjukan and Kragerø. Other important places are Bø, Seljord, Fyresdal and Vinje.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times (1970). It shows an old type of battle axe, significant for the county.

Notable people from Telemark

Districts

Telemark county with Upper Telemark (traditional Telemark) in red
Winter resort hotel at Gautefall (Drangedal).
Road in the village of Treungen (Nissedal).

The county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. Traditionally the county is mainly divided into Upper Telemark (historically called simply Telemark or more recently Telemark proper) and Grenland. Upper Telemark is sometimes subdivided into Vest-Telemark and Aust-Telemark. The name Lower Telemark traditionally refers to Grenland and Midt-Telemark, but was more of an administrative region than a cultural one. Regardless of definition, Upper Telemark constitutes the largest part by far. For example the modern provostship of Upper Telemark comprises 12 municipalities and more than 80% of Telemark, also including Midt-Telemark.

An additional district, Vestmar is disputed. The district borders of this county are highly overlapping and to a certain extent undefined and/or disputed.

Rank Name Inhabitants[11] Area km2 District
1 Skien 63,962 722 Grenland
2 Porsgrunn 35,177 161 Grenland
3 Bamble 14,107 282 Grenland
4 Notodden 12,390 856 Aust-Telemark
5 Kragerø 10,620 289 Grenland
6 Nome 6,527 389 Aust-Telemark
7 Tinn 6,022 1,858 Vest-Telemark
8 Bø 5,595 260 Aust-Telemark
9 Sauherad 4,666 292 Aust-Telemark
10 Drangedal 4,159 998 Grenland
11 Vinje 3,641 2,740 Vest-Telemark
12 Seljord 2,966 672 Vest-Telemark
13 Kviteseid 2,522 626 Vest-Telemark
14 Siljan 2,412 203 Grenland
15 Tokke 2,337 907 Vest-Telemark
16 Hjartdal 1,587 741 Aust-Telemark
17 Nissedal 1,404 789 Vest-Telemark
18 Fyresdal 1,381 1,110 Vest-Telemark
Total Telemark 168,231 13,173

References

  1. ↑ Selland, Svein-Gunnar; Lundbo, Sten (8 June 2018). "Telemark" – via Store norske leksikon.
  2. ↑ "Nå er Telemark og Vestfold slått sammen". ta.no. 8 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Hans Jacob Orning, "Et lokalt maktspill", Norgeshistorie.no, 28 November 2016
  4. ↑ Hans Jacob Orning, "De voldelige telemarksbøndene", Norgeshistorie.no, 28 November 2016
  5. ↑ Nilsen, Jan Erik; Lundbo, Sten (5 March 2018). "Nissedal" – via Store norske leksikon.
  6. ↑ "Statistikkbanken". ssb.no. 26 May 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Statistics Norway - Church of Norway. Archived 2012-07-16 at Archive.is
  8. ↑ "Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010". ssb.no.
  9. ↑ "History – Snowshoe Thompson". snowshoethompson.org.
  10. ↑ https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/current/networking-a-nation/john-snowshoe-thompson.html
  11. ↑ "Statistics Norway". 1 January 2010.

Coordinates: 59°20′00″N 08°30′00″E / 59.33333°N 8.50000°E / 59.33333; 8.50000

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