Gjøvik

Gjøvik is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Toten. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik. Some of the villages in Gjøvik include Biri, Bybrua, and Hunndalen.
The municipality is the 169th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Gjøvik is the 35th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 30,267. The municipality's population density is and its population has increased by 3.6% over the previous 10-year period.
General information
Historically, the village of Gjøvik was part of the parish and municipality of Vardal. On 1 January 1861, the village was granted kjøpstad (town) status. At that time, the village was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality given its new status as a town. Initially, the new town and municipality of Gjøvik had 626 residents. On 1 July 1921, a part of Vardal municipality located just outside the town of Gjøvik (population: 723) was annexed into the town.
Again, on 1 January 1955, another part of Vardal (population: 1,372) was transferred to the town. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the neighboring rural municipalities of Biri (population: 3,274), Snertingdal (population: 2,471), and most of Vardal (population: 9,612) were all merged with the town of Gjøvik (population: 8,251) to form the new, larger Gjøvik Municipality.
Etymology
The municipality (originally the town) is named after the old Gjøvik farm. The first element is which means "deep". The last element is which means "small bay" or "inlet".
Coat of arms
The original coat of arms was granted in 1922 and it was in use until 2 September 1960 when a new coat of arms was put into use. The diagonal division of the shield shows green and white to symbolise the dark forests around the (light) city. The vertical wavy pale symbolises the Hunnselva river that runs into the lake Mjøsa (the largest lake in Norway). At the same time the pale also symbolizes a linden tree (which has no known symbolism). The linden tree has yellow leaves over the green background and red leaves over the white background. The arms included the statement (meaning "force and will") on the lower part of the shield. The base of the design was meant to look like both water (the lake) and also a so-called "potpourri" vase, the most significant design of the glassworks factory that was the founding industry of the town. Photo of the old arms.
The current coat of arms was granted on 2 September 1960 to replace an older coat of arms. The official blazon is "Azure, a swan naiant argent". This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a swimming swan (Cygnus cygnus). The swan 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 swan is a symbol for the side-wheel steamer Skiblander, often called the "white swan of Mjøsa", which is usually docked in the town harbor. The arms were designed by Finn Krafft. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.
Churches
The Church of Norway has seven parishes within the municipality of Gjøvik. It is part of the Toten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.
Gjøvik Church is the main church for the municipality. It was designed by architect Jacob Wilhelm Nordan. The wooden structure was built between 1881 and 1882. Both the church buildings and fixtures are designed in Gothic Revival architecture. The exterior of the church has contrasting colors on wall surfaces and bearing structures. The altarpiece was painted by artist, Asta Nørregaard. The churchyard has a monument dedicated to the memory of Lutheran missionary, Paul Olaf Bodding. The church was restored during 1927, 1960, 2004-2005 and in 2009.
Geography
Along with Hamar, Lillehammer, Brumunddal, and Moelv, Gjøvik is one of the many towns bordering Norway's biggest lake, Mjøsa. The town administration of Gjøvik also includes the suburb area Hunndalen and the rural districts of Biri, Snertingdal, and Vardal.
Gjøvik is bordered on the north by Lillehammer Municipality, in the south by Østre Toten Municipality and Vestre Toten Municipality, and in the west by Søndre Land Municipality and Nordre Land Municipality. Across Lake Mjøsa to the east lies Ringsaker Municipality.
The highest point is Ringsrudåsen with a height of .
Economy
Gjøvik owes much of its early growth to the local glassworks, which were established there by Caspar Kauffeldt in 1807. In the early 19th century, there was considerable immigration there from Valdres and Western Norway, aiding Gjøvik's growth. The village of Gjøvik was granted kjøpstad status in 1861, making it a town and self-governing municipality. Later, O. Mustad & Son became one of the world's largest manufacturers of fish hooks.
Today dolphitech, Hoff Potetindustrier, Hunton Fiber, and Natre Vinduer are some of the industrial companies operating from Gjøvik. The town is also a port for the former traffic ship, Skibladner, which is now a tourist ship.
The local paper is the Oppland Arbeiderblad. It was formerly a Labour Party newspaper. Defunct newspapers include Oplændingen and Velgeren (Labour Democrat/Liberal), Samhold (Liberal, later Agrarian) and Ny Dag (Communist).
Gjøvik has two notable hotels, the Grand hotel and the Strand hotel.
There have been three notable concerts held in Gjøvik's history, which starred Toto, Robbie Williams and Bryan Adams (June 2011).
Government
All municipalities in Norway are 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 falls under the Vestre Innlandet District Court and the Eidsivating Court of Appeal.
Municipal council
The municipal council of Gjøvik is made up of representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the municipal council is as follows:
Mayors
The mayors of Gjøvik:
1861–1872: Adolph Martin Lund
1873-1873: Peter Soelberg
1874-1874: Martin Opsahl
1875–1879: Adolph Martin Lund
1879–1884: Haagen Skattum (H)
1885–1888: Mathias Wildaasen (V)
1889-1889: Hans O. Eger (V)
1890-1890: Andreas Slettum
1891–1893: Fredrik Fischer (H)
1894-1894: Christian Nygaard (V)
1895–1896: Anders Østbye (V)
1897-1898: Fredrik Fischer (H)
1898–1899: Anders Østbye (V)
1900-1900: Fredrik Fischer (H)
1901-1901: Anders Østbye (V)
1902–1904: Alf Mjøen (V)
1905-1905: Fredrik Fischer (H)
1906-1906: Adolf Houg (V)
1907-1907: Fredrik Fischer (H)
1908-1908: Leif Castberg (AD)
1909-1909: Adolf Skattum (H)
1910–1916: Leif Castberg (AD)
1917–1922: Johan Granvin (H)
1923–1941: Niels Ødegaard (Ap)
1941–1945: John Lærum (NS)
1945–1967: Niels Ødegaard (Ap)
1968–1978: Nils Røstadstuen (Ap)
1978–1981: Alf Iversen (Ap)
1982–1991: Martin Stikbakke (Ap)
1992–2000: Tore Hagebakken (Ap)
2000–2001: Kåre Haugen (Ap)
2001–2005: Tore Hagebakken (Ap)
2005–2007: Kåre Haugen (Ap)
2007–2019: Bjørn Iddberg (Ap)
2019–present: Torvild Sveen (Sp)
Attractions
The world's largest arena excavated in rock, called Gjøvik Olympic Hall, is located in Gjøvik. It 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, the PS Skibladner
Biri Travbane
Notable people
Public Service & public thinking
Anders Lysgaard (1756–1827), a farmer and rep. at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly
Hans Schikkelstad (1789–1843), a farmer and politician; founded O. Mustad & Søn
Balthazar Mathias Keilhau (1797–1858), a Norwegian geologist and mountain pioneer
Hans Mustad (1837–1918), a Norwegian businessperson, shaped the company O. Mustad & Son
Johan Castberg (1862–1926), a jurist and politician in Gjøvik 1890-1900
Paul Olaf Bodding (1865–1938), a missionary to India, monument at Gjøvik church
Ole Evinrude (1877–1934), a Norwegian-American, invented the first practical outboard motor
Niels Ødegaard (1892–1976), an educator, newspaper editor and politician
Harold Harby (1894–1978), a city council member in Los Angeles, California
Arne Austeen DFC (1911–1945), a Norwegian flying ace, killed in WWII
Ragnhild A. Lothe (born 1958), a microbiologist and cancer researcher
Hans Olav Lahlum (born 1973), an historian, crime author, chess player and politician
The Arts
Finn Lange (1895–1976), a Norwegian actor
Georg Adelly (1919–1997), a Swedish film actor
Torbjørn Sunde (born 1954), a jazz trombonist and former speed-skater
Kjell Ola Dahl (born 1958), an author of Nordic noir crime novels
Per A. Borglund (born 1961), a Norwegian newspaper and magazine editor
Per Elvestuen (born 1962), a Norwegian illustrator.
Mai Britt Normann (born 1966), a Norwegian singer-songwriter
Eirik Hegdal (bornr 1973), a jazz saxophonist, composer & leader of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
Ali Pirzad-Amoli (born 1988), a pop singer-songwriter and rapper who goes by the stage name A-Lee
Anna Lotterud (born 1989), a singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name Anna of the North
Nora Foss al-Jabri (born 1996), a singer and participant in the Norwegian 2012 Eurovision Song Contest
Sport
Guttorm Berge (1929–2004), an Alpine skier, bronze medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics
Roger Aandalen (born 1965), a Norwegian boccia player, paralympic medallist
Bente Nordby (born 1974), a former football goalkeeper, 172 caps with Norway women
Tord Linnerud (born 1974), a rallycross driver
Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk (born 1978), a retired team handball player, Olympic medallist
Gro Hammerseng (born 1980), a handball player, captain of the Norwegian national team
Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (born 1990), a cross-country skier, silver and team gold medallist at the 2014 Winter Olympics
Maren Lundby (born 1994), a successful ski jumper, gold medallist at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Twin towns – sister cities
Gjøvik is twinned with:
Gävle, Sweden
Næstved, Denmark
Rauma, Finland
Stoughton, United States
Media gallery
References
External links
Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway
Tourist information
NTNU Gjøvik - University
Municipalities of Innlandet
1838 establishments in Norway