Telemark

Telemark is a traditional region, a former county, and a current electoral district in southern Norway. In 2020, Telemark merged with the former county of Vestfold to form the county of Vestfold og Telemark. Telemark borders the traditional regions and former counties of Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder.
The name Telemark 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.
In the Middle Ages, the agricultural society of Upper Telemark was considered the most violent region of Norway. Today, half of the buildings from medieval times in Norway are located here. The dialects spoken in Upper Telemark also retain more elements of Old Norse than those spoken elsewhere in the country. Upper Telemark is also known as the birthplace of skiing.
The southern part of Telemark, Grenland, is more urban and influenced by trade with the Low Countries, northern Germany, Denmark and the British Isles.
Telemark has been one of Norway's most important industrial regions for centuries, marked in particular by the Norske Skog Union paper mills in Grenland and the Norsk Hydro heavy water and fertilizer production in Upper Telemark.
Telemark as a county is expected to be re-established by 1 January 2024, following a vote of the county council of Vestfold og Telemark on 15 February 2022 to split the newly established county into its respective counties that existed before the merger took place; Telemark and Vestfold.
History
Telemark 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 and was a county until 2020. The county administration was in the port town Skien, which was in the early modern period Norway's most important city, ahead of Christiania.
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 North 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 Þilir while the last element is mǫrk "woodland, borderland, march".
Traditional Telemark, i.e. Upper Telemark, is located in the inland 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. 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. 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, since this was the seat of the governor. 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
Telemark is located in southeastern Norway, extending from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau in the North to the Skagerrak coast in the South. Telemark has a varied and scenic landscape, including a rugged coastline, valleys, lakes, hills mountains, and mountain plateaus.
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 region are operated by Telemark Bilruter, serving western and middle parts of the region, and Nettbuss which serves the middle, eastern and southern parts of the region. Drangedal Bilruter serves the Vestmar region.
Population
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
Myllarguten (1801–1872), legendary fiddler born in Sauherad
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (1818–1870), author born in Vinje
Sondre Norheim (1825–1897), father of skiing born in Morgedal, Kviteseid
August Cappelen (1827–1852), national romantic painter born in Skien
Snowshoe Thompson (Jon Torsteinson-Rue) (1827–1876), American pioneer and father of California skiing
Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906), author born in Skien
John Anders Johnson (1832–1901), American politician
Thorbjorn N. Mohn (1844–1899), American Lutheran church leader and first president of St. Olaf College
Brynild Anundsen (1844–1913), founder of Decorah Posten
Marcus Olaus Bockman (1849–1942), Norwegian-American Lutheran theologian
Herbjørn Gausta (1854–1924), American artist. Born in Vestfjørddalen
Theodor Kittelsen (1857–1914), artist born in Kragerø
George Awsumb (1880–1959), architect born in Skien
Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945), politician, collaborationist leader during World War II. Executed as a traitor, born in Fyresdal
Aslaug Vaa (1889–1965), author born in Rauland
Tarjei Vesaas (1897–1970), author born in Vinje
Anne Grimdalen (1899–1961), sculptor born in Skafså, Tokke
Eivind Groven (1901–1977), composer born in Lårdal, Tokke
Dyre Vaa (1903–1980), sculptor born in Vinje
Klaus Egge (1906–1979), composer born in Gransherad, Notodden
Gunnar Sønsteby, (1918–2012), war hero born in Rjukan, Tinn
Hans Herbjørnsrud (1938–), author born in Heddal, Notodden
Tor Åge Bringsværd (1939–), author born in Skien
Agnes Buen Garnås (1946–), musician born in Jondal
Kåre Nordstoga (1954–), musician born in Notodden
Bugge Wesseltoft (1964-), musician born in Porsgrunn
Gisle Kverndokk (1967–), composer born in Skien
Jørn Lande (1968–), hard rock / heavy metal singer born in Rjukan
Bård Tufte Johansen (1969–), comedian born in Skien
Odd Nordstoga (1972–), musician born in Vinje
Frode Johnsen (1974–), footballer born in Skien
Terje Haakonsen (1974–), snowboarder born in Vinje
Ihsahn (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (1975–), black/extreme metal musician born in Notodden
Districts
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.
Municipalities
Cities
Brevik
Kragerø
Langesund
Notodden
Porsgrunn
Rjukan
Skien
Stathelle
Parishes
Atrå
Austbygdi
Bamble
Brevik
Brunkeberg
Bø
Dal
Drangedal
Eidanger
Eidsborg
Flatdal
Fyresdal
Gjerpen
Gransherad
Grungedal
Heddal
Helgen
Herre
Hitterdal, see Heddal
Hjartdal
Holla (Hollen)
Hovin
Hægland
Høydalsmo
Kilebygda
Kragerø
Kroken, see Drangedal
Kviteseid (Hvidesøe)
Old Kviteseid (Hvidesøe)
Langesund
Lisleherad (Lilleherred)
Lunde
Lårdal
Mo
Moland
Mæl
Mælum
Møsstrand
Nes
Nesland
Nissedal
Notodden
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn
Rauland
Rjukan
Sannidal (Sannikedal)
Saude
Sauherad (Saude)
Sauland
Seljord
Siljan
Skafså
Skien
Skåtøy
Slemdal, see Siljan
Solum
Stathelle
Tinn
Treungen
Tuddal
Tørdal (Tørrisdal)
Vestre Porsgrunn
Veum
Vinje
Vrådal
Ytre Flåbygd
Østre Porsgrunn
Øyfjell
Åmotsdal
Brevik Branch (LDS, 1852–1864)
Langesund Branch (LDS, 1852–1907)
Skien (Frie Apostoliske, 1856–1892)
Porsgrunn and Skien (Great Britain Consulate Birth Register, 1876–1891)
Kragerø (Great Britain Death Register), 1895
Villages
Akkerhaugen
Arabygdi
Austbygdi
Bjervamoen
Bolkesjø
Bostrak
Brevik
Brunkeberg
Bø
Dalen
Edland
Eidanger
Eidsborg
Eidstod
Flatdal
Folkestad
Gautefall
Gvarv
Haukeli
Heddal
Helle
Henneseid
Herre
Hjuksebø
Hjuksevelta
Holtsås
Hoppestad
Hovin
Høydalsmo
Jomfruland
Kil
Klovholt
Landsverk
Langangen
Lunde
Lårdal
Miland
Neslandsvatn
Nissedal
Nordagutu
Portør
Prestestranda
Rauland
Rudsgrendi
Sannidal
Sauland
Skotfoss
Skåtøy
Sneltvedt
Snurråsen
Tinnoset
Treungen
Tuddal
Tveitsund
Tørdal
Ulefoss
Vadfoss
Valebø
Vinjesvingen
Vrådal
Yli
Øyane
Øyfjell
Åfoss
Åmdals Verk
Åmotsdal
Former municipalities
Brevik
Bø
Eidanger
Gjerpen
Gransherad
Heddal
Holla
Hovin
Langesund
Lunde
Lårdal
Mo
Rauland
Sannidal
Sauherad
Skåtøy
Solum
Stathelle
Further reading
References
External links
Telemark county
Destination Marketing Organization for Telemark
Vestfold og Telemark county
Former counties of Norway
2020 disestablishments in Norway
Petty kingdoms of Norway
States and territories disestablished in 2020