Porsgrunn
Porsgrund is a commune of Norway, located in the county ( fylke ) of the Telemark. It borders the communes of Skien and Siljan in north, Larvik in the east, and Bamble in the west. It belongs to the area of Grenland.
Demography
Porsgrund counts 33.977 inhabitants at January 1st, 2007.
Geography
Porsgrund extends on a surface from 161 km ² at the seaside. Its culminating point is Fjerdingen (360 m).
History
Porsgrunn was the name of three small islands close to the coast. The port of Porsgrund was described as of the 16th century, and developed like port for wood at the 17th century. The displacement of the customs of Skien in Porsgrund in 1653 allowed an additional development of the port. The city then developed like place of loading with an increasingly important activity of trade and craft industry.
In 1807, Porsgrund received the right to make trade, and received the title of city in 1842. The 19th century is the time of industrialization with shipyards and sawmills. At the end of the 19th century the porcelain factory Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik A/S is born with a first production in 1887. In 1910-1920 are established metallurgical industries.
In 1929, Norsk Hydro builds with Herøya an important production unit of manure.
Porsgrunn amalgamated in 1964 with the kommunes of Eidanger and Brevik.
The education, which has a long tradition with the technical training school Skiensfjordens Tekniske Fagskole founded in 1884 was well developed these last years. The university of Telemark ( Høgskolen I Telemark ) is established in Porsgrunn, with a training of engineer and doctorates, as well as diplomas of nurses and nurse's aides. The business school of Oslo BI has also an establishment with Porsgrunn.
Administration
The mayor of Porsgrund is Mr Øystein Kåre Beyer ( Arbeiderpartiet - Parti Work).
Economy
Heavy industry dominates the economic landscape of Porsgrund. Norsk Hydro, with its division Agri and polymer is the largest industrial employer of the city. Yara, one of the world leaders of the production of manure, which formed in the past part of Norsk Hydro, is here localized. Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik, the French group Eramet and Norcem , only producing cement Norwegian.
Famous characters
-
Cort Adeler (1622 - 1675), admiral
- Johan Castberg (1862-1926), politician
- Carl Deichman (1705-1780), owner of workshop
- Jahn Otto Johansen (1934 -), journalist and writer
- Petter Stordalen (1962 -), business man, property developer and owner of hotels
- Bjørg Vik (1935 -), writer
- Kjersti Wold (1962 -), writer and pedagog
- Jacob Aall (1773-1844), owner, politician, historian and sparing
- Ella Gjømle (1979 -), basic skier
Twinnings
External bonds