Ringerike (municipality)

For other uses, see Ringerike.
Ringerike kommune
Municipality

Coat of arms
Buskerud within
Norway

Ringerike within Buskerud
Coordinates: 60°12′19″N 10°9′9″E / 60.20528°N 10.15250°E / 60.20528; 10.15250Coordinates: 60°12′19″N 10°9′9″E / 60.20528°N 10.15250°E / 60.20528; 10.15250
Country Norway
County Buskerud
District Ringerike
Administrative centre Hønefoss
Government
 • Mayor (2007) Kjell B. Hansen (Ap)
Area
 • Total 1,552 km2 (599 sq mi)
 • Land 1,423 km2 (549 sq mi)
Area rank 47 in Norway
Population (2004)
 • Total 28,060
 • Rank 26 in Norway
 • Density 20/km2 (50/sq mi)
 • Change (10 years) 2.4 %
Demonym(s) Ringeriking[1]
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code NO-0605
Official language form Bokmål
Website www.ringerike.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Ringerike is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hønefoss.

The municipality of Ringerike was created on 1 January 1964 after the merger of the town of Hønefoss and the rural municipalities of Hole, Norderhov, Tyristrand, and Ådal. However, the area of Hole was removed from the municipality of Ringerike on 1 January 1977 to become a separate municipality once again. The historic area of Ringerike included not just the modern municipality of Ringerike but also Hole and Krødsherad, Modum and Sigdal.[2]

General information

Etymology

The Old Norse form of this name was Hringaríki. The first element is (probably) the genitive plural of hringir, the name of an old Germanic tribe. The last element is ríki n 'kingdom, reich'. (See also Romerike.)[3]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms were granted on 16 June 1967. The arms show a gold ring on a red background. The colours red and gold represent royalty and are the royal colors of Norway. The ring is a canting symbol and at the same time symbolises the unity of the area, which has been a separate entity (even considered a petty kingdom) since medieval times.[3][4]

Geography

The municipality of Ringerike is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Sør-Aurdal and Søndre Land; on the east by Gran, Jevnaker, Lunner, and Oslo; in the south by Bærum, Hole, and Modum; and in the west by Krødsherad and Flå.

Lakes in the region include:

Hønefoss, largest town and the administrative centre of Ringerike

Economy

Ringerike is famous for two agriculture products; Ringerike potato (Ringerikspotet) and Ringerike pea (Ringeriksert). Jens Aabel first started production of Ringerike potato around 1867. The Ringerike pea has obtained PDO (protected designation of origin). The Ringerike potato has applied for the same protection, and is waiting for the result from the Agriculture department (2003). In June 2007, the potato got "protected geographical indication" (PGI) under the name Ringerikspotet fra Ringerike. Six farmers are now producing and packing this special potato at Ask in Ringerike. Most of the potatoes are sold in the Oslo area.

Notable residents

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

The following cities are twinned with Ringerike:[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  2. ↑ Vol. XIII: A History Of Norway And The Passion And Miracles Of The Blessed Óláfr Viking Society for Northern Research, Anthony Faulkes and Richard Perkins, p. 128
  3. 1 2 "Kommunevåpen" (in Norwegian). Ringerike kommune. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  4. ↑ Kommunevåpen, Norske (1990). "Nye kommunevåbener i Norden". Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  5. ↑ "Vennskapskommuner" (in Norwegian). Norden.no. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  6. ↑ "Internationale betrekkingen" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  7. ↑ "Terraza Carmona Eventos" (in Spanish).
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