Larvik
Larvik (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈlɑ̂rviːk] ⓘ) is a municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Vestfold. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Other main population centres in the municipality include the town of Stavern and the villages of Gjone, Helgeroa, Hem, Kjose, Kvelde, Nevlunghavn, Skinmo, Svarstad, Ula, Verningen, and Tjøllingvollen.
Larvik Municipality
Larvik kommune | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
Larvik town square, 2008 | |
| Nickname(s): Bakkebyen, The Hilly City | |
Vestfold within Norway | |
Larvik within Vestfold | |
| Coordinates: 59°4′52″N 10°0′59″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Vestfold |
| Established | 1 Jan 1838 |
| • Created as | Formannskapsdistrikt |
| Administrative centre | Larvik |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2023) | Birgitte Gulla Løken (H) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 812.88 km2 (313.85 sq mi) |
| • Land | 771.41 km2 (297.84 sq mi) |
| • Water | 41.47 km2 (16.01 sq mi) 5.1% |
| • Rank | #140 in Norway |
| Population (2023) | |
| • Total | 48,246 |
| • Rank | #21 in Norway |
| • Density | 62.5/km2 (162/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +5.9% |
| Demonyms | Larviking Larviker Larvikar |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Neutral |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-3909 |
| Website | Official website |
The 813-square-kilometre (314 sq mi) municipality is the 140th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Larvik is the 21st most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 48,246. The municipality's population density is 62.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (162/sq mi) and its population has increased by 5.9% over the previous 10-year period.
The city of Larvik achieved market town status in 1671, but it did not become a self-governing municipality until 1 January 1838 when the formannskapsdistrikt law went into effect.
Larvik is known as the hometown of Thor Heyerdahl.: 30 It is also home to Bøkeskogen, the northernmost beech tree forest in the world. Larvik is the home of Norway's only natural mineral water spring, Farriskilden. Farris Bad, located in Larvik, has been described as one of the best spas in Europe. It has the largest spa department in Scandinavia.