Brønnøysund
Encyclopedia
is a town and the administrative centre
of the municipality of Brønnøy
, Norway
. It is also a former municipality in Nordland
county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status
in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund is also the regional center of Southern Helgeland
. The town of Brønnøysund has 4,625 inhabitants as of 1 January 2011.
Brønnøysund was established as a municipality on 1 January 1923 when it was separated from the municipality of Brønnøy to become a town (ladested) and municipality of its own. On 1 January 1964, Brønnøysund was merged together with the neighbouring municipalities of Brønnøy
, Sømna
, Velfjord
, and part of Bindal
to form a new, larger municipality of Brønnøy. At that time, it lost its town status until 2000 when they were once again granted.
During the Viking era, Torgar, by the foot of the legendary mountain Torghatten
, was a nationally powerful chieftain seat and an important commercial center along the coast. The original inhabitants were wiped out in an outright massacre by Duke Skule and his men in the Norwegian civil wars that raged around 1240, in the high medieval era of Norway.
The region was re-populated by immigrants from Southern Norway, Trøndelag
, and Sweden
, which could explain the unique dialect with a Swedish-like intonation
.
The 3.55 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) town of Brønnøysund has a population (2011) of 4,625 and a population density
of 1303 PD/km2. It is also the administrative and commercial centre of the municipality of Brønnøy.
In recent years, Brønnøysund has managed to create a certain economic growth. Fjord Seafood originated here, as well as the largest limestone
mine in Northern Europe and the highest foodstuff production in Northern Norway are examples of entrepreneurship and well-run economy in this somewhat prosperous region. Modern agriculture, hydroponics, the large TTS transport corporation, wood-processing and tourism are the main driving industries.
(Coastal Express), northbound at night and southbound in the afternoon. It has its own airport, Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
, and a direct eastbound connection to the European route E6
highway.
Throughout Norway, the town is known as the location of the Brønnøysund Register Centre
, in which the new e-government portal Altinn is the newest addition. Torghatten ASA has its headquarter in Brønnøysund.
is located only about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town centre, and is a vital communications link not only for the town, but also for a large region surrounding the town.
The airport opened in 1968, providing modern and much needed, time-effective transportation to the region, and making it possible to reach both the capital and medical services within an acceptable timeframe.
In May 2010, the direct flight to Oslo was launched, and since April 2011 there are three daily departures for Oslo with a 50-seat plane. There are also connections to Sandnessjøen
, Mo i Rana
, Rørvik
, Trondheim
, and Bodø
.
It is served by Norway's oldest airline, Widerøe
. It is also base for some of the offshore helicopter services, making it possible to exploit the vast petroleum resources offshore.
The NRK series Himmelblå, a franchise of the British Two Thousand Acres of Sky
, was filmed in part in Brønnøysund and on various locations nearby. The local Brønnøy Church
serves the town of Brønnøysund.
Brønnøysund sits on a narrow peninsula on the mainland surrounded by islands and water. The town is connected to the island Torget by the Brønnøysund Bridge
.
Administrative centre
An administrative centre is a term often used in several countries to refer to a county town, or other seat of regional or local government, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located....
of the municipality of Brønnøy
Brønnøy
Brønnøy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative and commercial centre is the town of Brønnøysund. A secondary centre is the village of Hommelstø. Other villages include Tosbotn, Lande, Trælnes, and Indreskomo.The Brønnøysund Register...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is also a former municipality in Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
county. The village of Brønnøysund received town status
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
in 2000. The city lies along the coast and is often called "the coastal town in the middle of Norway." Brønnøysund is also the regional center of Southern Helgeland
Helgeland
Helgeland is the most southerly district in Northern Norway. Generally speaking, Helgeland refers to the part of Nordland county that is located south of the Arctic Circle. The district covers an area of about , with nearly 79,000 inhabitants...
. The town of Brønnøysund has 4,625 inhabitants as of 1 January 2011.
History
Brønnøy
Brønnøy is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland region. The administrative and commercial centre is the town of Brønnøysund. A secondary centre is the village of Hommelstø. Other villages include Tosbotn, Lande, Trælnes, and Indreskomo.The Brønnøysund Register...
, Sømna
Sømna
Sømna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative center of Sømna is the village of Vik i Helgeland...
, Velfjord
Velfjord
Velfjord is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. Velfjord is located in the present-day municipality of Brønnøy. The administrative centre was the village of Hommelstø. The municipality surrounded the large fjord, Velfjorden, after which the municipality is named...
, and part of Bindal
Bindal
Bindal is a municipality in the Helgeland region in the extreme southwest part of Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre is the village of Terråk...
to form a new, larger municipality of Brønnøy. At that time, it lost its town status until 2000 when they were once again granted.
During the Viking era, Torgar, by the foot of the legendary mountain Torghatten
Torghatten
Torghatten is a mountain on Torget island in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center...
, was a nationally powerful chieftain seat and an important commercial center along the coast. The original inhabitants were wiped out in an outright massacre by Duke Skule and his men in the Norwegian civil wars that raged around 1240, in the high medieval era of Norway.
The region was re-populated by immigrants from Southern Norway, Trøndelag
Trøndelag
Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the central part of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. The region is, together with Møre og Romsdal, part of a larger...
, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, which could explain the unique dialect with a Swedish-like intonation
Intonation (linguistics)
In linguistics, intonation is variation of pitch while speaking which is not used to distinguish words. It contrasts with tone, in which pitch variation does distinguish words. Intonation, rhythm, and stress are the three main elements of linguistic prosody...
.
Economy
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 1303 PD/km2. It is also the administrative and commercial centre of the municipality of Brønnøy.
In recent years, Brønnøysund has managed to create a certain economic growth. Fjord Seafood originated here, as well as the largest limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mine in Northern Europe and the highest foodstuff production in Northern Norway are examples of entrepreneurship and well-run economy in this somewhat prosperous region. Modern agriculture, hydroponics, the large TTS transport corporation, wood-processing and tourism are the main driving industries.
Transportation
Brønnøysund has daily visits by the HurtigrutenHurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
(Coastal Express), northbound at night and southbound in the afternoon. It has its own airport, Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy is the airport serving the town of Brønnøysund in the Brønnøy municipality in Nordland, Norway. The airport is located southeast of the town centre and opened in 1968. Brønnøy is operated by Avinor...
, and a direct eastbound connection to the European route E6
European route E6
European route E 6 is the designation for the main north-south road in Norway, and the west coast of Sweden, running from the southern tip of Sweden, at Trelleborg, into Norway and through almost all of the country north to Finnmark. The route ends close to the Norwegian border with Russia...
highway.
Throughout Norway, the town is known as the location of the Brønnøysund Register Centre
Brønnøysund Register Centre
Brønnøysund Register Centre is a Norwegian government agency that is responsible for the management of numerous public registers for Norway...
, in which the new e-government portal Altinn is the newest addition. Torghatten ASA has its headquarter in Brønnøysund.
Airport
Brønnøysund Airport, BrønnøyBrønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy
Brønnøysund Airport, Brønnøy is the airport serving the town of Brønnøysund in the Brønnøy municipality in Nordland, Norway. The airport is located southeast of the town centre and opened in 1968. Brønnøy is operated by Avinor...
is located only about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town centre, and is a vital communications link not only for the town, but also for a large region surrounding the town.
The airport opened in 1968, providing modern and much needed, time-effective transportation to the region, and making it possible to reach both the capital and medical services within an acceptable timeframe.
In May 2010, the direct flight to Oslo was launched, and since April 2011 there are three daily departures for Oslo with a 50-seat plane. There are also connections to Sandnessjøen
Sandnessjøen
Sandnessjøen is the centre of the municipality of Alstahaug in the county of Nordland, Norway, with a population of over 9,000. It was made a township in 1788....
, Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
, Rørvik
Rørvik
Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative centre of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population of 2,721. The...
, Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
, and Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
.
It is served by Norway's oldest airline, Widerøe
Widerøe
Widerøe's Flyveselskap AS, trading as Widerøe, is a regional airline in Norway and part of the SAS Group. It operates a fleet of 34 Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft , serving 41 domestic and 6 international destinations...
. It is also base for some of the offshore helicopter services, making it possible to exploit the vast petroleum resources offshore.
Culture
The town has a number of cultural institutions:- Brønnøysund MusikkorpsBrønnøysund MusikkorpsBrønnøysund Musikkorps is a wind band in Brønnøysund, Norway, with approx. 50 members.The BMK slogan is Korps for folk .Conductor is Hans Kristian Edvardsen.-Projects:...
(wind band) - Brønnøysund Mannskor (male choir)
- Kor i Øyan (mixed choir)
The NRK series Himmelblå, a franchise of the British Two Thousand Acres of Sky
Two Thousand Acres of Sky
Two Thousand Acres of Sky was a TV drama which aired on BBC Television from 2001 to 2003. It is also syndicated in the United States on PBS. It was created and written by Timothy Prager. The Executive Producer was Adrian Bate....
, was filmed in part in Brønnøysund and on various locations nearby. The local Brønnøy Church
Brønnøy Church
Brønnøy Church is a parish church in the municipality of Brønnøy in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the town of Brønnøysund. The church is part of the Brønnøy parish in the Sør-Helgeland deanery in the Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland. The stone church building was built in 1870 on the...
serves the town of Brønnøysund.
Geography
Brønnøysund Bridge
Brønnøysund Bridge is a cantilevered road bridge near the town of Brønnøysund in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The bridge was constructed in 1979 and it connects the small island of Torget with the mainland just south of Brønnøysund. The long bridge has a maximum clearance to...
.