Gjerpen
Encyclopedia
Gjerpen is a former township which is now part of the municipality of Skien
, in Telemark
county, Norway.
). According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 4,381. Gjerpen was located east of the city of Skien
. It encompassed districts such as Borgestad
, Bøle, Gulset and Luksefjell. On 1 July 1916 an area with roughly 1,332 inhabitants was moved to Skien, and on 1 July 1920 an area with 437 inhabitants was moved to Porsgrunn
.
On 1 January 1964 the rest of Gjerpen was incorporated into Skien, along with Solum
and the district Valebø
. Prior to the merger Gjerpen had a population of 15,300. The current district of Gjerpen constitute only a small part of the former Gjerpen municipality.
Gerpin, from *Garpvin), since the first church was built there. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is vin f 'meadow'.
was buried in the Gjerpen cemetery.
Fossum Ironworks, which was in operation from 1539 from 1869, was last owned by the Løvenskiold
family. Løvenskiold Holding still owns and operates the large forest estate which formerly belonged to the Fossum Ironworks and is one of the county's largest forest owners.
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
, in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
county, Norway.
Location
The parish of Gjerpen was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistriktFormannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 4,381. Gjerpen was located east of the city of Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
. It encompassed districts such as Borgestad
Borgestad
Borgestad is a Norwegian shipping, industry and real estate company. It operates 11 open hatch bulk carriers and one Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel. It also owns a shopping centre in Bytom, Poland and a housing complex at Borgestadholmen...
, Bøle, Gulset and Luksefjell. On 1 July 1916 an area with roughly 1,332 inhabitants was moved to Skien, and on 1 July 1920 an area with 437 inhabitants was moved to Porsgrunn
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
.
On 1 January 1964 the rest of Gjerpen was incorporated into Skien, along with Solum
Solum, Norway
Solum is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway.The parish of Solum was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . According to the 1835 census the municipality had a population of 3,557. Solum is located west of the city Skien, and encompassed districts such as Nenset, Tollnes,...
and the district Valebø
Valebø
Valebø is a village in the municipality of Skien, Norway. It is located on the eastern shore of Norsjø. On the opposite side of the lake lies Ulefoss....
. Prior to the merger Gjerpen had a population of 15,300. The current district of Gjerpen constitute only a small part of the former Gjerpen municipality.
Etymology
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the farm Gjerpen (Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
Gerpin, from *Garpvin), since the first church was built there. The meaning of the first element is unknown, the last element is vin f 'meadow'.
History
Gjerpen Church is one of the oldest churches in Norway, dating from around the year 1150. Vidkun QuislingVidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
was buried in the Gjerpen cemetery.
Fossum Ironworks, which was in operation from 1539 from 1869, was last owned by the Løvenskiold
Løvenskiold
Løvenskiold is a Dano-Norwegian noble family. Members of the family now live primarily in Norway.-History:The Løvenskiold family descend from merchant Herman Leopoldus , who immigrated from Lübeck to Christiania. His son, also named Herman Leopoldus , became very rich and was in 1739 ennobled by...
family. Løvenskiold Holding still owns and operates the large forest estate which formerly belonged to the Fossum Ironworks and is one of the county's largest forest owners.