Løten
Encyclopedia
Løten is a municipality
in Hedmark
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Hedmarken
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Løten. The parish of Løiten was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
).
) is named after an old farm (Old Norse
Lautvin). The actual farm is probably the one which is now called Prestgarden (meaning "the vicar
age"), where the first church was built. The first element is laut which means "hollow depression". (There is a long depression between the Prestgarden and the old church.) The last element is vin which means "meadow
" or "pasture
".
From about 1500 until 1838 the name was written "Leuten" or "Leuthen". From 1838 until 1918 the name was written "Løiten". It has been spelled Løten since 1918.
is from modern times. They were granted on 7 September 1984. The arms show a gold-colored drinking horn
from the Middle Ages
on a red background. It represents the historical importance of growing wheat and also the products of the modern Løiten Brænderi (Løten brewery).
When King Christian IV of Denmark
prohibited the importation of German
beer
in the early 17th Century, distillation
began in Norway. In 1624, distilled
alcohol
was prohibited at weddings, and by 1638 King Christian forbade the clergy
the right to distill in their own homes. The corn-growing districts of Løten, Vang
(the former municipality in Hedmark), and Romedal
all became famous for their distilleries. "Gamle Løiten" from Løiten Brænderi, which was established in 1855, was a highly prized ‘akvavit
’ produced in Løten.
When the railway
was opened in 1862, Løten Station
became the new center of trade and management.
s in Hedmark where it is lays between Hamar
municipality to the west northwest, Stange
municipality to the west southwest, and Elverum
municipality to the east. Small portions of the municipality border on Åmot
in the far north and Våler
in the south. The moorland Hedmarksvidda
lies in the north.
The largest townships in Løten is Ådalsbruk
, with an industrial history.
Within Løten lies the "border" between the wheat fields of the lower eastern Norway, around and south of lake Mjøsa
, and the taiga
, the boreal coniferous forests that stretches from eastern Norway until Siberia. This border situation between the cultivated farm land and the wilderness were made clear by the poet Rolf Jacobsen, citizen of the neighbouring city Hamar, in his classic poem "Tanker ved Ånestadkrysset" (Thoughts at the Ånestad crossroad).
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, 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 part of the traditional region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Hedmarken
Hedmarken
Hedmarken is a traditional district in the county of Hedmark in Eastern Norway....
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Løten. The parish of Løiten was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
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...
).
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after an old farm (Old Norse
Old 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....
Lautvin). The actual farm is probably the one which is now called Prestgarden (meaning "the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
age"), where the first church was built. The first element is laut which means "hollow depression". (There is a long depression between the Prestgarden and the old church.) The last element is vin which means "meadow
Meadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
" or "pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
".
From about 1500 until 1838 the name was written "Leuten" or "Leuthen". From 1838 until 1918 the name was written "Løiten". It has been spelled Løten since 1918.
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 7 September 1984. The arms show a gold-colored drinking horn
Drinking horn
A drinking horn is the horn of a bovid used as a drinking vessel. Drinking horns are known from Classical Antiquity especially in Thrace and the Balkans, and remained in use for ceremonial purposes throughout the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period in some parts of Europe, notably in Germanic...
from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
on a red background. It represents the historical importance of growing wheat and also the products of the modern Løiten Brænderi (Løten brewery).
History
There has been traffic from east to west through Løten, throughout all recorded periods of history and archeological evidence supports earlier trade along this route. The old town center was formed around the Løten Church, which is from the 13th century.When King Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
prohibited the importation of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
in the early 17th Century, distillation
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
began in Norway. In 1624, distilled
Distillation
Distillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in volatilities of components in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
was prohibited at weddings, and by 1638 King Christian forbade the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
the right to distill in their own homes. The corn-growing districts of Løten, Vang
Vang, Hedmark
Vang is a former municipality in Hedmark county, Norway.Vang was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . The city of Hamar was separated from Vang in 1849. Furnes was separated from Vang in 1891...
(the former municipality in Hedmark), and Romedal
Romedal
Romedal is a former municipality in Hedmark county, NorwayRomedal was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with Stange January 1, 1964.-History:...
all became famous for their distilleries. "Gamle Løiten" from Løiten Brænderi, which was established in 1855, was a highly prized ‘akvavit
Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit is a traditional flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century....
’ produced in Løten.
When the railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
was opened in 1862, Løten Station
Løten Station
Løten Station is a railway station in the Løten municipality in Hedmark, Norway on the line between Hamar and Elverum. The station is located in the southern area of the main community. It is served by trains on operating the Rørosbanen line...
became the new center of trade and management.
Geography
Løten is the most eastern of the original villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s in Hedmark where it is lays between Hamar
Hamar
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Hamar. The municipality of Hamar was separated from Vang as a town and municipality of its own in 1849...
municipality to the west northwest, Stange
Stange
is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hedmarken. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stangebyen.-Name:...
municipality to the west southwest, and Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
municipality to the east. Small portions of the municipality border on Åmot
Åmot
Åmot is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Rena...
in the far north and Våler
Våler, Hedmark
Våler is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Solør. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Våler i Hedmark.-Name:...
in the south. The moorland Hedmarksvidda
Hedmarksvidda
Hedmarksvidda is a low mountain nature and recreational area in Hedmark county, Norway, limited by the valley of Østerdal in the east, the valley of Gudbrandsdal in the west, Løten in the south and Sjusjøen in the north...
lies in the north.
The largest townships in Løten is Ådalsbruk
Ådalsbruk
Ådalsbruk is a village in the municipality of Løten, Norway. Its population is 595.It was an old industrial site, the name taken from the iron works Aadals Brug Jernstøberi og Mek. Værksted, which existed from 1828 to 1928...
, with an industrial history.
Within Løten lies the "border" between the wheat fields of the lower eastern Norway, around and south of lake Mjøsa
Mjøsa
Mjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
, and the taiga
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
, the boreal coniferous forests that stretches from eastern Norway until Siberia. This border situation between the cultivated farm land and the wilderness were made clear by the poet Rolf Jacobsen, citizen of the neighbouring city Hamar, in his classic poem "Tanker ved Ånestadkrysset" (Thoughts at the Ånestad crossroad).
Notable residents
- Edvard MunchEdvard MunchEdvard Munch was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker and an important forerunner of expressionist art. His best-known composition, The Scream, is part of a series The Frieze of Life, in which Munch explored the themes of love, fear, death, melancholia, and anxiety.- Childhood :Edvard Munch...
was born in Løten on 12 December 1863. - Kristoffer Nilsen Svartbækken GrindalenKristoffer Nilsen Svartbækken GrindalenKristoffer Nilsen Svartbækken Grindalen was a Norwegian criminal and killer thief. He was born at the crofter's farm Nordre Svartbækken in Elverum, and spent 41 years of his life in prisons...
(1804–1876) was the last person in Norway to be sentenced to death for murder. He was from Elverum, but committed murder in Løten, and was also executed there.
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...