Ås
Encyclopedia
Ås is a municipality
in Akershus
county
, Norway
. It is part of the Follo
traditional region
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ås. The parish of Aas was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
).
Ås is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Akershus, with a population of 16.386 in 2009, and a growth of 539 in 2008. Ås is the largest agricultural municipality of Akershus, and home to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
and the amusement park Tusenfryd
.
: Áss), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word áss meaning "mountain
ridge". Prior to 1921, the name was spelled Aas.
is from modern times. They were granted on 23 July 1982. The three silver diamonds are a symbol for the many archaeological findings in the area. The diamond (rhombus
) shape was taken as it resembled many of the axe
s found in the area (Nøstvet ax). The silver colour resembles the flint
, of which the tools were made of. The number of three diamonds was chosen to represent the three parishes in the municipality: Ås, Kroer and Nordby
.
. Ås is the largest agricultural municipality of Akershus: providing the region with grain, vegetable
s, and dairy products. Of the 101 square kilometre of land in the municipality, about 39 square kilometre are farmed and about 46 square kilometre are forested.
and European route E18
, run through the municipality, and many of the inhabitants commute to Oslo
.
A 240 metres (787.4 ft) long bridge, which is a smaller scale recreation of a bridge that Leonardo da Vinci
proposed in 1502 for the crossing of the Golden Horn
is located in the municipality. It was created by Norwegian painter and artist Vebjørn Sand
as part of his Da Vinci project
. The bridge serves as a pedestrian crossing over European route E18.
This bridge is famous among Japanese tourists, as they are often seen walking across.
, with a population of 2,783. Also, 1,566 inhabitants live in the Ski
urban area.
with Ås: - Ljungby Municipality
, Kronoberg County
, Sweden
- Paimio
, Länsi-Suomi
, Finland
- Holbæk Municipality
, Region Sjælland
, Denmark
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
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 Follo
Follo
Follo is one of three districts in the county of Akershus, Norway. It is located between Oslo and Østfold and includes the southwestern part of the county's area east of Oslo, namely the municipalities Frogn, Oppegård, Ski, Vestby, Ås, Nesodden, and Enebakk...
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,...
. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Ås. The parish of Aas 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...
).
Ås is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Akershus, with a population of 16.386 in 2009, and a growth of 539 in 2008. Ås is the largest agricultural municipality of Akershus, and home to the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences is a public university located in Ås, Norway.It is located at Ås in Akershus, near Oslo, and has around 3800 students...
and the amusement park Tusenfryd
Tusenfryd
Tusenfryd is an amusement park at Vinterbro, Norway. The park is located 20 kilometers south of Oslo. Two of the longest motorway corridors in Norway, E6 and E18, meet nearby Tusenfryd and the park is located on the west side near where they meet. SpeedMonster, SuperSplash, ThunderCoaster and...
.
Name
The parish was named after the old Ås farm (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....
: Áss), since the first church was built there. The name is identical with the word áss meaning "mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
ridge". Prior to 1921, the name was spelled Aas.
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 23 July 1982. The three silver diamonds are a symbol for the many archaeological findings in the area. The diamond (rhombus
Rhombus
In Euclidean geometry, a rhombus or rhomb is a convex quadrilateral whose four sides all have the same length. The rhombus is often called a diamond, after the diamonds suit in playing cards, or a lozenge, though the latter sometimes refers specifically to a rhombus with a 45° angle.Every...
) shape was taken as it resembled many of the axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
s found in the area (Nøstvet ax). The silver colour resembles the flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, of which the tools were made of. The number of three diamonds was chosen to represent the three parishes in the municipality: Ås, Kroer and Nordby
Nordby
Nordby is a Danish town, seat of the Fanø Municipality, in the Region of Southern Denmark. The population was 2,620 as of 1 January 2011.-Geography:...
.
Economy
The most important source of income is agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Ås is the largest agricultural municipality of Akershus: providing the region with grain, vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s, and dairy products. Of the 101 square kilometre of land in the municipality, about 39 square kilometre are farmed and about 46 square kilometre are forested.
Transportation
Two of Norway's largest highways, European route E6European 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...
and European route E18
European route E18
European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km in length.-United Kingdom:...
, run through the municipality, and many of the inhabitants commute to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
proposed in 1502 for the crossing of the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
is located in the municipality. It was created by Norwegian painter and artist Vebjørn Sand
Vebjørn Sand
Vebjørn Sand is a Norwegian painter and artist. He is known for his paintings as well as his public arts projects, such as the Da Vinci Project, and the Kepler star monument at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. Sand attended a Steiner school.-External links:* *...
as part of his Da Vinci project
Vebjørn Sand Da Vinci Project
The Leonardo Bridge Project headed by Norwegian painter and artist Vebjørn Sand is one of several installations Sand is known for in Norway.It is a smaller scale reimagining of a 240 m span Leonardo bridge project that Leonardo proposed in 1502 as part of a civil engineering project for Sultan...
. The bridge serves as a pedestrian crossing over European route E18.
This bridge is famous among Japanese tourists, as they are often seen walking across.
Population
As of 1 January 2009, Ås municipality covers 101.3 square kilometre and has 15,863 inhabitants. In 2007, the Ås urban area had a population of 8,095. The municipality also contains one additional urban area, TogrendaTogrenda
Togrenda is a village in the municipality of Ås, Norway. Its population is 2,588....
, with a population of 2,783. Also, 1,566 inhabitants live in the Ski
Ski, Norway
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Follo. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Ski. Ski was separated from the municipality of Kråkstad on 1 July 1931 to form a separate municipality...
urban area.
Notable residents
- Simen AgdesteinSimen AgdesteinSimen Agdestein is a Norwegian chess grandmaster and ex-football star. He has won seven Norwegian chess championships, including the 2005 title....
(born 1967) - chessChessChess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
grandmaster and former football star - Christian Magnus FalsenChristian Magnus FalsenChristian Magnus Falsen was a Norwegian constitutional father, statesman, jurist, and historian. He was an important member of the constitutional assembly and was one of the writers of the constitutional laws....
(1782–1830) - Norwegian constitutionConstitution of NorwayThe Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
al father - Knut HjeltnesKnut HjeltnesKnut Hjeltnes is a former athlete from Norway. He has won 20 National Championships; 11 in Discus throw, in 1975-1976, 1978, 1980-1981, 1982-84 1986, and 1988-89 and 9 in Shot Put, in 1975-1978, and 1980-1984. His best Olympic placings is two 7th places in 1976 and 1988, and a 4th place in 1984....
(born 1952) - track and field athlete - Solveig KringlebotnSolveig KringlebotnSolveig Kringlebotn , also known professionally as Solveig Kringelborn, is an internationally-known Norwegian operatic soprano...
(born 1963) - sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer
Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Ås: - Ljungby Municipality
Ljungby Municipality
Ljungby Municipality is a municipality in Kronoberg County, southern Sweden, where the town Ljungby is seat.In 1971 the City of Ljungby was amalgamated with the rural municipalities surrounding it, thus creating the present municipality. In 1974 a minor adjustment of the boundaries took place...
, Kronoberg County
Kronoberg County
Kronoberg County is a County or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Skåne, Halland, Jönköping, Kalmar and Blekinge. Its capital is the city Växjö.- Province :For History, Geography and Culture see: Småland...
, 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....
- Paimio
Paimio
Paimio is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
, Länsi-Suomi
Western Finland
Western Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland.- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
- Holbæk Municipality
Holbæk municipality
Holbæk municipality is a municipality in northeastern Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand in Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Orø, and covers an area of 583 km², and has a total population of 69,010 . Its mayor for 2010–2013 is Søren Kjærsgaard, a member of the Liberal Party...
, Region Sjælland
Region Sjælland
Region Zealand is an administrative region of Denmark established on January 1, 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish Municipal Reform, which replaced the traditional counties with five larger regions. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, cutting the number of...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
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...