The 1,280-square-kilometre (490 sq mi) municipality is the 77th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Ringsaker is the 30th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 35,475. The municipality's population density is 31.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (82/sq mi) and its population has increased by 6.2% over the previous 10-year period.[4][5]
General information
Ringsaker from Høsbjør mountainLooking towards Tingnes from Helgøya
The municipality of Ringsaker was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).[6]
During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the municipality of Ringsaker (population: 16,490) was merged with the neighboring municipalities of Furnes (population: 7,288) and Nes (population: 4,184) plus the Hamarsberget and Vikersødegården exclave areas of the municipality of Vang (population: 34) to create the new, larger municipality of Ringsaker. On 1 January 1965, a part of Ringsaker (population: 100) was transferred to the neighboring Hamar Municipality. On 1 January 1967 there was a municipal land swap between Vang and Ringsaker municipalities. The 500-decare (120-acre) Stav, Valsigsvea, and Arnkvern Nedre areas of Vang (population: 50) was transferred to Ringsaker Municipality and the 450-decare (110-acre) Stensby and Holmlund areas of Ringsaker (population: 114) was transferred to Vang.[6]
On 1 January 1992, the parts of the Stensby, Hanstad, Viker, and Stammerud areas of Ringsaker (population: 224) were transferred to the neighboring Hamar Municipality.[6]
Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ringsaker farm (Old Norse: Ringisakr or Hringisakr) since the first Ringsaker Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of ringir or ringi which has an unknown meaning. One possibility is that Ringir or Hringir ('Lord of the Ring') may have been an epithet or alias for the Norse godUllr, based on a ceremony mentioned in the poem Atlakviða where an oath is sworn by hringi Ullar ('the ring of Ullr'). The last element is akr which means "acre" or "field".[7]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted on 1 February 1985. The official blazon is "Gules, an moose statantargent" (Norwegian: I rødt en stående sølv elg). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a moose. The moose has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The moose design is inspired by the pre-historiccave paintings found at the Stein farm in Ringsaker, indicating the early inhabitation of the area. The arms were designed by Arne Løvstad. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.[8][9][10]
Ringsaker is situated in an agricultural and lumbering region. Ringsaker lies in the traditional district of Hedmarken which consists largely of rolling agricultural terrain, hilly green mountains, and pine forests. The Hedmarksvidda plateau is in the upper parts of the municipality. The rivers Brumunda, Flakstadelva, and Moelva all flow through the municipality.
The principal urban centers in Ringsaker include the towns of Brumunddal and Moelv.
Climate
Ringsaker has a humid continental climate (Dfb by the Köppen-Geiger system), with fairly dry and cold winters and pleasant summers. The driest month is February, and the wettest is August. In February 1996, a low of −31.4 °C (−24.5 °F)) was recorded. The all-time high is 33.5 °C (92.3 °F)) from July 2014. The Kise weather station has been recording since April 1951.
Ringsaker's main industries are agriculture, forestry, and diversified manufacturing. The area of Sjusjøen has a relatively large amount of holiday cottages that are especially attractive for outdoor sports including cross-country skiing vacations.
The municipal council(Kommunestyre) of Ringsaker is made up of 39 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Ringsaker is first mentioned in King Harald Hårfagre's Saga, in the Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson. The saga reports that Harald Hårfagre (872–930) was but ten years old when he succeeded his father (Halfdan the Black). After Halfdan the Black's death, many chiefs coveted the dominions he had left. Among these King Gandalf was the first; then Högne and Fróði, sons of King Eystein of Hedemark; and also King Hogne Karuson of Ringerike.
Hake, the son of Gandalf, led an expedition of 300 men against Vestfold. King Harald's army, led by Guthorm, met and fought a great battle, and King Harald was victorious, killing king Hake. Then King Harald turned back, but King Gandalf had come to Vestfold so they defeated him also. When the sons of King Eystein in Hedemark heard the news, they proposed to meet at Ringsaker in Hedemark with the remaining kings, Hogne Karuson and Herse Gudbrand. King Harald and Guthorm found out where the Oppland kings were meeting, and coming undetected at night, set fire to the houses in which Hogne Karuson and Herse Gudbrand slept. King Eystein's two sons and their men fought, but both Hogne and Frode died.
After the fall of these kings, King Harald had subdued Hedemark, Ringerike, Gudbrandsdal, Hadeland, Thoten, Romerike, and the whole northern part of Vingulmark. In addition, King Gandalf was slain, and King Harald took the whole of his kingdom as far south as the river Raum (Glomma).[36][37]
Saint Olaf in 1018
Ringsaker is again mentioned in a saga about 1018 when Olaf (later Saint Olaf) sent people to advise the Opplands that he was coming, as it was custom for the king to live as guest there every third year. In the autumn, he left Sarpsborg and went first to Vingulmark. He inquired about their Christianity, teaching some and punishing others. He went through that district, and on to Romerike. Christianity was weaker there and he punished all who had not obeyed his word. The king of Romerike proceeded to Ringsaker, to consult King Hrorek of Hedemark. They sent messages to King Gudrod of Gudbrandsdal, and to the King of Hadaland, inviting them to meet at Hedemark. The kings agreed to resist Olaf. They summoned the leaders from their kingdoms, and when they had assembled, the kings directed them to gather warriors. Most approved of the measure, but the kings were betrayed to Olav by Ketil Kavl of Ringanes (the southernmost district in Hedemark, Stange), who proceeded rapidly down lake Mjøsa to Eid, where Olaf was then located.
King Olaf, accompanied by 400 men, arrived at Ringsaker before the next day dawned. Ketil knew where the kings slept, and Olaf had all these houses surrounded. The kings were taken prisoners. King Hrorek's eyes were put out. King Gudrod's tongue was cut out. King Ring and two others were banished from Norway. King Olaf took possession of the land these kings had possessed, and after this Olaf alone bore the title of king in Norway.[36][37]
Sigurd of Røyr in 1163
Sigurd of Røyr, who was Haakon II's champion, lived at Røyr (Rør) in Ringsaker. He died at Re in 1163.[36][37]
