'Frederiksberg' is a
municipality (
Danish, ''
kommune'') on the island of
Zealand (''Sjælland'') in
Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 8,7
km² (869.8
hectares) and has a total population of 92,234 (2007), making it the smallest municipality in Denmark area-wise, the fifth most populous one, and the most densely populated one. Its mayor is Mads Lebech, a member of the
Conservative People's Party (''Det Konservative Folkeparti'').
The city of Frederiksberg is the only town in the municipality, and is therefore the site of its municipal council.
Frederiksberg is located as an
enclave within the municipality of
Copenhagen, the national capital. The municipality was originally situated west of Copenhagen, but after a number of smaller municipalities were merged with Copenhagen in 1901, it became completely surrounded by Copenhagen.
Frederiksberg was one of the three last Danish municipalities not belonging to a
County— the others being
Copenhagen and
Bornholm. On
1 January 2007, the municipality lost its county privileges and became part of
Region Hovedstaden (i.e. the ''Copenhagen Capital Region'').
Frederiksberg municipality was not merged with other municipalities as the result of nationwide
''Kommunalreformen'' ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007).
History
The history of Frederiksberg goes back to
June 2,
1651 when
King Frederik III gave 20 Danish—Dutch peasants the rights to settle at Allegade, and founded the town then named "''Ny Amager''" (
★ New
Amager★ ) or "''Ny Hollænderby''". Farming was not good and in 1697 most of the town burned down. This meant that the peasants were unable to pay taxes, and the land reverted back to the crown.
In 1700-1703
King Frederik IV built a palace on top of the hill known as
Valby Bakke. He named the palace Frederichs Berg and the rebuilt town at the foot of the hill changed name to Frederiksberg. A number of the houses in the town were bought by wealthy citizens of Copenhagen who didn’t farm the land, but rather used it as country houses.
The town changed slowly from a farming community to a merchant town, with craftsmen and merchants. During the summer rooms were offered for rent, and restaurants served food to the people of Copenhagen who had left the cramped city for the open land, and to be near the royals.
Initially the town grew slowly with population growing from 1,000 in 1770, to 1,200 in 1800, and to 3,000 in 1850.
In 1852 Parliament removed restrictions which prohibited permanent construction outside Copenhagen's city walls. Almost immediately numerous residential areas were constructed, starting in the eastern part near Copenhagen, and ending in the western part farthest away from Copenhagen in 1950. This led to rapid population growth; in 1900 the population reached 80,000, and in 1950 the city peaked with a population of 120,000.
Today the city consists entirely of 3-5 story residential houses, large single-family homes, and large parks. On aerial pictures Frederiksberg stands out from the surrounding city of Copenhagen as a green area with few large roads. It is considered to be one of Copenhagen's more prestigious areas in which to live.
Demography
Population of Frederiksberg ''(from
1979 January 1)'':
★ 15.1.1769:1,030
★ 1.7.1787:1,143
★ 1.2.1801:1,172
★ 1.2.1840:2,304
★ 1.2.1850:2,874
★ 1.2.1860:8,164
★ 1.2.1870:16,878
★ 1.2.1880:26,510
★ 1.2.1890:46,954
★ 1.2.1901:76,231
★ 1.2.1911:97,237
★ 1.2.1921:104,815
★ 5.11.1930:106,251
★ 5.11.1940:113,208
★ 7.11.1950:118,993
|
★ 26.9.1960:114,285
★ 9.11.1970:101,874
★ 1979: 88,835
★ 1980: 88,287
★ 1981: 88,167
★ 1982: 88,047
★ 1983: 88,409
★ 1984: 88,114
★ 1985: 88,030
★ 1986: 87,616
★ 1987: 86,558
★ 1988: 85,814
★ 1989: 85,327
★ 1990: 85,611
★ 1991: 85,817
|
★ 1992: 86,372
★ 1993: 87,173
★ 1994: 87,466
★ 1995: 88,002
★ 1996: 88,789
★ 1997: 89,230
★ 1998: 89,507
★ 1999: 90,227
★ 2000: 90,327
★ 2001: 91,076
★ 2002: 91,322
★ 2003: 91,435
★ 2004: 91,721
★ 2005: 91,886
★ 2006: 91,855
|
Attractions
★
Frederiksberg Town Hall
★
Frederiksberg Palace
★
The Cisterns – Museum for Modern Glass Art
★
Frederiksberg Park
★
The Storm P. Museum
★
Frederiksberg Church
★
Copenhagen Zoo
★
University of Copenhagen Faculty of Life Sciences
★
Copenhagen Business School
★
Royal Military Academy
★
Frederiksberg Hospital
Mayors
★
Marius Godskesen (1919-1936)
★
Vilhelm Fischer (1936-1948)
★
Aksel Møller (1948-1950, 1954-1958)
★
Arne Stæhr Johansen (1950-1954, 1958-1978)
★
John Winther (1978-2000)
★
Mads Lebech (2001-)
See also
★
Frederiksberg station
External links
★
Municipality's official website
References
★ Municipal statistics:
NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from
KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)
★ Municipal mergers and neighbors:
Eniro new municipalities map
★ Statistical Yearbook of Copenhagen.Copenhagen Statistical Office. ISBN 87-7024-230-5