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is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.
The city of Stavanger was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). The rural municipalities of Hetland and Madla were merged with Stavanger January 1, 1965.

The city is located on a peninsula on the southwest coast of Norway. The climate is maritime mild temperate (marine west coast - cfb) and rather windy, with all monthly temperature averages above freezing, and precipitation 1200 mm/year. Summers are pleasant and lowland areas in and around Stavanger have the longest growing season in Norway (220 days).
Stavanger is the 4th largest city in Norway, with a population of 117,315 (2007) and approximately 181,300 people in the conurbation, making the Stavanger-Sandnes city area the third largest in Norway.
The city is a combination of new and old. There is a significant foreign influence with a nearby NATO base called JWC, as well as foreign oil interests. Norway's oldest cathedral, Stavanger domkirke, is situated right in the city centre. Stavanger has several beautiful lakes, which are popular recreation areas. Breiavatnet is located in the heart of Stavanger, while and Stokkavatnet are situated right outside.
Stavanger Airport is located 14 km from the city centre, in the municipality of Sola.

Contents

History

Origin of the name

Coat-of-arms

Boroughs

Economy

Education

Culture

European Capital of Culture 2008

Sport and Recreation

Tourism

Outdoor activities

City Centre

Museums

Sister cities

References

External links

History

Vågen (the harbour) in the city center, about 1890 - 1900

Stavanger was founded in the year 1125, mainly because the Stavanger bishopric was established in the 1120s. But even before that time Stavanger fulfilled an important urban role. A number of historians have argued convincingly that Nord-Jæren was an economic and military centre as far back as the 800-900s with the consolidation of the nation at Hafrsfjord. Stavanger grew into a centre of civic administration and an important south-west coast market town around 1100-1200. With the reformation in 1536, Stavanger's role as a religious centre declined, and the establishment of Kristiansand in the early 17th century led to the relocation of the bishopric. However, rich herring fisheries in the 19th century gave the city new life.

Domkirke in Stavanger, Norway (photo by Marianne F. Pettersen)

The city's history is a continuous alternation between upswings and recessions.
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The city and its surroundings is deeply rooted in religion and Christian life, and for long periods of time its most important industries have been shipping, shipbuilding, the canning industry and associated subcontractors.
In 1969, a new upswing started as oil was first discovered in the North Sea.
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After much discussion Stavanger was chosen to be the on-shore center for the oil industry on the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, and a period of hectic growth followed. ^[3]

Origin of the name

The Norse form of the name was ''Stafangr'', and originally this was the name of an inlet (now called Vågen). The first element of the name is ''stafr'' m 'staff, stick'. This could refer to the form of the inlet, but also to the form of the mountain Valberget (''Staven'' 'the staff' is a common name of high and steep mountains in Norway). The last element is ''angr'' m 'inlet, fjord'.

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is based upon a seal from 1591, which again has roots back to The Middle Ages. It shows a branch of vine (Vitis vinifera). (The meaning of this, and what it represents, is today unknown.)

Boroughs

The boroughs of Stavanger

Stavanger is divided into 7 boroughs.

★ Hundvåg

★ Tasta

★ Eiganes og Våland

★ Madla

★ Storhaug

★ Hillevåg

★ Hinna
Stavanger is also partitioned into 22 parts and 218 smaller parts.
The Department of Adolescence and Quality of Life, in the municipality (Oppvekst og levekår i Stavanger kommune) has been split into 4 parts. These are independent of the borders of the boruoghs. They are Eiganes and Tasta, Hinna and Hillevåg, Storhaug, Hundvåg and Madla. The Department of Labour and Wealth (Arbeids og velferdsetaten - NAV) which was opened July 3. 2006, also uses this partitioning.

Economy

Starting in the 1880s, industry grew in Stavanger, primarily based on treatment and exports of fish and fish-products. The industry was however one-sided which left it vulnerable to changes in demand and was therefore particularily hard hit by the economical depressions between World-War I and World-War II.
After World-War II the canning-industry hit difficulties. Increased competition from abroad and old machinery led to decrease which was only partially compensated by an increase in shipping and boat-building.

Breiavatnet, a small lake located in the city center. Photo by Tom S. Harestad.

In the 1960ies exploratory oil-drilling in the North Sea changed the situation for Stavanger. It is located close to the oil-fields, and Stavanger with its good harbour and plane-connections was well-positioned to take advantage of the increased activity.
After petroleum-exploration and production became the most important business sector in the Stavanger area during the mid 1970s, business and cultural climate has changed considerably.
The largest oil company in Stavanger is mainly state-owned oil company Statoil who have their headquarters located in the suburban area of Forus, located between neighboring Sandnes and Stavanger.
The city of Stavanger is now running out of land for future development for housing and industry. To rectify this, the administration has approached the neighboring municipalities, in particular Sandnes. Thus, it seems evident that the growth in the area will take place outside the boundaries of Stavanger.
The NATO Joint Warfare Centre is also located at Jåttå.

Education

Stavanger has one university, the University of Stavanger with about 8,000 students. The university was formerly a university college. It was granted status as University on January 1, 2005.
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The population of Stavanger is well-educated, 31.3% of those above 16 years has higher education, compared to the national average of 24.2% (2006 figures)
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Culture

European Capital of Culture 2008

Stavanger and its region has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2008. (Along with Liverpool, United Kingdom). The ''Stavanger2008'' vision is expressed through the concept "Open Port". This can be understood both in its English sense - "an open harbour", - and in its Norwegian meaning of "an open gate". Open Port – Openness towards the world. The region and its people is supposed to be even more open and inclusive towards art, ideas and opportunities^[7].

Sport and Recreation

The largest local football club Viking F.K., plays in the Norwegian Premier League (2007). The club plays its home matches at the football stadium, Viking Stadion, which was opened in 2004.
Every May, Stavanger is host to MaiJazz, the Stavanger International Jazz Festival. Stavanger was the host port of the Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race in 1997 and 2004.

Tourism

There are a variety of sights and activities for tourists.

Outdoor activities

Lysefjorden is popular for hiking. Not too far from Stavanger, alpine centers are ready for skiers and snowboarders throughout the winter season.
Prekestolen (aka the Pulpit Rock) is a massive rock overhanging the fjord known for its hiking. Kjeragbolten is a rock wedged in the cliff 604 meters above the fjord. The free fall makes Kjerag a very popular location for BASE jumping.
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Along the coast south of Stavanger there are a number of large, sandy beaches, among which the one at Sola is within closest reach from the city.

City Centre

City center; the harbour and Breiavatnet.

For the more urban minded, Old Stavanger (Gamle Stavanger) is located right next to the city centre. This collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth century wooden structures is one of the finest in Northern Europe.
Stavanger domkirke (St. Svithun's cathedral) was built between 1100 and 1125 by the English bishop Reinald in Anglo-Norman style, and in the late 13th century a new choir was added in Gothic style, with a vaulted roof. Among the old stone churches in Norway, the cathedral in Stavanger is among the best preserved.
The city centre itself is small and intimate, with narrow streets and open spaces protected from car traffic. The open-air vegetable market is one of the very few in Norway where you can buy produce directly from local farmers every working day through the year.

''Gamle Stavanger'' today

Museums

The Stavanger Museum is also located in Old Stavanger, commemorating the city's past glory as the herring capital of
Norway. ^[9]
The museum of Archaelogy is one of five archaeological museums in Norway. According to the Museum itself it, ''follows a profile of environmental archaeology and interdisciplinary study, with a scientific staff that includes representatives from archaeology, the natural sciences and modern cultural history.''
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The Norwegian Petroleum Museum is located at the harbour. The museum reflects the fact that Stavanger has been Norway's oil capital since oil drilling activities started in the North Sea in 1966.

Sister cities

Stavanger has several sister cities (twin towns), they are:

★ Aberdeen, Scotland (since 1955)

★ Antsirabe, Madagascar

★ Esbjerg, Denmark

★ Eskilstuna, Sweden

★ Esteli, Nicaragua

★ Fjarðabyggð, (previously known as Neskaupstaður), Iceland

★ Galveston, Texas, USA

★ Harlow, England

★ Houston, Texas, USA

★ Jyväskylä, Finland

★ Nablus, Palestinian territories

★ Netanya, Israel

★ Massawa, Eritrea

References

External links

★ Municipality web site

★ Rogaland Museum Of Fine Arts

★ Maijazz (in Norwegian)

★ Maps of Stavanger

★ Weather forecast for Stavanger