Seljord

Seljord kommune
Municipality

Coat of arms
Telemark within
Norway

Seljord within Telemark
Coordinates: 59°30′48″N 8°38′56″E / 59.51333°N 8.64889°E / 59.51333; 8.64889Coordinates: 59°30′48″N 8°38′56″E / 59.51333°N 8.64889°E / 59.51333; 8.64889
Country Norway
County Telemark
District Vest-Telemark
Administrative centre Seljord
Government
 • Mayor (2015) Halfdan Haugan (Ap)
Area
 • Total 715 km2 (276 sq mi)
 • Land 670 km2 (260 sq mi)
Area rank 155 in Norway
Population (2013)
 • Total 2,944
 • Density 4/km2 (10/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Seljording[1]
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code NO-0828
Official language form Nynorsk
Website www.seljord.kommune.no
Data from Statistics Norway

Seljord is a municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vest-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Seljord. The parish of Siljord was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt).

Seljord is famous for its sea serpent, Selma, who allegedly lives in Lake Seljord (Seljordsvatnet).

The yearly Dyrsku'n market, held since 1866, attracts 60–80,000 visitors each year. The large fair started as a show of farm animals. Today it includes a huge market with vendors selling a variety of goods including base layer clothing, Bergans outdoors equipment, crafts, and food. Amusement rides are also featured.

Seljord Folkehøgskule is located in Seljord. The school offers a variety of courses including outdoor adventure, theater, music, and art. Seljord Folk High School

General information

Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Seljord farm (Old Norse: Seljugerði), since the first church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of selja which means "sallow-tree" or "willow" and the last element is gerði which means "field". Prior to 1889, the name was written "Silgjord" or "Sillejord".[2]

Coat-of-arms

The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 15 September 1989. The arms show the sea serpent Selma in a gold-color on a red background.[3]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn" (in Norwegian). Språkrådet. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  2. ↑ Rygh, Oluf (1914). Norske gaardnavne: Bratsbergs amt (dokpro.uio.no) (in Norwegian) (7 ed.). Kristiania, Norge: W. C. Fabritius bogtrikkeri. pp. 321–322.
  3. ↑ "Kommunevåpenet" (in Norwegian). Seljord kommune. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
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