- Vest-Agder
Infobox Fylke
name = Vest-Agder
idnumber = 10
capital =Kristiansand
mayor =Thore Westermoen
mayor_date = 2003
mayor_party = Kristelig Folkeparti
governor = Ann-Kristin Olsen
governor_date = 1998
governor_party =
region = Sørlandet
arearank = 15
area = 7276
arealand = 6677
areapercent = 2.19
population_as_of = 2008
populationrank = 14
population = 166,976
populationpercent = 3.50
populationdensity = 24
populationincrease = 7.8
gdp_as_of = 2001
gdprank = 14
gdppercent = 2.27
gdpcapita = 219,928
incomecapita = 137,000
munwebpage = www.vaf.no
language = Neutral
demonym = VestegdeAudio|Vest-Agder.ogg|Vest-Agder "(West Agder)" is a county in
Norway , borderingRogaland to the west andAust-Agder to the east. In 2002 there were 157,851 inhabitants, which is 3.4% of the total population in Norway. Its area is 7,281 km². The county administration is inKristiansand .It is the southernmost county in Norway, extending inland from the
North Sea and its arm, theSkagerrak , to the southern fringes ofSetesdal en, surrounded by the mountain rangeSetesdalsheiene . It includes the southernmost point of the entire country, Pysen island south ofMandal , and the southernmost part of continental Norway,Lindesnes . It has a very broken and hilly surface.Most of the habitation lies along the coast, including the towns
Kristiansand ,Mandal ,Flekkefjord , andFarsund . Some 31 fjords are located there. Shipping, commerce and recreation are the main industries. As theGulf Stream touches the coast of West Agder, it is also called "the Norwegian Riviera".The northern portion is mountainous and sparsely settled, while the central upland moors are used for pasturing of cattle and sheep.
General information
Name
The meaning of the name is "(the) western (part of)
Agder ". Before 1919, the name of the county was "Lister og Mandal amt". The amt was created in 1662 and it consisted of the two old lens of "Lister" (nowLista ) andMandal . See also|Aust-AgderCoat-of-arms
The coat-of-arms is from modern times. They were granted on 12 December 1958. They show an
oak tree in yellow on a green background, representing the rich nature in the area. [cite web|url=http://fotw.us/flags/no-10.html|date=28 June 2002|title=Kommunevåpen|publisher= [http://www.fotw.us Flags of the World] |accessdaymonth=28 September|accessyear=2008]Municipalities
In 1837, the counties were divided into local administrative units each with their own governments. The number and borders of these municipalities have changed over time, and at present there are 15 municipalities in Vest-Agder.
ee also
*
Aust-Agder
*Sørlandet
*Agder External links
* [http://www.vaf.no Vest-Agder fylkeskommune] no icon
* [http://engelsk.vaf.no/article.aspx?m=1237&amid=4119 Vest-Agder: Norway’s southernmost county]References
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