Editing Hamar (section)

===The founding of modern Hamar===
[[File:Original city map for Hamar Norway 1848.png|thumb|City plan for Hamar, {{c.|1848}}]]

As early as 1755, the Danish government in [[Copenhagen]] expressed an interest in establishing a trading center on the shores of the lake [[Mjøsa]]. [[Elverum (town)|Elverum]] was considered a frontier town with frequent unrest, and there was even talk of encouraging the dissenting [[Hans Nielsen Hauge]] to settle in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mjøsa, Norway - View from the Shore at Vardal - the Ruins of the Cathedral of Hamar. |url=https://www.avrosys.nu/prints/norge-natur/100780.htm |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=www.avrosys.nu}}</ref> Bishop [[Fredrik Julius Bech]], one of the most prominent officials of his time, proposed establishing a town at or near Storhamar, at the foot of Furuberget.

In 1812, negotiations started in earnest, when the regional governor of [[Oppland|Christians Amt]], proposed establishing a market on Mjøsa. A four-person commission was named on 26 July 1814, with the mandate of determining a suitable site for a new town along the shore. On 8 June 1815, the commission recommended establishing such a town at [[Lillehammer (town)|Lillehammer]], then also a farm, part of the [[prestegjeld]] of [[Fåberg]].

Acting on objections to this recommendation, the department of the interior asked two professors, [[Ludvig Stoud Platou]] and [[Gregers Lundh|Gregers Fougner Lundh]], to survey the area and develop an alternative recommendation. It appears that Lundh in particular put great effort into this assignment, and in 1824 he presented to the [[Storting]] a lengthy report, that included maps and plans for the new town.

Lundh's premise was that the national economic interest reigned supreme, so he based his recommendation on the proposed town's ability to quickly achieve self-sustaining growth. He proposed that the name of the new town be called ''Carlshammer'' and proposed it be built along the shore just north of Storhamar and eastward. His plans were detailed, calling for streets that were {{convert|20|m}} wide, rectangular blocks with 12 buildings in each, {{convert|2|m}} separating each of them. He also proposed tax relief for 20 years for the town's first residents, that the state relinquish property taxes in favor of the town, and that the town be given monopoly rights to certain trade. He even proposed that certain types of foreigners be allowed to settle in the town to promote trade, in particular, the [[Religious Society of Friends|Quakers]].

His recommendation was accepted in principle by the government, but the parliamentary committee equivocated on the location. It left the determination of the actual site to the king so as to not slow down things further. Another commission was named in June 1825, consisting of [[Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg|Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg]], professor Lundh, and other prominent Norwegians. After surveying the entire lake, it submitted another report that considered eleven different locations, including sites near today's [[Eidsvoll]], [[Minnesund]], [[Tangen]] in [[Stange]], Åker, Storhamar, [[Brumunddal]], [[Nes, Hedmark|Nes]], [[Moelv]]en, [[Lillehammer (town)|Lillehammer]], [[Gjøvik (town)|Gjøvik]], and [[Toten]]. Each was presented with pros and cons. The commission itself was split between Lillehammer and Storhamar. The parliament finally decided on Lillehammer, relegating Hamar once more, it seemed, to be a sleepy agricultural area.

As [[steamboat]]s were introduced on the lake, the urban elite developed an interest in the medieval Hamar, and in 1841, editorials appeared advocating the re-establishment of a town at Storhamar. By then, the limitations of Lillehammer's location had also become apparent, in particular those of its shallow [[harbor]]. After a few more years of discussions and negotiations both regionally and nationally, member of parliament [[Frederik Stang]] put on the table once more the possibility of a town in or near Storhamar. The governor at the time, [[Frederik Hartvig Johan Heidmann]], presented a thorough deliberation of possible specific locations, and ended up proposing the current site, at Gammelhusbukten.

On 26 April 1848, the king signed into law the establishment of Hamar as a [[kjøpstad]] on the grounds of the farms of Storhamar and Holset, along the shores of the lake [[Mjøsa]]. The law stated that the town will be founded on the date its borders are settled, which turned out to be 21 March 1849. Hamar was given a trading zone up to {{convert|5|km}} from its border. The new town was taken out of the municipality of [[Vang, Hedmark|Vang]] and created established as [[Hamar Municipality]] under the [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law that was passed in 1838.<ref name=Ramseth /><ref name="VH" />