Editing Spitsbergen (section)

== Population ==
[[File:Longyearbyen panorama.JPG|thumb|[[Longyearbyen]]]]
In 2009, Spitsbergen had a population of 2,753, of whom 423 were Russian or [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]], 10 were [[Polish people|Polish]] and 322 were non-Norwegians living in Norwegian settlements.<ref name="islandsize">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befsvalbard_en/tab-2009-10-22-01-en.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110728153613/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befsvalbard_en/tab-2009-10-22-01-en.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 July 2011 |title=Population in the settlements. Svalbard |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |date=22 October 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010 }}</ref> The largest non-Norwegian groups in [[Longyearbyen]] in 2005 were from Thailand, Sweden, Denmark, Russia and Germany.<ref name=demographics>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/00/20/nos_svalbard_en/nos_d330_en/tab/049.html |title=Non-Norwegian population in Longyearbyen, by nationality. Per 1 January. 2004 and 2005. Number of persons |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> Spitsbergen is among the safest places on Earth, with virtually no crime.<ref>Umbreit (2005): 117</ref>

Longyearbyen is the largest settlement on the island, the seat of the governor, and the only incorporated town. It features a hospital, primary and secondary school, university, sports centre with a swimming pool, library, cultural centre, cinema,<ref name=chp10>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/10.html?id=555006 |title=St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=10 Longyearbyen og øvrige lokalsamfunn |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> bus transport, hotels, a bank,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svalbard.net/reiser/uk/Shops-services-1-280.html |title=Shops/services |publisher=Svalbard Reiseliv |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412182450/http://www.svalbard.net/reiser/uk/Shops-services-1-280.html |archive-date=12 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and several museums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svalbard.net/reiser/uk/Attractions-1-78.html |title=Attractions |publisher=Svalbard Reiseliv |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125232446/http://www.svalbard.net/reiser/uk/Attractions-1-78.html |archive-date=25 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The newspaper ''[[Svalbardposten]]'' is published weekly.<ref>Umbreit (2005): 179</ref> Only a small fraction of the mining activity remains at Longyearbyen; instead, workers commute to [[Sveagruva]] (or Svea) where Store Norske operates a mine. Sveagruva is a dorm town, with workers commuting from Longyearbyen on a weekly basis.<ref name=chp10/>

Since 2002, [[Longyearbyen Community Council]] has had many of the same responsibilities of a [[municipalities of Norway|municipality]], including utilities, education, cultural facilities, fire department, roads and ports.<ref name=naering>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/9.html?id=554987 |title=St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=9 Næringsvirksomhet |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> No care or nursing services are available, nor is welfare payment available. Norwegian residents retain pension and medical rights through their mainland municipalities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=From the cradle, but not to the grave |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |url=http://www.ssb.no/this_is_svalbard/velferdstilbud.pdf |access-date=24 March 2010 }}{{dead link|date=July 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The hospital is part of [[University Hospital of North Norway]], while the airport is operated by state-owned [[Avinor]]. Ny-Ålesund and Barentsburg are [[company town]]s with all infrastructure owned by Kings Bay and Arktikugol, respectively.<ref name=naering/> Other public offices with presence on Svalbard are the [[Norwegian Directorate of Mining]], the [[Norwegian Polar Institute]], the [[Norwegian Tax Administration]] and the [[Church of Norway]].<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/6.html?id=554944 |title=St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=6 Administrasjon |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> Svalbard is subordinate to [[Nord-Troms District Court]] and [[Hålogaland Court of Appeal]], both located in Tromsø.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.domstol.no/DAtemplates/CourtDetails____2995.aspx?epslanguage=EN |title=Nord-Troms tingrett |publisher=[[Norwegian National Courts Administration]] |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref>

[[Ny-Ålesund]] is a permanent settlement based entirely on research. Formerly a mining town, it is still a [[company town]] operated by the Norwegian state-owned [[Kings Bay (company)|Kings Bay]]. While there is some tourism at the village, Norwegian authorities limit access to the outpost to minimise impact on the scientific work.<ref name=chp10/> Ny-Ålesund has a winter population of 35 and a summer population of 180.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingsbay.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=29 |title=Ny-Ålesund |publisher=[[Kings Bay (company)|Kings Bay]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310235351/http://www.kingsbay.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=29 |archive-date=10 March 2009 }}</ref> Poland operates the [[Polish Polar Station]] at [[Hornsund]], with ten permanent residents.<ref name=chp10/>

[[Barentsburg]] is the only remaining Russian settlement, after [[Pyramiden]] was abandoned in 1998. A company town, all facilities are owned by Arktikugol, which operates a coal mine. In addition to the mining facilities, Arktikugol has opened a hotel and souvenir shop, catering to tourists taking day trips or hikes from Longyearbyen.<ref name=chp10/> The village has facilities such as a school, library, sports center, community center, swimming pool, farm and greenhouse. Pyramiden has similar facilities; both are built in typical Soviet style and are the site of the world's two most northerly [[List of statues of Vladimir Lenin|Lenin statues]] and other [[socialist realism]] artwork.<ref>Umbreit (2005): 194–203</ref>