Editing Aust-Agder

{{Short description|Former county of Norway}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Aust-Agder
|fylke                  = yes
|former                 = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|official_name          = 
|image_skyline          = Vegår.jpg
|image_caption          = The lake [[Vegår]] in 2001
|idnumber               = 09
|county                 = Aust-Agder
|district               = [[Southern Norway]]
|capital                = [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]]
|established            = 1685
|preceded               = [[Agdesiden]]
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2020
|succeeded              = [[Agder]] county
|demonym                = Austegde
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = 
|flag                   = 
|webpage                = 
|county_mayor           = Gro Bråten
|county_mayor_party     = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|county_mayor_as_of     = 2017-2019
|governor               = [[Svein Ytterdahl]]
|governor_party         = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|governor_as_of         = 2016-2019
|area_rank              = 
|area_total_km2         = 9158
|area_land_km2          = 8353
|area_water_km2         = 805
|area_water_percent     = 
|population_as_of       = 30 September 2019
|population_rank        = 
|population_total       = 118,127
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_increase    = 4.3
|income_per_capita      = 135,700
|income_year            = 2001
|GDP                    = 208,275
|GDP_year               = 2001
|GDP_rank               = 18
|GDP_rank_percent       = 1.4
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|34|00|N|08|34|00|E|type:adm1st_region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Aust-Agder''' ({{IPA|no|ˈæ̂ʉstˌɑɡdər|lang|Aust-Agder.ogg}}, {{langx|en|"East Agder"}}) was a [[Counties of Norway|county]] (''fylke'') in [[Norway]] from 1 January 1919 to 31 December 2019, after it was merged with [[Vest-Agder]] to form [[Agder]] county. In 2002, there were 102,945 inhabitants, which was 2.2% of Norway's population. Its area was {{convert|9212|km2}}. The county's administrative center was the [[Arendal (town)|town of Arendal]].

The county, located along the [[Skagerrak]] coast, extended from Gjernestangen at [[Risør]] to the [[Kvåsefjorden]] in [[Lillesand]]. The inner parts of the area included [[Setesdalsheiene]] and  Austheiene. Most of the population lives near the coast; about 78% of the county's inhabitants live in the five coastal municipalities of [[Arendal]], [[Grimstad]], [[Lillesand]], [[Tvedestrand]], and [[Risør]]. The rest of the county is sparsely populated. Tourism is important, as Arendal and the other coastal towns are popular attractions.

The county includes the larger islands of [[Tromøya]], [[Hisøya]], [[Justøya]], and [[Sandøya, Aust-Agder|Sandøya]]. The interior of the county encompasses the traditional district of [[Setesdal]], through which the river [[Otra]] flows to the coast.

In 2017, the [[Parliament of Norway]] voted to merge Aust-Agder and [[Vest-Agder]] counties into one large region, [[Agder]], effective 1 January 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agderfk.no/om-sammenslaingen/|title=Om sammenslåingen|language=no|access-date=2018-01-06|publisher=Agder fylkeskommune|archive-date=2018-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061623/https://www.agderfk.no/om-sammenslaingen/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The county was part of the [[Aust-Agder District Court]] and the [[Church of Norway]] [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

==Name==
{{see also|Vest-Agder#Name}}
The meaning of the name is "(the) eastern (part of) [[Agder]]", since the word ''aust'' is the [[Nynorsk]] form of "east". 

Until 1919, the name of the county was ''Nedenes amt''. The [[amt (country subdivision)|amt]] was named after the old ''Nedenes'' farm ([[Old Norse|Norse]] ''Niðarnes''), since this was the seat of the ''[[amtmann]]'' ([[County governor (Norway)|County Governor]]).  The first element is the [[genitive case]] of the river name ''Nið'' (now  called [[Nidelva (Aust-Agder)|Nidelva]]) and the last element is ''nes'' which means "[[headland]]".  The meaning of the river name is unknown.<ref>{{cite book|title=Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt|edition=8|author-link=Oluf Rygh|last=Rygh|first=Oluf|publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri|year=1905|location=Kristiania, Norge|pages=110|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ|language=no}}</ref>

==Coat-of-arms==
The [[Coat of arms|coat-of-arms]] is from modern times.  They were granted on 12 December 1958.  It shows two horizontal golden [[Ordinary (heraldry)#Ordinaries|bars]] on a red background.  They symbolize the [[lumber]] trade and the recovery of [[iron ore]] that was important for Aust-Agder's growth.  There are two bars to represent the two areas of the county: inland and coastal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aa-f.kommune.no/sitepageview.aspx?articleID=1937|title=Fylkesvåpenet|publisher=Aust-Agder fylkeskommune|language=no|access-date=2009-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126173442/http://www.aa-f.kommune.no/sitepageview.aspx?articleID=1937|archive-date=2007-11-26|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Heraldry of the World|title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen|url=http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Aust-Agder|access-date=2018-01-06}}</ref>

==Municipalities==
{{update|section|date=January 2020}}
{{maincat|Municipalities of Aust-Agder}}
The system of [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipalities]], or ''kommuner'', was established in Norway in 1837, based on previously existing [[parish]]es (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]]). Norway had been ceded to [[Sweden]] by [[Denmark]] in 1814, at which it promptly rebelled and won the right of self-rule, though nominally part of Sweden. In 1905, Norway declared total independence. Meanwhile, as the years progressed, the municipalities did not remain the same, but new ones were formed, old ones broken up, and land was transferred.  Since the 1990s, Aust-Agder has been divided into 15 municipalities:

{{stack begin}}
[[File:Aust-Agder-kommuner.png|thumb|400px|Map of the municipalities in the county]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"  
! No.!! Name!! Adm. Center!!Population!! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
|- 
|0901
| align="left" | [[File:Risør komm.svg|20px|Risør kommune]] [[Risør]]
| align="left" | [[Risør (town)|Risør]]
| align="right" | {{nts|6936}}
| align="right" | {{nts|193}}
|- 
|0904
| align="left" | [[File:Grimstad komm.svg|20px|Grimstad kommune]] [[Grimstad]]
| align="left" | [[Grimstad (town)|Grimstad]]
| align="right" | {{nts|22692}}
| align="right" | {{nts|304}}
|-
|0906
| align="left" | [[File:Arendal komm.svg|20px|Arendal kommune]] [[Arendal]]
| align="left" | [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]]
| align="right" | {{nts|44576}}
| align="right" | {{nts|270}}
|- 
|0911
| align="left" | [[File:Gjerstad komm.svg|20px|Gjerstad kommune]] [[Gjerstad]]
| align="left" | [[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]
| align="right" | {{nts|2511}}
| align="right" | {{nts|322}}
|- 
|0912
| align="left" | [[File:Vegårshei komm.svg|20px|Vegårshei kommune]] [[Vegårshei]]
| align="left" | [[Myra, Norway|Myra]]
| align="right" | {{nts|2104}}
| align="right" | {{nts|356}}
|- 
|0914
| align="left" | [[File:Tvedestrand komm.svg|20px|Tvedestrand kommune]] [[Tvedestrand]]
| align="left" | [[Tvedestrand (town)|Tvedestrand]]
| align="right" | {{nts|6051}}
| align="right" | {{nts|215}}
|- 
|0919
| align="left" | [[File:Froland komm.svg|20px|Froland kommune]] [[Froland]]
| align="left" | [[Blakstad, Aust-Agder|Blakstad]]
| align="right" | {{nts|5713}}
| align="right" | {{nts|645}}
|- 
|0926
| align="left" | [[File:Lillesand komm.svg|20px|Lillesand kommune]] [[Lillesand]]
| align="left" | [[Lillesand (town)|Lillesand]]
| align="right" | {{nts|10702}}
| align="right" | {{nts|190}}
|- 
|0928
| align="left" | [[File:Birkenes komm.svg|20px|Birkenes kommune]] [[Birkenes]]
| align="left" | [[Birkeland, Aust-Agder|Birkeland]]
| align="right" | {{nts|5178}}
| align="right" | {{nts|674}}
|- 
|0929
| align="left" | [[File:Åmli komm.svg|20px|Åmli kommune]] [[Åmli]]
| align="left" | [[Åmli (village)|Åmli]]
| align="right" | {{nts|1856}}
| align="right" | {{nts|1131}}
|- 
|0935
| align="left" | [[File:Iveland komm.svg|20px|Iveland kommune]] [[Iveland]]
| align="left" | [[Birketveit]]
| align="right" | {{nts|1342}}
| align="right" | {{nts|262}}
|- 
|0937
| align="left" | [[File:Evje og Hornnes komm.svg|20px|Evje og Hornnes kommune]] [[Evje og Hornnes]]
| align="left" | [[Evje (village)|Evje]]
| align="right" | {{nts|3614}}
| align="right" | {{nts|550}}
|- 
|0938
| align="left" | [[File:Bygland komm.svg|20px|Bygland kommune]] [[Bygland]]
| align="left" | [[Bygland (village)|Bygland]]
| align="right" | {{nts|1200}}
| align="right" | {{nts|1312}}
|- 
|0940
| align="left" | [[File:Valle komm.svg|20px|Valle kommune]] [[Valle, Norway|Valle]]
| align="left" | [[Valle (village)|Valle]]
| align="right" | {{nts|1246}}
| align="right" | {{nts|1265}}
|- 
|0941
| align="left" | [[File:Bykle komm.svg|20px|Bylke kommune]] [[Bykle]]
| align="left" | [[Bykle (village)|Bykle]]
| align="right" | {{nts|952}}
| align="right" | {{nts|1467}}
|- 
!style="text-align: left;"|'''Total'''
!style="text-align: left;"|[[File:Aust-Agder våpen.svg|20px|Aust-Agder fylke]] '''Aust-Agder'''
!style="text-align: left;"|'''[[Arendal (town)|Arendal]]'''
!style="text-align: right;"|'''{{nts|116673}}'''
!style="text-align: right;"|'''{{nts|9158}}'''
|}
{{stack end}}
{{clear}}

==Cities==
{{Main|list of towns and cities in Norway}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]]
* [[Grimstad (town)|Grimstad]]
* [[Risør (town)|Risør]]
* [[Lillesand (town)|Lillesand]]
* [[Tvedestrand (town)|Tvedestrand]]
{{div col end}}

==Parishes==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Trinity Church (Arendal)|Arendal]]
* [[Austad Church, Aust-Agder|Austad]]
* [[Austre Moland Church|Austre Moland]]
* [[Barbu Church|Barbu]]
* [[Birkenes Church|Birkenes]]
* [[Bjorbekk Church|Bjorbekk]]
* [[Bygland Church|Bygland]]
* [[Bykle Church|Bykle]]
* [[Old Bykle Church|Old Bykle]]
* [[Dypvåg Church|Dypvåg]]
* [[Eide Church (Aust-Agder)|Eide]]
* [[Engene Church|Engene]]
* [[Evje Church|Evje]]
* [[Færvik Church|Færvik]]
* [[Fevik Church|Fevik]]
* [[Fjære Church|Fjære]]
* [[Fjellgardane Church|Fjellgardane]]
* [[Flosta Church|Flosta]]
* [[Froland Church|Froland]]
* [[Frydendal Church|Frydendal]]
* [[Gjerstad Church|Gjerstad]]
* [[Gjøvdal Church|Gjøvdal]]
* [[Grimstad Church|Grimstad]]
* Grøvdal, see Gjøvdal
* [[Herefoss Church|Herefoss]]
* [[Hisøy Church|Hisøy]]
* [[Holt Church|Holt]]
* Hommedal
* [[Hornnes Church|Hornnes]]
* [[Hylestad Church|Hylestad]]
* [[Høvåg Church|Høvåg]]
* [[Iveland Church|Iveland]]
* [[Justøy Chapel|Justøy]]
* [[Laget Church|Laget]]
* [[Landvik Church|Landvik]]
* [[Lillesand Church|Lillesand]]
* [[Mykland Church|Mykland]]
* [[Risør Church|Risør]]
* [[Sandnes Church (Aust-Agder)|Sandnes]]
* [[Stokken Church|Stokken]]
* [[Søndeled Church|Søndeled (Sønneløv)]]
* [[Tovdal Church|Tovdal]]
* [[Trinity Church (Arendal)|Trefoldighet (Trinity)]]
* [[Tromøy Church|Tromøy]]
* [[Tvedestrand Church|Tvedestrand]]
* [[Valle Church (Aust-Agder)|Valle]]
* [[Vegusdal Church|Vegusdal]]
* [[Vegårshei Church|Vegårshei]]
* [[Vestre Moland Church|Vestre Moland]]
* [[Østerhus Church|Østerhus]]
* Østre Moland, see Austre Moland
* [[Øyestad Church|Øyestad]]
* [[Åmli Church|Åmli]]
* [[Årdal Church (Aust-Agder)|Årdal]]
* Arendal Branch (LDS, 1864-1914)
* Arendal Lutherske Frimenighet (1884-1908)
* Arendal (Den Katolske Apostoliske, 1889-1928)
* Arendal Metodistkirke (1868-1892)
* Risør Branch (LDS, 1851-1866)
* Risør Lutheran Frikirke, (1877-1995)
* Tvedestrand Baptist Menighet (1892-1895)
{{div col end}}

==Villages==
{{Main|list of villages in Aust-Agder}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Akland]]
* [[Asdal (village)|Asdal]]
* [[Askerøya]]
* [[Askland]]
* [[Ausland, Norway|Ausland]]
* [[Austad, Aust-Agder|Austad]]
* [[Bakken, Aust-Agder|Bakken]]
* [[Berdalen]]
* [[Besteland]]
* [[Birkeland, Aust-Agder|Birkeland]]
* [[Birketveit]]
* [[Bjorbekk]]
* [[Bjåen]]
* [[Blakstad, Aust-Agder|Blakstad]]
* [[Borås]]
* [[Bossvika]]
* [[Bossvika]]
* [[Breive]]
* [[Brekka]]
* [[Brekkestø]]
* [[Brokke]]
* [[Bygland]]
* [[Byglandsfjord]]
* [[Bykle (village)|Bykle]]
* [[Bøylefoss]]
* [[Bøylestad]]
* [[Dypvåg (village)|Dypvåg]]
* [[Dølemo]]
* [[Dåsnesmoen]]
* [[Eikeland]]
* [[Engesland]]
* [[Eppeland]]
* [[Espenes, Aust-Agder|Espenes]]
* [[Evje (village)|Evje]]
* [[Evjemoen]]
* [[Eydehavn]]
* [[Fevik]]
* [[Fiane, Gjerstad]]
* [[Fiane, Tvedestrand]]
* [[Fie, Norway|Fie]]
* [[Flakk]]
* [[Flatebygd]]
* [[Flaten, Norway|Flaten]]
* [[Froland (village)|Froland]]
* [[Frolands verk]]
* [[Færvik]]
* [[Gautestad]]
* [[Gjennestad]]
* [[Gjerstad (village)|Gjerstad]]
* [[Gjeving]]
* [[Goderstad]]
* [[Grendi]]
* [[Gryting]]
* [[Grønland, Aust-Agder|Grønland]]
* [[Heldalsmo]]
* [[Helldal]]
* [[Herefoss]]
* [[Hesnes]]
* [[Hillestad, Aust-Agder|Hillestad (Tovdal)]]
* [[Hinebu]]
* [[His, Aust-Agder|His (Hisøy)]]
* [[Holmsund, Norway|Holmsund]]
* [[Homborsund]]
* [[Homdrom]]
* [[Homme, Aust-Agder|Homme]]
* [[Hornnes (village)|Hornnes]]
* [[Hoslemo]]
* [[Hovden, Aust-Agder|Hovden]]
* [[Hovet, Aust-Agder|Hovet]]
* [[Hynnekleiv]]
* [[Hødnebø]]
* [[Høvåg (village)|Høvåg]]
* [[Håbbesland]]
* [[Håbbestad]]
* [[Jomås]]
* [[Jortveit]]
* [[Kalvøysund]]
* [[Kilen, Aust-Agder|Kilen]]
* [[Kilsund]]
* [[Kjetså]]
* [[Klåholmen]]
* [[Kolbjørnsvik]]
* [[Kongshamn]]
* [[Krabbesund]]
* [[Kroken, Grimstad|Kroken]]
* [[Kråkvåg, Aust-Agder|Kråkvåg]]
* [[Laget]]
* [[Langeid]]
* [[Lauvdal]]
* [[Åmli (village)|Lauveik]]
* [[Lauvrak]]
* [[Libru]]
* [[Lindtveit]]
* [[Litveit]]
* [[Longerak]]
* [[Longum, Aust-Agder|Longum]]
* [[Lyngør]]
* [[Løddesøl]]
* [[Løvjomås]]
* [[Merdø]]
* [[Mjølhus]]
* [[Mjåvatn]]
* [[Mo, Aust-Agder|Mo]]
* [[Moen, Aust-Agder|Moen]]
* [[Moi, Aust-Agder|Moi]]
* [[Mollestad]]
* [[Mykland (village)|Mykland]]
* [[Myra, Norway|Myra]]
* [[Narestø]]
* [[Nedenes]]
* [[Nelaug]]
* [[Nesgrenda]]
* [[Nipe]]
* [[Nordbygdi, Aust-Agder|Nordbygdi]]
* [[Nygrenda]]
* [[Nævesdal]]
* [[Oggevatn]]
* [[Ose, Norway|Ose]]
* [[Blakstad, Aust-Agder|Osedalen]]
* [[Pusnes, Arendal|Pusnes]]
* [[Reddal]]
* [[Revesand]]
* [[Ribe, Norway|Ribe]]
* [[Risdal]]
* [[Rise, Aust-Agder|Rise]]
* [[Roresand]]
* [[Rugsland]]
* [[Rygnestad]]
* [[Rykene]]
* [[Rysstad]]
* [[Rød, Arendal]]
* [[Rød, Gjerstad]]
* [[Rønnes]]
* [[Røysland]]
* [[Sagene, Aust-Agder|Sagene]]
* [[Sagesund]]
* [[Saltrød]]
* [[Sandnes, Bygland]]
* [[Sandnes, Risør]]
* [[Sandvika, Aust-Agder|Sandvika (Borøy)]]
* [[Sennumstad]]
* [[Sivik]]
* [[Skaiå]]
* [[Skåmedal]]
* [[Skiftenes]]
* [[Skjeggedal, Aust-Agder|Skjeggedal]]
* [[Songe]]
* [[Staubø]]
* [[Stoa, Norway|Stoa]]
* [[Strengereid]]
* [[Sundebru]]
* [[Svaland]]
* [[Søndeled (village)|Søndeled]]
* [[Søre Herefoss]]
* [[Tjore]]
* [[Trøe]]
* [[Tveide]]
* [[Tveit, Aust-Agder|Tveit]]
* [[Ubergsmoen]]
* [[Ulvøysund]]
* [[Uppstad]]
* [[Valle (village)|Valle]]
* [[Vatnebu]]
* [[Vatnestrøm]]
* [[Vehus]]
* [[Vesterhus]]
* [[Vestøl, Aust-Agder|Vestøl]]
* [[Vik, Grimstad|Vik]]
* [[Vrengen, Aust-Agder|Vrengen]]
* [[Væting]]
* [[Ytre Ramse]]
* [[Østerholt]]
* [[Østerhus]]
* [[Østerå]]
* [[Øvre Dåsvatn]]
* [[Øvre Ramse]]
* [[Øyna]]
* [[Åkerøyhamn]]
* [[Åmdalsøyra]]
* [[Åmli (village)|Åmli]]
* [[Åneland]]
* [[Åraksbø]]
* [[Ås, Aust-Agder|Ås]]
{{div col end}}

==Former Municipalities==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
{{Main|list of former municipalities of Norway#Aust-Agder}}
* [[Austre Moland]]
* [[Barbu, Norway|Barbu]]
* [[Dypvåg]]
* [[Eide, Aust-Agder|Eide]]
* [[Evje]]
* [[Evje og Vegusdal]]
* [[Fjære]]
* [[Flosta]]
* [[Gjøvdal]]
* [[Herefoss (municipality)|Herefoss]]
* [[Hisøy]]
* [[Holt, Aust-Agder|Holt]]
* [[Hornnes]]
* [[Hornnes og Iveland]]
* [[Hylestad]]
* [[Høvåg]]
* [[Landvik]]
* [[Moland]]
* [[Mykland (municipality)|Mykland]]
* [[Stokken]]
* [[Søndeled]]
* [[Tovdal]]
* [[Tromøy]]
* [[Vegusdal]]
* [[Vestre Moland]]
* [[Øyestad]]
{{div col end}}

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|footnote = '''''Source''': [http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/02/folkendrhist_en/tables/tab/09.html Statistics Norway].''<ref>[https://archive.today/20120526193657/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=folkfram Projected population - Statistics Norway]</ref>
|shading = off
|1951|75811
|1961|77066
|1971|80839 	
|1981|90629
|1991|97314 	
|2001|102714
|2011|110048
|2021?|126092
|2031?|139982
}}
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Aust-Agder<ref>[https://archive.today/20120716151336/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=kirke_kostra Statistics Norway - Church of Norway.]</ref><ref>[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2010-12-13-02-en.html Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010]</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Purple|87.57}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|0.75}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|Red|0.24}}
{{bar percent|Other|Blue|11.44}}
}}
Since the census of 1769, Aust-Agder has experienced a steady population growth: from 29,633 to 79,927 in 1900, and to 102,848 in 2001. There was significant emigration to the [[United States]] in the 19th century and early 20th century.

==See also==
*[[Vest-Agder]]
*[[Southern Norway|Sørlandet]]
*[[Agder]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160406055419/http://www.reuber-norwegen.de/AustAgder/FramesAustAgderKarte.html Political map]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040309124205/http://www2.aa-f.kommune.no/?itemid=1714 Aust-Agder fylkeskommune (in English)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185946/http://www.reuber-norwegen.de/AustAgder/FramesAustAgderPhotos.html Photogallery]
* {{commons category-inline}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline}}

{{Counties of Norway|former}}
{{Metropolitan areas of Southern Norway}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Aust-Agder| ]]
[[Category:Former counties of Norway]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 2020]]