Editing Grimstad

{{Short description|Municipality in Agder, Norway}}
{{About|the municipality in Norway||}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Grimstad
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|image_skyline          = Darshanagrimstad.jpg
|image_caption          = View of Grimstad harbour
|idnumber               = 4202
|county                 = Agder
|district               = Sørlandet
|capital                = [[Grimstad (town)|Grimstad]]
|language               = Bokmål
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonyms               = {{Plainlist|
* Grimstadmann (m)
* Grimstadkvinne (f)
* Grimstadfolk
}}
|mayor                  = [[Beate Skretting]]
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2015
|area_rank              = 264
|area_total_km2         = 303.60
|area_land_km2          = 272.37
|area_water_km2         = 31.23
|area_water_percent     = 10.3
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 50
|population_total       = 24587
|population_density_km2 = 90.3
|population_increase    = 13.9
|coordinates            = {{Coord|58|20|00|N|08|36|00|E|type:city(25,000)_region:NO-42|display=inline}}
|utm_zone               = 32V
|utm_northing           = 6467989
|utm_easting            = 0473351
| geo_cat               = adm2nd
|webpage                = www.grimstad.kommune.no
}}

'''Grimstad''' ({{IPA|no|ˈɡrɪ̀mstɑ|pron|Grimstad.ogg}}) is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Agder]] [[counties of Norway|county]], [[Norway]]. It belongs to the geographical region of [[Southern Norway|Sørlandet]]. The [[administrative center]] of the municipality is the [[Grimstad (town)|town of Grimstad]]. Some of the villages in Grimstad include [[Eide, Aust-Agder|Eide]], [[Espenes, Aust-Agder|Espenes]], [[Fevik]], [[Fjære]], [[Håbbestad]], [[Hesnes]], [[Homborsund]], [[Jortveit]], [[Kroken, Grimstad|Kroken]], [[Landvik]], [[Nygrenda]], [[Prestegårdskogen]], [[Reddal]], [[Roresand]], [[Rønnes]], [[Skiftenes]], [[Tjore]], [[Vik, Grimstad|Vik]], and [[Østerhus]].

The municipality is centered around the little maritime [[Grimstad (town)|town of Grimstad]] which is surrounded by many small [[island]]s (''[[Skerry|Skjærgård]]''). There is a [[harbor]], a main street, a small [[market square]], [[Grimstad Church]], and a museum dedicated to the early life of [[Henrik Ibsen]], who served as an [[apprenticeship|apprentice]] to Grimstad's local [[pharmacist]] Reimann, from 1844 to 1847, before leaving Grimstad in 1850. Ibsen's intimate knowledge of the local people and surroundings can be seen in his poem ''[[Terje Vigen]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Welle-Strand |first=Erling |title=Adventure Roads in Norway |publisher=Nortrabooks |year=1996 |isbn=82-90103-71-9}}</ref>  The majority of the inhabitants live in and around the town, while the rest of the municipality is rural and heavily forested.

The {{convert|304|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 264th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Grimstad is the 50th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 24,587. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|90.3|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 13.9% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Grimstad-4K.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the merged areas in 1971 that formed present-day Grimstad]]
[[File:Grimstad 078.jpg|thumb|left|View of the city centre]]
[[File:Grimstad-krk.jpg|thumb|left|[[Grimstad Church]]]]
[[File:Storgata Grimstad 2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The narrow main pedestrian street Storgata in the city center.]]

The [[Grimstad (town)|town of Grimstad]] was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1878, part of the neighboring municipality of [[Fjære]] (population: 948) was transferred to Grimstad. Again, on 1 January 1960, another part of Fjære (pop: 344) was transferred to Grimstad. On 1 January 1971, the rural municipalities of Fjære (pop: 6,189) and [[Landvik]] (pop: 2,781) were merged with the town of Grimstad (pop: 2,794) to form a significantly larger municipality of Grimstad with a total population of 11,764 at the time of the merger.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite book |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |year=1999 |isbn=9788253746845 |language=no}}</ref>

===Name===
The municipality is named after the historic town of [[Grimstad (town)|Grimstad]] ({{langx|non|Grómstǫð}}). The first element is the name of after the old ''Grøm'' farm. The farm name is the combination of two items. First, the old local river name ''Gróa'' which comes from the word {{wikt-lang|non|gróa}} which means "to grow" and the second part is {{wikt-lang|non|heimr}} which means "home" or "abode". The last element of the name is {{wikt-lang|non|stǫð}} which means "landing place" or "[[Harbor|harbour]]". The town's name was originally spelled ''Grømstad'', when Norway was part of the [[Kingdom of Denmark-Norway]]. At some point, the spelling of the name was misunderstood and became spelled as "Grimstad" during the registration of Norwegian cities and small places.<ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Grimstad |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Grimstad |access-date=2017-11-17 |date=2017-11-02 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4pBAAAAIAAJ |title=Norske gaardnavne: Nedenes amt |date=1905 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=8 |location=Kristiania, Norge |page=115 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted in 1899 and was based upon a seal of the city dating back to 1847. The [[blazon]] is ''"Azure, a [[brig]] above three [[barrulet]]s wavy [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]"''. This means the arms have a blue [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a two-masted [[brig]], a type of sailing ship, on top of three wavy lines which symblize the ocean. The charge has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The arms usually have a [[mural crown]] above the shield. The design was chosen as a symbol for the importance of [[fishing]] and [[shipping]].<ref name="snl" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Grimstad |access-date=2023-07-12 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grimstad kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/Grimstad%20fra%20SNL.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dgrimstad |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has four parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Grimstad. It is part of the [[Vest-Nedenes prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Agder og Telemark]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Grimstad'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Eide||[[Eide Church (Aust-Agder)|Eide Church]]||[[Eide, Aust-Agder|Eide]]||1795
|-
|rowspan="2"|Fjære||[[Fevik Church]]||[[Fevik]]||1976
|-
|[[Fjære Church]]||[[Fjære]]||c. 1150
|-
|rowspan="1"|Grimstad||[[Grimstad Church]]||[[Grimstad (town)|Grimstad]]||1881
|-
|rowspan="2"|Landvik||[[Landvik Church]]||[[Roresand]]||1825
|-
|[[Østerhus Church]]||[[Østerhus]]||1980
|}

==History==
Grimstad lies within the boundaries of the ancient parish of [[Fjære]]. It is reportedly first mentioned as a harbor in the 16th century. Eight years after he was [[Deposition (politics)|deposed]], [[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]] of [[Denmark–Norway]] (1513–1523) attempted to recover his kingdoms. A tempest scattered his fleet off the Norwegian coast, and on 24 October 1531, they took refuge at Grimstad. On 1 July 1532, he surrendered to his rival, [[Frederick I of Denmark|King Frederick I of Denmark]], in exchange for a promise of safe conduct. King Frederick failed to honor his promise and imprisoned Christian until he died.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Norway |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |year=1996 |isbn=0-395-81912-1 |editor-last=Taylor-Wilkie, Doreen}}</ref>

An inn is recorded at Grimstad as early as 1607. In 1622, Grimstad became a [[Market town|recognized harbor]] under the town of [[Arendal (town)|Arendal]]. By 1747, Grimstad was identified as a sailing community and a recognized haunt of [[Smuggling|smuggler]]s. During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the British [[Royal Navy]] blockaded Grimstad; on 16 March 1811, the British frigate ''Venus'' [[Battle of Grimstad Bay|entered Grimstad's harbour]] to capture four Dano-Norwegian merchantmen sheltering there. [[Royal Marines]] from ''Venus'' captured the sloop ''Frau Maria'' but were eventually forced to abandoned her and row back to ''Venus''.

John Frederik Classen, who owned the [[Froland|Frolands Værk]] (an [[ironworks]]), obtained concessions to export and import through Grimstad and bypass Arendal with its [[customs]] dues. Grimstad was awarded [[Market town#Norway|market town status]] in 1816. The [[Nørholm]] farm in Grimstad was the home of [[Knut Hamsun]] in the early 20th century.

==Government==
Grimstad Municipality is responsible for [[primary education]] (through 10th grade), outpatient [[Health care|health services]], [[old age|senior citizen]] services, [[welfare spending|welfare]] and other [[Social work|social services]], [[zoning]], [[economic development]], and municipal [[road]]s and utilities. The municipality is governed by a [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] of [[Direct election|directly elected]] representatives. The [[mayor]] is [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by a vote of the municipal council.<ref name="ks">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=kommunestyre |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/kommunestyre |date=2022-09-20 |editor-last=Hansen |editor-first=Tore |language=Norwegian |editor2-last=Vabo |editor2-first=Signy Irene |accessdate=2022-10-14}}</ref> The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the [[Agder District Court]] and the [[Agder Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Grimstad is made up of 35 representatives that are elected to four-year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political [[Political party|party]].
{{div col}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/grimstad#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 8
|INP                       = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Konservativt              = 1
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/grimstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Grønne                    = 2
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=no}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 6
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 3
|Grønne                    = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/aust-agder/grimstad#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 6
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Venstre                   = 6
|Høyre                     = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 35
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 8
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 15
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 6
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|DLF/V                     = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|DLF                       = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 14
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|DLF                       = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 15
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 11
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 12
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 9
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1963
|end                       = 1967
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1959
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1955
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1951
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1947
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|Høyre                     = 8
|DRF/V                     = 1
|Local_Lists               = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1941* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Avholdspartiet            = 6
|Venstre                   = 3
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 8
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Grimstad
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1934
|end                       = 1937 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1935 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Venstre                   = 3
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 10
|Avholdspartiet            = 4
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Grimstad:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Grimstad siden 1837 |url=https://www.grimstad.kommune.no/politikk-og-organisasjon/politikk/ordforer-varaordforer-og-andre-valgte-representanter/ordforere-i-grimstad-siden-1837/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Grimstad kommune |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1838-1841: Bendix Ebbell 
* 1841-1842: Christian Fredrik Bonnevie 
* 1843-1843: Christian Holst 
* 1844-1844: Mathias Gundersen 
* 1845-1845: Christian Holst 
* 1846-1846: Mathias Gundersen 
* 1847-1848: Axel Christian Pharo 
* 1848-1849: J.C. Falsen
* 1849-1850: Fredrik Crawfurd
* 1851-1851: Morten Smith Petersen 
* 1852-1852: C. Crawfurd 
* 1853-1853: Morten Smith Petersen 
* 1854-1854: Christian Holst 
* 1855-1855: Morten Smith Petersen 
* 1856-1856: H. Frisak 
* 1856-1857: Morten Smith Petersen 
* 1857-1857: M.S. Tveten 
* 1858-1859: Morten Smith Petersen
* 1859-1859: M.S. Tveten 
* 1860-1860: H. Frisak 
* 1860-1862: Morten Smith Petersen 
* 1863-1864: H. Frisak 
* 1865-1866: Henning J. Bie 
* 1867-1867: Morten Smith Petersen
* 1867-1867: A. Frivold
* 1868-1868: Morten Smith Petersen
* 1868-1872: H. Frisak
* 1873-1874: Fr. Crawfurd
* 1875-1878: H. Frisak
* 1879-1901: Fr. Smith Petersen
* 1902-1907: Bernt Einersen
* 1908-1910: Peter Berg
* 1911-1914: Bernt Einersen 
* 1915-1916: Hans P. Hansen 
* 1917-1917: Alfred Johnsen 
* 1918-1919: J.A. Gundersen 
* 1920-1920: Daniel Gundersen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1921-1922: O.T. Tønnevold ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1923-1925: P.B. Einersen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1926-1928: Daniel Gundersen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1929-1931: P.B. Einersen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1932-1934: Carsten Assev ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1935-1936: Thomas O. Tønnevold ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1937-1937: M. Fuhr ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1938-1938: G.E. Gundersen
* 1939-1945: M. Fuhr ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1945-1945: G.E. Gundersen
* 1945-1945: L.B. Smith
* 1946-1947: Trygve Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1948-1948: G.E. Gundersen
* 1949-1949: Trygve Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1950-1950: G.E. Gundersen
* 1951-1961: Trygve Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1962-1963: H. Stifoss Hanssen
* 1964-1970: Trygve Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1970–1971: Johan Jørgen Ugland ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1972–1975: Gudmund Hytten ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1976–1977: Trygve Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1978–1981: Reidar Aslaksen ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1982–1983: [[Gunnar Edvard Gundersen]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1984–1985: Reidar Aslaksen ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1986–1987: Hallstein Gauslaa ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1988–1989: Jon Sørland ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1990–1991: Bent Sætra ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1992–1995: Oddvar Skaiaa ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1995–2003: Per Svenningsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2003–2007: [[Svein Harberg]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2007–2015: Hans Antonsen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 2015–2019: Kjetil Glimsdal ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 2019–present: Beate Skretting ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
{{div col end}}

==Education==
Grimstad is home to ''Drottningborg'', a private [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] boarding preparatory school. It is also the location of the ''[[Grimstad Bible School|Bibelskolen in Grimstad (BiG)]]'', a private Lutheran bible school. The [[University of Agder]] has its [[Faculty (division)|faculty]] of [[engineering]] seated here. A student dorm called "Grøm" is also in Grimstad.

==Geography==
Grimstad is a coastal municipality in [[Agder]] county bordering on the [[Skagerrak]]. The municipality is bordered by [[Arendal]] in the east, [[Froland]] and [[Birkenes]] in the north, and [[Lillesand]] in the west. The lakes [[Syndle]] and [[Rore (lake)|Rore]] are found in the northern part of the municipality. Landviksvannet and Reddalsvannet lakes are found in the southern part of the municipality, near [[Reddal]]. The rivers [[Nidelva (Agder)|Nidelva]] and [[Tovdalselva]] run through parts of the municipality. The [[Rivingen Lighthouse]] and [[Homborsund Lighthouse]] both sit on small islands just off the coast.

[[File:Panoramic of Grimstad taken from the harbour.jpg|750px|thumb|none|Panorama of Grimstad harbour.]]

[[File:Grimstad panoramic taken as the sun sets from Binabben.jpg|750px|thumb|none|Panorama of Grimstad from Binabben look-out point.]]

==Climate==
Grimstad has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb, marine west coast), with autumn and early winter as the wettest season and April to July as the driest season. The all-time high temperature {{convert|32.2|°C}} was 11 August 1975; the all-time low is {{convert|-30.3|°C}} recorded 8 February 1966. The March record high {{convert|23.1|°C}} recorded 27 March 2012 was new national heat record for March. Most of the record lows are old; 8 of 12 record lows from before 1970 (November 2021). In February and March 1970 a snow depth of {{convert|172|cm}} was recorded at Landvik. In recent times, snow usually melts fast along the coast, but the right weather setup can sometimes give large snowfalls. The weather station in Landvik, {{convert|5|km}} inland from the town of Grimstad, has been recording since 1957.

{{Weather box 
|width=auto
|metric first = yes
|single line  = yes
|location     = Landvik 1991–2020 (6 m, extremes 1957–2020)
|Jan record high C = 12.8 | Jan record low C = -27.5
|Feb record high C = 18.7 | Feb record low C = -30.3
|Mar record high C = 23.1 | Mar record low C = -23.2
|Apr record high C = 24.2 | Apr record low C = -11.6
|May record high C = 27.7 | May record low C = -2.6
|Jun record high C = 31.2 | Jun record low C = 0
|Jul record high C = 30.8 | Jul record low C = 3.5
|Aug record high C = 32.2 | Aug record low C = 3.5
|Sep record high C = 27.3 | Sep record low C = -0.8
|Oct record high C = 21.9 | Oct record low C = -8.1
|Nov record high C = 16.8 | Nov record low C = -23.1
|Dec record high C = 13.8 | Dec record low C = -24
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean C = 0.1
| Feb mean C = 0.1
| Mar mean C = 2.4
| Apr mean C = 6.4
| May mean C = 11.2
| Jun mean C = 14.8
| Jul mean C = 16.9
| Aug mean C = 16.1
| Sep mean C = 12.7
| Oct mean C = 8
| Nov mean C = 4.2
| Dec mean C = 1.2
|year mean C = 
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
|precipitation colour = green<!-- Enter "green" for green precipitation colours, remove this line for blue colouring. -->
| Jan precipitation mm = 142
| Feb precipitation mm = 95
| Mar precipitation mm = 91
| Apr precipitation mm = 68
| May precipitation mm = 80
| Jun precipitation mm = 88
| Jul precipitation mm = 90
| Aug precipitation mm = 126
| Sep precipitation mm = 137
| Oct precipitation mm = 176
| Nov precipitation mm = 170
| Dec precipitation mm = 147
|year precipitation mm = 
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute/yr.no<ref>{{Cite web |title=yr.no |url=https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-38140/Norway/Agder/Grimstad/Landvik |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
|source 2= eklima/met.no database<ref>{{Cite web |title=eklima portal |url=http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39113:73_39117&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331191518/http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39113:73_39117&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date=31 March 2016 |access-date=28 November 2021 |publisher=Norwegian Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
}}

==Attractions==
The '''Maritime Museum''', the comprehensive '''City Museum''' and the '''Norwegian Horticultural Museum''', are all popular among tourists, as are the wealth of exhibitions and concerts that the town hosts. The town is also a popular destination for summer vacationers, and supports a robust shopping milieu during the Christmas season.
 
During summer, Grimstad plays host to the '''Norwegian Short Film Festival''', which attracts film enthusiasts from far and near. Another popular attraction is the [[Agder Teater]] at [[Fjæreheia]], an open-air stage located in a disused stone [[quarry]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |title=South Norway |publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. |year=1958}}</ref>
Shopping is also available in '''Oddensenteret''' along the harbour. (The view from Oddensenteret is seen in the panorama photo above.)

The [[Lighthouses in Norway|Homborsund lighthouse]] is located within the municipality. Grimstad is also home to the [[Nøgne Ø]] [[brewery]].

==Sports==
The [[1997 World Orienteering Championships]] were held in Grimstad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Orienteering Championships 1997 |url=http://orienteering.org/events/?event_id=31 |access-date=7 September 2017 |publisher=[[International Orienteering Federation]]}}</ref>
The [[FK Jerv]] is the most important football club, and plays for first time at the [[2022 Eliteserien|top division in 2022]].

==Notable people==
{{Main category|People from Grimstad}}
[[File:Roald Dahl.jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|Roald Dahl, 1954]]

=== The Arts ===
* [[Henrik Ibsen]] (1828–1906), a playwright who wrote his first drama, ''[[Catiline (play)|Catalina]]'' in Grimstad in 1848/49
* [[Andreas Isachsen]] (1829-1903), an actor and playwright
* [[Knut Hamsun]] (1859–1952), a Nobel lauriate author who lived in [[Norholm]] from 1918
* [[Clara Thue Ebbell]] (1880–1971), an author of young adult fiction
* [[Roald Dahl]] (1916–1990), an author who visited his grandparents and summered at the Strand Hotel in [[Fevik]] in Grimstad
* [[Lillian Müller]] (born 1951), a model and actress<ref>{{IMDb name|0618230|Lillian Müller}}. Retrieved 13 January 2021.</ref>
* [[Even Benestad]] (born 1974), a documentary film director<ref>{{IMDb name|1135320|Even Benestad}}. Retrieved 13 January 2021.</ref>
* [[Kjetil Mørland]] (born 1980), a singer and songwriter who competed in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2015]]

=== Public service & public thinking ===
[[File:Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad (cropped).jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad, 2011]]
* [[Bent Salvesen]] (1787-1820), a ship's captaina, lieutenant in the [[Royal Danish Navy]], and [[privateer]]
* [[Elisabeth Helmer]] (1854–after 1912), a professional photographer and women's rights activist
* [[Sverre Hassel]] (1876–1928), a polar explorer who accompanied [[Roald Amundsen]] to the [[South Pole]]
* [[Marius Nygaard Smith-Petersen]] (1886–1953), an American physician and [[Orthopedic surgery|orthopaedic surgeon]]
* [[Tryggve Gran]] (1889–1980), a [[List of polar explorers|polar explorer]], flight pioneer, and author
* [[Christopher Grigson]] (1926-2001), a developer of the [[scanning electron microscope]] 
* [[Thor Tjøntveit]] (1936–2017), a Norwegian-American aviator and convicted fraudster
* [[Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad]] (born 1949), a physician, sexologist, and prominent [[Transgender|trans]] person
* [[Gunhild Vehusheia]] (born 1975), a lawyer and women's rights leader

=== Sport ===
[[File:Dag Otto Lauritzen Jarle Vines.JPG|upright=0.65|thumb|Dag Otto Lauritzen, 2014]]
* [[Jacob Gundersen]] (1875–1968), a Norwegian-American freestyle wrestler and silver medallist (for Norway) at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] 
* [[Dag Otto Lauritzen]] (born 1956), a road bicycle racer, bronze medallist at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]], and the first Norwegian to win a stage in the Tour de France in 1987
*[[Thor Hushovd]] (born 1978), a [[Road bicycle racing|road bicycle racer]], 2010 [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race|World Road Race Champion]], and the first Norwegian to wear the [[General classification in the Tour de France|yellow jersey]] and win the [[General classification in the Tour de France|green jersey]] in the [[Tour de France]]

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway}}
Grimstad is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vennskapskommuner |url=http://www.norden.no/oversikt2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724182218/http://www.norden.no/oversikt2.html |archive-date=2011-07-24 |access-date=2009-03-05 |publisher=Foreningen Norden |language=no}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Asikkala]], Finland
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Billund Municipality|Billund]], Denmark
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Köping Municipality|Köping]], Sweden

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Grimstad}}
{{Wiktionary|Grimstad}}
{{Wikivoyage|Aust-Agder}}
* [http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/grimstad Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
* [http://www.visitgrimstad.com/en/ Visit Grimstad (Tourist Information)] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115185543/http://www.visitgrimstad.com/en/ |date=15 November 2015}})
* [http://www.reuber-norwegen.de/AustAgder/FramesAustAgderKarte.html Map of Aust-Agder including Grimstad municipality] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406055419/http://www.reuber-norwegen.de/AustAgder/FramesAustAgderKarte.html |date=6 April 2016}}) {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.agderteater.no/ Agder Theatre at Fjæreheia] {{in lang|no}}
* [http://www.kortfilmfestivalen.no/ Norway's Short Film Festival] {{in lang|no}}

{{Agder}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Grimstad| ]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Agder]]