Editing Kongsvinger

{{short description|Municipality in Innlandet, Norway}}
{{about|the municipality in Innlandet, Norway|the town in Kongsvinger Municipality|Kongsvinger (town)}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Kongsvinger
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|image_skyline          = Nybrua og festningen.png
|image_caption          = View of the town (September 2009)
|idnumber               = 3401
|county                 = Innlandet
|district               = Glåmdal
|capital                = [[Kongsvinger (town)|Kongsvinger]]
|established            = 7 February 1855
|preceded               = [[Vinger Municipality]]
|demonym                = 
|language               = Bokmål
|coatofarms             = Kongsvinger komm.svg
|flag                   = 
|webpage                = www.kongsvinger.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Elin Såheim Bjørkli 
|mayor_party            = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 111
|area_total_km2         = 1036.44
|area_land_km2          = 952.83
|area_water_km2         = 83.62
|area_water_percent     = 8.1
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 72
|population_total       = 17966
|population_density_km2 = 18.9
|population_increase    = 1.9
|coordinates            = {{coord|60|14|35|N|12|13|32|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 33W | utm_northing = 6681723 | utm_easting = 0346429 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Kongsvinger''' ({{audio|Kongsvinger.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Innlandet]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Glåmdal]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the [[Kongsvinger (town)|town of Kongsvinger]]. Other settlements in the municipality include [[Austmarka, Innlandet|Austmarka]], [[Brandval (village)|Brandval]], [[Lundersæter]], and [[Roverud]].<ref name="snl" />

The {{convert|1036|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 111th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Kongsvinger is the 72nd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 17,966. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|18.9|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 1.9% 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> Kongsvinger's eastern municipal boundary is the [[Norway–Sweden border]].

==General information==
In 1854, the King designated the market town of Kongsvinger as a [[kjøpstad]], which gave it special rights. The designation included a small patch of land on both sides of the river [[Glomma]] with an area of approximately {{convert|5.2|km2|mi2|0}}. Because of this designation, on 7 February 1855, the town was separated from the municipality of [[Vinger (municipality)|Vinger]] to form a separate municipality. Initially, the town had 472 residents and this left Vinger municipality with 10,947 residents. On 1 January 1876, the town was enlarged when an area of [[Vinger (municipality)|Vinger]] (population: 209) was transferred into Kongsvinger. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, the town of Kongsvinger (population: 2,345) and the surrounding municipalities of [[Vinger (municipality)|Vinger]] (population: 6,257) and [[Brandval]] (population: 4,384) were merged to form the new [[Kongsvinger Municipality]]. The new municipality of Kongsvinger (briefly) lost its status as an urban municipality ({{langx|no|bykommune}}) after this [[amalgamation (politics)|amalgamation]] due to merging with rural municipalities. One year later, on 1 January 1965, the government redesignated Kongsvinger as an urban municipality. On 1 January 1974, the unpopulated Lystad area was transferred from [[Grue Municipality]] to Kongsvinger Municipality. On 1 January 1986, the northern part of the [[Åbogen]] area (population: 14) was transferred from Kongsvinger to the neighboring municipality of [[Eidskog]].<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 whole region where Kongsvinger is located was historically called ''[[Vinger]]'' ({{langx|non|Vingr}}). This name could be related to the river [[Glomma]] which flows through the region. One could compare this to the English word [[Swing (disambiguation)|swing]] (for the missing ''s'' see [[Indo-European s-mobile]]). The river [[Glomma]] passes through the center of the district where the south-flowing river takes a sharp northwestward turn. This can be compared to the similar [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] word ''vìngis'' which means "bend", "bow", or "turn". This old name used to represent this whole area. The first element of the name is the possessive form of {{wikt-lang|no|kong}} (meaning "the King's") was added after the [[Kongsvinger Fortress]] was built in 1690. It was first applied only to the fortress (written as {{lang|no|Königs Winger}} in old documents). Then, it was later given to the town that grew up around the fortress.<ref name="snlv">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Vinger |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Vinger |date=2020-02-10 |editor-last=Mæhlum |editor-first=Lars |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2022-03-18}}</ref><ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Kongsvinger |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Kongsvinger |date=2022-03-18 |editor-last=Svendsen |editor-first=Trond Olav |language=Norwegian |accessdate=2022-03-17}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 25 June 1926. The design is a stylized representation of [[Kongsvinger Fortress]] towering high above the river [[Glomma]]. The river is rendered as a wavy bar in the bottom half of the design. The river and fortress have a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means they are commonly colored white, but if the arms are made out of metal, then silver is used. The lower part of the arms represent the land and the mountain on which the fortress sits. This area has a background in black to represent the local [[conifer forest]]. The curved upper part of the background is colored red to symbolize the sky. The color is taken from the Norwegian flag to mark the national historical importance of the fortress. A mural crown is often shown above the [[escutcheon (heraldry)|escutcheon]] to indicate that the town of Kongsvinger is located in the municipality. The arms were designed by J. W. Oftedal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 July 2022 |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Kongsvinger |access-date=2023-04-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2019 |title=Profil |url=https://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/profil/ |access-date=2023-04-24 |publisher=Kongsvinger kommune |language=no}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has three parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within the municipality of Kongsvinger. It is part of the [[Solør, Vinger og Odal prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Hamar]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Kongsvinger'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Austmarka||[[Austmarka Church]]||[[Austmarka, Innlandet|Austmarka]]||1858
|-
|rowspan="3"|Brandval||[[Brandval Church]]||[[Brandval (village)|Brandval]]||1651
|-
|[[Lundersæter Church]]||[[Lundersæter]]||1868
|-
|[[Roverud Church]]||[[Roverud]]||1969
|-
|rowspan="1"|Vinger||[[Vinger Church]]||[[Kongsvinger (town)|Kongsvinger]]||1699
|}

==History==
The area was historically a part of the [[prestegjeld]] of [[Vinger]]. The village that later became Kongsvinger already existed as a [[Market town|trading center]] by the [[Middle Ages]], due to the accessibility by natural waterways. [[Viking]] chieftains reached [[Sweden]] by boat from Kongsvinger. [[Kongsvinger Fortress]] was founded in 1669, and a star-shaped plan was laid out for the fortress. Work began in 1682 and it was finished in 1690 as part of a general upgrade to [[List of Norwegian fortresses|Norwegian fortresses]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kongsvinger |url=http://www.gonorway.com/norway/counties/hedmark/kongsvinger/7639a8074901a36/index.html |access-date=2016-09-06 |website=GoNorway.com}}</ref> The building of the fortress formed the foundations for what was to become the [[Kongsvinger (town)|town of Kongsvinger]]. The fortress was built as a defensive structure against the Swedes, and on numerous occasions there have been military engagements in the area around the fortress, but Kongsvinger fortress has never been taken in military combat. Below Kongsvinger fortress lies Øvrebyen, which literally translated means "upper town". This is the oldest part of the town of Kongsvinger, and one can still find a number of the original houses built after the establishment of the fortress. Kongsvinger Museum is located here, together with a museum of female emancipation in a building called "Rolighed", the home of [[Dagny Juel]], the famous author once portrayed by Edvard Munch.

The rural, eastern parts of Kongsvinger and its neighboring municipalities to the north and south were populated at the end of the 17th century by [[Finland|Finnish]] emigrants who came across the [[Sweden|Swedish]] border. The area is called [[Finnskogen]] which means ''"The Finnish forest".''

Kongsvinger played an important part in the [[Norwegian resistance movement|Norwegian resistance]] force against the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] being a gateway to Sweden. Norway's highest decorated citizen, [[Gunnar Sønsteby]] frequently passed through Kongsvinger in his work to sabotage the Nazis' installations in Norway. Some of the busiest escape routes for refugees also went through Kongsvinger to Sweden.

From 1983 to 1999, and again in 2010, Kongsvinger's [[association football]] team [[KIL Toppfotball]] held a position in the [[Norwegian Premier League]]. It made some notable merits participating in the [[UEFA Cup]] and winning a [[silver medal]] during the 1992 season.

==Government==
Kongsvinger 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 [[Romerike og Glåmdal District Court]] and the [[Eidsivating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Kongsvinger is made up of 33 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                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/innlandet/kongsvinger#seats |access-date=2024-01-14 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 4
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 - Innlandet |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/innlandet/kongsvinger#seats |access-date=2022-03-18 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 3
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2015 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2015/ko/hedmark/kongsvinger#seats |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref><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=Norwegian}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 - Hedmark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/hedmark/kongsvinger#seats |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 6
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 33
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 6
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 37
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5
|otherparty                = Town and local list
|otherparty_no             = By- og bygdelista
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5
|Venstre                   = 1
|smallparty                = [[Free Democrats (Norway)|Free Democrats]]
|smallparty_no             = Fridemokratene
|smallparty_color          = orange
|smallparty_number         = 1
|otherparty                = Kongsvinger town and local list
|otherparty_no             = Kongsvinger by og bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 9
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Kongsvinger town and local list
|otherparty_no             = Kongsvinger by og bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 27
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 28
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 27
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 28
|DLF                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 31
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|NKP                       = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 30
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|NKP                       = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|start                     = 1963
|end                       = 1967
|note = On 1 January 1964, the [[Kongsvinger (town)|town of Kongsvinger]] was merged with [[Brandval]] and [[Vinger]] to make a much larger municipality.
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 32
|Høyre                     = 4
|NKP                       = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 6
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Høyre                     = 6
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|NKP                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 5
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|NKP                       = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|DRF/V                     = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|NKP                       = 1
|DRF/V                     = 2
|Local_Lists               = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Venstre                   = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Local_Lists               = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kongsvinger
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Venstre                   = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Local_Lists               = 8
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Kongsvinger:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Kongsvinger by fra 1855 |url=http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Politikk/Lenker1/Ordforere-i-Kongsvinger-by-fra-1855/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208120409/http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Politikk/Lenker1/Ordforere-i-Kongsvinger-by-fra-1855/ |archive-date=2008-12-08 |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ordførere i Kongsvinger kommune fra 1964 |url=http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Politikk/Ordforere-fra-1837/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208120429/http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Politikk/Ordforere-fra-1837/ |archive-date=2008-12-08 |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1855-1856: Jacob N. Hygen
* 1857-1859: S. Christian Strøm
* 1859-1859: Sigvald Rynning
* 1860-1860: Christian Kruse
* 1861-1877: Hans Hansen
* 1877-1880: C.F. Heidenreich
* 1881-1884: A. Knagenhjelm Blix
* 1885-1888: Lorentzo Rynning
* 1889-1898: Carl Henriksen
* 1899-1907: O.A. Herud
* 1908-1910: Otto Aamodt
* 1911-1913: O.A. Herud
* 1914-1914: Kristian Walby
* 1915-1919: Axel Engebretsen
* 1920-1920: Sigvald Olsen
* 1921-1922: Eiler Baanerud
* 1923-1925: Jacob Forseth
* 1926-1928: Thomas Johnsen
* 1929-1931: Eiler Baanerud
* 1932-1932: Christian Voss
* 1933-1933: H. Wallerud
* 1934-1934: Christian Voss
* 1935-1940: Eiler Baanerud
* 1940-1941: R. Talhaug ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1942-1943: Erling Huseby ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1944-1945: Johan Nitteberg ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945-1945: Eiler Baanerud
* 1946-1964: Aasmund Grimstad
* 1964-1975: Norvald Strand ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1975-1984: Odd Finsrud ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1984-1993: Terje Pedersen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1994-1995: Jan K. Kristiansen ([[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|SV]])
* 1995-1995: Johanne Wetterhus ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1995-1999: Trond Hansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1999-2011: Arve Bones ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2011-2015: Øystein Østgaard ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2015-2019: Sjur Strand ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2019-2021: [[Margrethe Haarr]] ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
* 2021-2023: [[Eli Wathne]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2023–present: Elin Såheim Bjørkli ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=Ny ordfører i Kongsvinger |url=https://www.nrk.no/innlandet/ny-ordforer-i-kongsvinger-1.16553513 |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Geography==
Kongsvinger is situated on both sides of the river [[Glomma]], where the south-flowing river takes a sharp northwestward turn. The [[Kongsvinger Fortress]] is the main landmark, situated on a hill west and north of the river. Kongsvinger is a regional center of the [[Glåmdal]] region, which is made up of the southern parts of [[Innlandet]] county. Kongsvinger municipality is bordered to the west by the municipality of [[Sør-Odal]], to the north by [[Grue, Norway|Grue]], and to the south by [[Eidskog]]. To the east it borders [[Eda Municipality|Eda]] and [[Torsby Municipality|Torsby]] municipalities in [[Sweden]]. Kongsvinger is about {{convert|110|km|mi}} from [[Oslo]] and {{convert|70|km|mi}} from [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]].

The Holtbergmasta, a {{convert|163|m|adj=on}} tall [[guyed mast]] for FM-/TV-broadcasting on Holtberget at 60.167602 N 11.994356 E was built in 1967.

==Transportation==
{| style="float: right; margin: 3em;" class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Number of minorities (1st and 2nd generation) in Kongsvinger by country of origin in 2017<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents |url=https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702101705/https://www.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/selectvarval/Define.asp?subjectcode=&ProductId=&MainTable=FolkInnvkatLand&nvl=&PLanguage=1&nyTmpVar=true&CMSSubjectArea=befolkning&KortNavnWeb=innvbef&StatVariant=&checked=true |archive-date=2 July 2015 |access-date=29 June 2015 |publisher=ssb.no}}</ref>
|-
!Ancestry!!Number
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}}||198
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}}||186
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}||186
|-
| {{flag|Afghanistan}}||147
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia-Herzegovina}}||142
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}}||123
|-
| {{flag|Iran}}||94
|-
| {{flag|Eritrea}}||80
|-
| {{flag|Syria}}||71
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}}||65
|}
Travel to and from Kongsvinger:
* Several daily train services to Oslo
* Twice daily train services to Stockholm, Sweden
* Five daily train services to Karlstad, Sweden
* Several daily bus services to [[Elverum (town)|Elverum]], [[Hamar]], and [[Charlottenberg]], Sweden
* Suburban bus services running throughout the town of Kongsvinger
* Four lane highway between Kongsvinger and Oslo is under construction.

===Distances===
The following are road distances to Kongsvinger from various locations:
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
!Starting location||Distance to Kongsvinger
|-
|[[Oslo]]||{{convert|94|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]]||{{convert|74|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Hamar]]||{{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Elverum (town)|Elverum]]||{{convert|95|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]]||{{convert|450|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Bergen (city)|Bergen]]||{{convert|545|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Tromsø (city)|Tromsø]]||{{convert|1600|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Charlottenberg]] (Sweden)||{{convert|44|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Arvika]] (Sweden)||{{convert|79|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Karlstad]] (Sweden)||{{convert|150|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
|- 
|[[Stockholm]] (Sweden)||{{convert|455|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|- 
|[[Copenhagen]] (Denmark)||{{convert|636|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|}

==Economy==
There are 1,530 businesses including [[forestry]] and [[agriculture|farming]], and 245 of these are retail outlets. There are {{convert|25000|m2|ft2|0}} of mall situated in the downtown area. As well as downtown shopping streets, there are also glass domed pedestrian shopping streets. The governmental regional [[Kongsvinger Hospital]] is also situated in Kongsvinger.

===Major businesses===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[InfoCare]] Computer service and logistics
* [[Eidsiva Energi]] customer service unit (energy)
* [[Ibas (company)|Ibas]] (IT)
* [[Thales Group|Thales]] (IT)
* Metso Minerals (conveyor belts)
* Schütz Nordic (plastic)
* [[Statistics Norway]]
* [[Telenor]] customer service unit (telecommunications)
* TI Automotive (fuel systems)
}}

==Education==
{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"
!In the [[Kongsvinger (town)|town of Kongsvinger]]:!!Elsewhere in the municipality
|- valign=top
|<!--Put schools "in the city" below here -->
* Politihøgskolen ([[Norwegian Police University College]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Politihøgskolens utdanningssenter Kongsvinger |url=https://www.phs.no/politihogskolens-utdanningssenter-kongsvinger/ |access-date=19 September 2019 |language=no}}</ref>
* Høgskolesenteret i Kongsvinger (University College)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Høgskolesenteret i Kongsvinger |url=http://www.hik.no |access-date=9 June 2016 |language=no}}</ref>
* Øvrebyen VGS (high school)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anders Holm |title=Øvrebyen Videregående Skole |url=http://www.ovrebyen.vgs.no |access-date=9 June 2016 |publisher=Hedmark Fykleskommune |language=no}}</ref>
* Sentrum VGS (high school)
* Norges Toppidrettsgymnas (middle school and high school)
* Kongsvinger ungdomsskole (middle school)
* Vennersberg barneskole (primary school)
* Marikollen barneskole (primary school)
* Langeland barneskole (primary school)
| <!--Put schools "elsewhere in the municipality" below here -->
* Austmarka barne- og ungdomsskole (primary and middle school)
* Roverud barneskole (primary school)
* Brandval skole (primary school)
* Finnskogen [[Montessori]]skole
|}

==Notable people==
=== Public service & public thinking ===
[[File:Jacob Stang.png|125px|thumb|Jacob Stang, 1884]]
* [[Cathrine Dahl]] (1855—1906), first female lawyer in Norway
* [[Christen Schmidt]] (1727 in Kongsvinger – 1804), the Bishop of the [[Diocese of Oslo]] in 1773
* [[Georg Ræder]] (1814 in Kongsvinger – 1898), a military officer, railway pioneer, and politician
* [[Hans Georg Jacob Stang (prime minister)|Hans Georg Jacob Stang]] (1830–1907), a Norwegian attorney and Norway's Prime Minister from 1888–1889; established his legal practice in Kongsvinger in 1859
* [[Anna Stang]] (1834–1901), a feminist, liberal politician, president of the [[Norwegian Association for Women's Rights]], and wife of [[Hans Georg Jacob Stang (prime minister)|Jacob Stang]] who ran a private school in Kongsvinger for 17 years
* [[Carl Wille Schnitler]] (1879 in Brandval – 1926), a Norwegian art historian
* [[Rudolf Falck Ræder]] (1881 in Kongsvinger – 1951), a military officer, engineer, and politician 
* [[Åse Wisløff Nilssen]] (born 1945 in Kongsvinger), a Norwegian [[politician]]
* [[Tove Strand]] (born 1946 in Kongsvinger), a Norwegian politician
* [[Per Hjalmar Nakstad]] (born 1946 in Kongsvinger), radiologist
* [[Monica Kristensen Solås]] (born 1950), a glaciologist, polar explorer, and crime novelist; brought up in Kongsvinger
* [[Karin Andersen]] (born 1952), a Norwegian politician who served as [[Member of parliament|MP]] for the [[Sosialistisk Venstreparti|Socialist Left Party]]
[[File:Borghild Bryhn (1920).jpg|125px|thumb|Borghild Bryhn Langaard, 1920]]
[[File:Yohanna2-2.jpg|125px|thumb|Yohanna, 2009]]

=== The Arts ===
* [[Maren Elisabeth Bang]] (1797 in Skansgården – 1884), a writer who wrote the first printed Norwegian cookbook
* [[Erika Nissen]] (1845 in Kongsvinger – 1903), a Norwegian pianist
* [[Wilhelmine Gulowsen]] (1848 in Kongsvinger – 1899), a writer<ref>{{cite book|last1=Halvorsen|first1=J.B.|last2=Koht|first2=Halvdan|title=Norsk Forfatter-Lexikon 1814-1880 : on the basis of J.E. Kraft's and Chr. Lange's "Norsk Forfatter-Lexikon 1814-1856". 2 : C-H|date=1888|publisher=Den Norske Forlagsforening|location=Christiania|pages=454–455 |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2006111501043?page=459}}</ref>
* [[Erik Werenskiold]] (1855 in Eidskog – 1938), a Norwegian painter and illustrator
* [[Dagny Juel]] (1867 in Kongsvinger – 1901), a Norwegian writer who was famous for her liaisons with various prominent artists and for the dramatic circumstances of her death
* [[Borghild Langaard]] (1883 in Kongsvinger – 1939), a Norwegian operatic soprano
* [[Eva Lund Haugen]] (1907 in Kongsvinger – 1996), an American author, editor, and translator
* [[Pål Refsdal]] (born 1963 in Kongsvinger), a freelance journalist, photographer, and filmmaker 
* [[Roy Lønhøiden]] (born 1964 in Kongsvinger), a country music composer and singer-songwriter
* [[Levi Henriksen]] (born 1964 in Kongsvinger), a novelist, short story writer, and singer-songwriter
* [[Håvard Gimse]] (born 1966 in Kongsvinger), a Norwegian classical pianist
* [[Hildegunn Øiseth]] (1966 in Kongsvinger), a jazz musician on trumpet, flugelhorn, and bukkehorn
* [[Runar Søgaard]] (born 1967 in Kongsvinger), a leadership trainer, life-coach, and motivational speaker
* [[Thomas Cappelen Malling]] (born 1970 in Kongsvinger), a Norwegian author, and director<ref>{{IMDb name|3651642|name=Thomas Cappelen Malling}}. Retrieved 28 October 2020.</ref>
* [[Andreas Ulvo]] (born 1983 in Kongsvinger), a jazz pianist, organist, composer, and photographer 
* [[Yohanna|Jóhanna Guðrún Jónsdóttir]] (born 1990), an Icelandic singer at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2009]] who is known by the stage name ''[[Yohanna]]'', lives in Kongsvinger

=== Sport ===
[[File:Kopengagen- (2).jpg|125px|thumb|Ståle Solbakken, 2014]]
* [[Sverre Strandli]] (1925 in Brandval – 1985), a Norwegian [[hammer throw]]er who competed at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Bjørge Stensbøl]] (born 1947 in Kongsvinger), a former chief of top-level athletics [[Olympiatoppen]]
* [[Even Pellerud]] (born 1953 in Kongsvinger), a former football player with 180 club caps and coach
* [[Øivind Tomteberget]] (born 1953 in Kongsvinger), a retired football midfielder who played 660 games for [[Kongsvinger IL]]
* [[Espen Nystuen]] (born 1981 in Kongsvinger), a former footballer with over 300 club caps
* [[Lars Krogh Gerson]] (born 1990 in [[Luxembourg City]], [[Luxembourg]], grew up in Kongsvinger), a footballer playing for [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]]. 
* [[Ole Christian Veiby]] (born 1996 in Kongsvinger), a rally driver

==International relations==
{{Main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway}}

===Twin towns — sister cities===
Kongsvinger has [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]] agreements with the following places:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vennskapsbyer |url=http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Fakta-om-Kongsvinger/Vennskapsbyer/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110724180832/http://www.kongsvinger.kommune.no/no/Artikler/Fakta-om-Kongsvinger/Vennskapsbyer/ |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=22 December 2008 |publisher=Kongsvinger kommune |language=no}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Arvika Municipality|Arvika]], [[Värmland County]], [[Sweden]]
* {{flagicon|LBN}} [[Ebel es Saqi]], [[Marjeyoun District|Marjayoun]], [[Lebanon]]
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Skive, Denmark]]
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Ylöjärvi]], [[Western Finland|Länsi-Suomi]], [[Finland]]

==In popular culture==
Kongsvinger is referenced within the title (and indirectly within the lyrics) of the song "A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger" by the American rock band [[Of Montreal]] on the 2007 album ''[[Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Kongsvinger}}
*{{wiktionary-inline|Kongsvinger}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/kongsvinger Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.byen-var.no Byen vår] (cultural organisation) {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.glomdalen.no Glåmdalen] local newspaper {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.gonorway.no/norway/counties/hedmark/kongsvinger/7639a8074901a36/index.html Go Norway] Norwegian Tourism - Kongsvinger {{in lang|no}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Kongsvinger
|North     = [[Grue, Norway|Grue]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Värmlands län]], {{flag|Sweden}}
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Eidskog]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Sør-Odal]]
|Northwest = 
}}
{{Innlandet}}
{{Authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

[[Category:Kongsvinger| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Innlandet]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Norway]]