Editing Kristiansund Municipality

{{short description|Municipality in Møre og Romsdal, Norway}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Kristiansand (town)|Kristiansand]], a large town in Agder, Norway, or [[Kristiansund (town)|Kristiansund]], a town within Kristiansund Municipality}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Kristiansund
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = Christianssund
|image_skyline          = Storkaia i Kristiansund.jpg
|image_caption          = View of Kristiansund
|idnumber               = 1505
|county                 = Møre og Romsdal
|district               = Nordmøre
|capital                = [[Kristiansund (town)|Kristiansund]]
|language               = Bokmål
|established            = 1 Jan 1838 <!--date the municipality was established, the town was established in 1742, see the town article for that-->
|preceded               = none
|demonyms               = Kristiansunder<br />Kristiansundar
|coatofarms             = Kristiansund vapen.svg
|webpage                = www.kristiansund.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Kjell Neergaard
|mayor_party            = [[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2015
|elevation_max_m        = 629.23
|highest_point_ref      = <ref name="elev">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Høgaste fjelltopp i kvar kommune |url=https://www.kartverket.no/til-lands/fakta-om-norge/hoyeste-fjelltopp-i-kommunen |publisher=[[Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref>
|area_rank              = 334
|area_total_km2         = 87.44
|area_land_km2          = 86.17
|area_water_km2         = 1.27
|area_water_percent     = 1.5
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 53
|population_total       = 24404
|population_density_km2 = 279.1
|population_increase    = 0.04
|coordinates            = {{coord|63|06|37|N|07|43|40|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Kristiansund''' ({{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|tʃ|ən|s|ʌ|n|d|,_|ˈ|k|r|ɪ|s|t|i|ə|n|s|ʊ|n}},<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Kristiansund|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|no|krɪstjɑnˈsʉnː|lang|Kristiansund.ogg}}; historically spelled '''Christianssund''' and earlier named '''Fosna''') is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] on the western coast of [[Norway]] in the [[Nordmøre]] district of [[Møre og Romsdal]] [[counties of Norway|county]]. The [[administrative center]] of the municipality is the [[Kristiansund (town)|town of Kristiansund]] (established in 1742), which is the major town for the whole Nordmøre region. Other notable settlements in the municipality include the villages of [[Kvalvåg]], [[Rensvik]], and [[Nedre Frei]].

The {{convert|87|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 334th largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Kristiansund Municipality is the 53rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 24,404. The municipality's population density is {{convert|279.1|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 0.04% 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==
The [[prestegjeld|parish]] of ''Christianssund'' was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). Initially, the small island municipality included just the town of Christianssund and its immediate surrounding area. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, Kristiansund Municipality was merged with the tiny [[Grip Municipality]] (population: 104), an island municipality to the northwest and the ''Dale'' area of [[Bremsnes Municipality]] on [[Nordlandet]] island (population: 963).<ref name="jukvam1999">{{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> The neighboring [[Frei Municipality]] was merged with Kristiansund on 1 January 2008 creating a much larger Kristiansund Municipality.

===Toponymy===
The municipality is named after the [[Kristiansund (town)|town of Kristiansund]]. Historically, it was spelled ''Christianssund''. The first element of the name comes from the [[Denmark-Norway|Danish-Norwegian]] King [[Christian VI of Denmark|Christian VI]] who founded the town in 1742. The last element of the name is {{wikt-lang|non|sund}} which means "[[strait]]" or "[[Sound (geography)|sound]]". The old name of the town/village (originally the island [[Kirkelandet]]) was ''Fosna'' or ''Fosen'' ({{langx|non|fólgsn}}) which means "hiding place" (here 'hidden port'). It was also often named ''Lille Fosen'' ("the small Fosen") to distinguish it from the island ''[[Storfosna]]'' ("the big Fosen") in [[Ørland Municipality|Ørland]].

Before 1877, the name was spelled ''Christianssund'', from 1877 to 1888 it was spelled ''Kristianssund'', and since 1889 it has had its present spelling, ''Kristiansund''.

Before the introduction of [[postal code]]s in Norway in 1968, it was easy to confuse the name ''Kristiansund'' with [[Kristiansand]] in the south. It was therefore obligatory to always add an ''N'' (for north) to Kristiansund ''(Kristiansund N)'' and an ''S'' (for south) to Kristiansand ''(Kristiansand S)''. This is pretty much still practiced and also occurs in some other contexts than postal addresses.
{{see also-text|{{wikt-lang|no|Kristiansund}} at Wiktionary}}

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 27 June 1742. The arms were granted by King [[Christian VI of Denmark|Christian VI]] and are described as a silver or white [[Waterfall|river flowing from a cliff]], with [[salmon]] swimming upwards on a blue background. The waterfall is most likely based on a misinterpretaion of the old name for the town ''Fosen'', as it resembles the [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] word for "waterfall".<ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Kristiansund |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Kristiansund |access-date=2019-05-23 |date=2018-09-26 |editor-last=Stokken |editor-first=John |language=no |editor2-first=Geir |editor2-last=Thorsnæs}}</ref> A replica of the waterfall shown in the arms was eventually constructed in 1992 for the towns 250th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Byfossen i Kristiansund |url=https://kristiansund.nkdb.no/objekt/80101/Byfossen+i+Kristiansund |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=kristiansund.nkdb.no |language=nb-NO}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Church of Norway]] has three parishes ({{lang|no|sokn}}) within Kristiansund Municipality. It is part of the [[Ytre Nordmøre prosti]] ([[deanery]]) in the [[Diocese of Møre]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Kristiansund'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="2"|Kristiansund||[[Kirkelandet Church]]||[[Kirklandet]] island||1964
|-
|[[Grip Stave Church]]||[[Grip, Norway|Grip]] island||1470
|-
|Nordlandet||[[Nordlandet Church]]||[[Nordlandet]] island||1914
|-
|Frei||[[Frei Church]]|||[[Nedre Frei]]||1897
|}

St. Eystein Catholic Church is the only [[Catholic]] church in Kristiansund.

==Geography==
The municipality borders [[Smøla Municipality]] and [[Aure Municipality]] to the northeast, [[Tingvoll Municipality]] to the east, [[Gjemnes Municipality]] to the south, and [[Averøy Municipality]] to the southwest. The small [[Grip, Norway|Grip]] archipelago is located in the northwestern part of the municipality. The municipality is surrounded by the [[Freifjorden]] and [[Kvernesfjorden]] with the open sea to the northwest.

[[File:Nordlandet kirke 85156 2024-1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The island of "Nordlandet" in Kristiansund.]]

The town of Kristiansund is built on four main islands, with many smaller islands. The island of [[Nordlandet]] ("North Land", humorously nicknamed ''[[Morocco|Marokko]]''), is the second largest island and the site of the local airport, [[Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget]] ([[IATA]] code: KSU). [[Kirklandet]], third in size is made up of two areas ''Kirkelandet'' and ''Gomalandet''. In the local dialect, ''Kirkelandet'' (the "Church Land") is pronounced ''"Kirklandet"'', without the middle ''e''. The smallest island is [[Innlandet (island)|Innlandet]] ("Innermost Land"; humorously, "[[Tahiti]]"). The largest island in the municipality is [[Frei (island)|Frei]] which was part of the old [[Frei Municipality]] which was merged into Kristiansund on 1 January 2008. The highest point of the municipality is located on Frei island, [[Freikollen]] at a height of {{convert|629|m}}.<ref name="elev" />

The islands of [[Grip, Norway|Grip]], located northwest of Kristiansund are also a part of the municipality. [[Grip Municipality]] was [[Norway]]'s smallest municipality, and also one of the most remote until it merged with Kristiansund in 1964. Today the island of Grip holds status as a deserted fishing village, but in the summer season it is a popular tourist attraction due to the very special location and architecture. [[Grip Stave Church]], the second smallest [[stave church]] of [[Norway]] ([[Undredal Stave Church]] is smaller), is also located at Grip. It is also where [[Grip Lighthouse]] is located.

Kristiansund includes the town of Kristiansund which is one of the most densely populated cities of Norway, having what is arguably the country's most urban small city centre, due to the relatively small size of the islands on which it is built and the very constricted central harbor/town area of [[Kirkelandet]].

{{wide image|Kristiansund city.JPG|550px|Parts of Kristiansund seen from Kvernberget}}

==History==
===8000 BC–1066===
Archeological evidence exists of settlement in the area which is now Kristiansund from as early as 8000 [[BCE]]. At the end of the [[Quaternary glaciation|last ice age]] some areas at the western coast of Norway were ice-free. The first evidence of such settlements were discovered at Voldvatnet in Kristiansund in 1909. More have since been found, a discovery at Kvernberget in 2007 when archeological digs were conducted before the extension of the city's airport. Finds have also been discovered from the Bronze Age, and early Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fosnakulturen på Nordmøre |url=https://www.nordmore.museum.no/bes%C3%B8k-oss/kristiansund/fosnakulturen-p%C3%A5-nordm%C3%B8re}}</ref>

During the [[Viking|Viking era]], there were many battles around Kristiansund. The most famous one was the [[Battle of Rastarkalv]] on the island of [[Frei (island)|Frei]], where the Norwegian King [[Haakon I of Norway|Håkon the Good]] fought against the [[Eirikssønnene group]]. There is now a monument located near  at [[Nedre Frei]], where the battle was fought.

===Middle Ages===
[[File:Christiansund031.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A picture of Christianssund from the early 1840s.]]

The island of [[Grip, Norway|Grip]] was an important fishing community during the Middle Ages, and was considered to be the most important municipality in the region at the time. The natural harbour in Lille-fosen, close to where Kristiansund is located today was also frequently used for fishing purposes.

===17th to 18th century===
During the 17th century, a small settlement developed around the area we know today as Kristiansund harbour. As more and more settlers arrived, the area became an important trading port for fishing and the lumber transportation along the coast. The Dano-Norwegian government established a customs station here, which was controlled by the main trading port in [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]]. In 1631, the port was declared to be a [[ladested]].
  
Dutch sailors brought the knowledge of [[clipfish]] production to Kristiansund at the end of the 17th century, and for a number of years the town was the largest exporter of clipfish in Norway, exporting goods mainly to the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] countries as Spain and Portugal. The city's clipfish production was also part of the reason why it was given town status as a [[kjøpstad]] in 1742.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

===19th century to present===
[[File:NO 1503 Kristiansund.svg|thumb|right|Map of Kristiansund (1964-2008)]]
The town of ''Christianssund'' was established as the municipality of Christianssund on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). 

The bombing of Kristiansund occurred from April 28 to May 1, 1940, during the German occupation of Norway in World War II. German air raids destroyed around 800 buildings, causing major damage and killing six people. In 1944, [[Royal Air Force]] planes accidentally hit civilian homes during a bombing raid, killing 12.

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, Kristiansund Municipality was merged with the tiny [[Grip Municipality]] (population: 104) to the northwest and the ''Dale'' area of [[Bremsnes Municipality]] on [[Nordlandet]] island (population: 963).<ref name="jukvam1999" /> The neighboring [[Frei Municipality]] was merged with Kristiansund on 1 January 2008 creating a much larger Kristiansund Municipality.

==Media==
The local newspaper of Kristiansund is ''[[Tidens Krav]]'', which also functions as a semi-regional newspaper for the other municipalities located nearby the city. Other online newspapers for the city exists, such as ''KSU.no''. A local radio station, also named KSU 24/7, was founded in 2016.

==Climate==
Kristiansund has a temperate [[oceanic climate]] (Cfb) with cool-to-warm summers and mild winters. The city structure with the unique natural harbour of the city combined with Atlantic air from the southwest and the [[Gulf Stream]] gives Kristiansund a much warmer climate than its [[latitude]] would indicate. The all-time high {{convert|32|°C}} was set 28 July 2018. The warmest month on record at Kristiansund Airport was July 2014 with mean {{convert|17.1|°C}} and average daily high {{convert|21.9|°C}}. The all-time low {{convert|-14.3|°C}} was recorded 23 February 2010. The coldest month on record at Kristiansund Airport was December 2010 with mean {{convert|-2.7|°C}} and average daily low {{convert|-4.9|°C}}. The coldest month recorded at earlier weather stations in Kristiansund was February 1947 with mean {{convert|-3.6|°C}} (recordings since 1871).
<br />
{{Weather box 
|metric first= yes
|single line = yes
|location = Kristiansund Airport 1991-2020 (62 m, precipitation from Karihola, extremes 2002-2024)
|Jan record high C = 15.7 | Jan record low C = -11.4
|Feb record high C = 15.4 | Feb record low C = -14.3
|Mar record high C = 15.7 | Mar record low C = -10.2
|Apr record high C = 22.8 | Apr record low C = -3.7
|May record high C = 28.6 | May record low C = -2.5
|Jun record high C = 29.9 | Jun record low C = 1.3
|Jul record high C = 32 | Jul record low C = 5.6
|Aug record high C = 28.7 | Aug record low C = 3.5
|Sep record high C = 24.7 | Sep record low C = 2.2
|Oct record high C = 24.3 | Oct record low C = -4.9
|Nov record high C = 17.6 | Nov record low C = -8.5
|Dec record high C = 14.6 | Dec record low C = -10.5
|Jan high C = 4
|Feb high C = 4
|Mar high C = 6
|Apr high C = 9
|May high C = 12
|Jun high C = 15
|Jul high C = 18
|Aug high C = 18
|Sep high C = 15
|Oct high C = 11
|Nov high C = 7
|Dec high C = 4
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
|Jan mean C=2.1
|Feb mean C=1.6
|Mar mean C=2.8
|Apr mean C=5.6
|May mean C=8.5
|Jun mean C=11.4
|Jul mean C=14.3
|Aug mean C=14.2
|Sep mean C=11.5
|Oct mean C=7.2
|Nov mean C=4.6
|Dec mean C=2.3
|year mean C=
|Jan low C = 0
|Feb low C = 0
|Mar low C = 1
|Apr low C = 3
|May low C = 6
|Jun low C = 9
|Jul low C = 12
|Aug low C = 12
|Sep low C = 9
|Oct low C = 6
|Nov low C = 3
|Dec low C = 1
|year low 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=93
|Feb precipitation mm=95
|Mar precipitation mm=85
|Apr precipitation mm=58
|May precipitation mm=49
|Jun precipitation mm=63
|Jul precipitation mm=71
|Aug precipitation mm=93
|Sep precipitation mm=122
|Oct precipitation mm=96
|Nov precipitation mm=94
|Dec precipitation mm=103
|year precipitation mm=
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1= Norwegian Meteorological Institute<ref>{{Cite web |title=eklima/Met.no (mean, extremes and precipitation) |url=http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39080&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128080558/http://sharki.oslo.dnmi.no/portal/page?_pageid=73,39035,73_39080&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref>
|source 2=Weatheronline.co.uk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weatheronline climate robot (average high and low) |url=https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?LANG=en&PLZ=_____&PLZN=_____&WMO=01223&CONT=euro&R=0&LEVEL=162&REGION=0004&LAND=NO&MOD=tab&ART=TMX&NOREGION=1&FMM=1&FYY=1996&LMM=12&LYY=2020}}</ref>
|date=March 2021
}}

==Government==
Kristiansund 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 [[Møre og Romsdal District Court]] and the [[Frostating Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Bystyre}}) of Kristiansund is made up of 45 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                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Møre og Romsdal |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/m%C3%B8re%20og%20romsdal/kristiansund#seats |access-date=2024-01-15 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Grønne                    = 1
|Høyre                     = 3
|INP                       = 3
|Rødt                      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 10
|otherparty                = Nordmøre List
|otherparty_no             = Nordmørslista
|otherparty_number         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Møre og Romsdal |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/m%C3%B8re%20og%20romsdal/kristiansund#seats |access-date=2019-10-19 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rødt                      = 4
|Grønne                    = 2
|otherparty                = Nordmøre List
|otherparty_no             = Nordmørslista
|otherparty_number         = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 7
|Høyre                     = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 11
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rødt                      = 2
|Grønne                    = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Møre og Romsdal |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/m%C3%B8re%20og%20romsdal/kristiansund#seats |access-date=2019-10-19 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 23
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 8
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rødt                      = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|Høyre                     = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 16
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 18
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 21
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 18
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 3
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 45
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 13
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 31
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 15
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 32
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 15
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 28
|Høyre                     = 17
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 28
|Høyre                     = 14
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 25
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 13
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Venstresosialistiske felleslister
|otherparty_number         = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 30
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|NKP                       = 1
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 2
|Venstre                   = 12
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 30
|Høyre                     = 13
|NKP                       = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 1
|Venstre                   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 26
|Høyre                     = 13
|NKP                       = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Venstre                   = 8
|otherparty                = New-Day Workers' Team
|otherparty_no             = Ny-Dag arbeiderlaget
|otherparty_number         = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 32
|NKP                       = 5
|Høyre                     = 12
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Venstre                   = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 25
|NKP                       = 4
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 23
|NKP                       = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 8
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 11
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|NKP                       = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|Local_Lists               = 13
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-01 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Venstre                   = 6
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 18
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 25
|NKP                       = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 1
|Venstre                   = 6
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 27
|NKP                       = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1931
|end                       = 1934 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1932 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1931 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_viii_186.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_viii_186.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Høyre                     = 16
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 6
|Venstre                   = 5
|Avholdspartiet            = 3
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 22
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1928
|end                       = 1931 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1929 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1928 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_viii_093.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_viii_093.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Venstre                   = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 21
|Avholdspartiet            = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 26
|NKP                       = 1
|Local_Lists               = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1925
|end                       = 1928 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1926 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1925 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vii_192.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vii_192.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Venstre                   = 1
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 29
|Avholdspartiet            = 5
|SDA                       = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 20
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1922
|end                       = 1925
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1923 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1922 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vii_078.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vii_078.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 21
|SDA                       = 8
|H/FV                      = 26
|Venstre                   = 1
|Avholdspartiet            = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Kristiansund
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1919
|end                       = 1922
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1920 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1919 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vi_189.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_vi_189.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |access-date=2020-05-03 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|Høyre                     = 6
|Venstre                   = 11
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 3
|Avholdspartiet            = 10
|Local_Lists               = 3
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayor===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayor]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Kristiansund is the political leader of the municipality and the chairperson of the municipal council. Here is a list of people who have held this position:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lund |first=Aslaug Husby |url=https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007110600004 |title=En by å bli glad i. Byhistorie og dikt |last2=Wist |first2=Hedvig |publisher=Kristiansund kommune |year=1992 |page=36 |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1837–1838: Hans Herluf Dahl
* 1839–1842: Jens Christian Schaanning
* 1843–1846: Hans Herluf Dahl
* 1847–1847: Jens Christian Schaanning
* 1848–1848: Morten Parelius 
* 1849–1850: Jens Christian Schaanning
* 1851–1852: Claus Christian Olrog 
* 1852–1853: Jens Christian Schaanning 
* 1854–1856: Niels Rossing Parelius
* 1857–1859: Hans Herluf Dahl
* 1860–1861: Morten Parelius
* 1862–1862: Nicolay H. Knudtzon
* 1863–1866: Ernst David Thue
* 1867–1868: Jens Ludvig Paul Flor
* 1869–1869: Ernst David Thue
* 1870–1871: Rasmus Lossius
* 1872–1873: Christian Johnsen
* 1873–1874: Jens Ludvig Paul Flor
* 1875–1875: Ernst David Thue
* 1876–1876: Jens Ludvig Paul Flor
* 1877–1877: [[Ole Andreas Furu]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]) 
* 1878–1878: Ernst David Thue 
* 1879–1885: Christian Johnsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1885–1888: [[Ole Andreas Furu]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1889–1891: Thomas Fasting ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1892–1894: Paul Christian Rønning ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1895–1896: Lars Gustav Aas ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1897–1897: Benedictus Heide  ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1898–1898: Alf Peter Wessel-Thjøme ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1899–1900: Arne Arnesen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1901–1910: Fredrik Selmer ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1911–1913: [[Jonas Hestnes]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1914–1916: Ivar O. Sundet ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1916–1917: [[Jonas Hestnes]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1917–1919: [[Robert Sæther]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1920–1921: [[Eileif Kolsrud]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1921–1922: Leif Bang ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1923–1925: Halvard Aase ([[Free-minded Liberal Party|FV]])
* 1926–1926: Anton O. Næss ([[Coalition Party (Norway)|SmP]])
* 1926–1934: [[Robert Sæther]] ([[Coalition Party (Norway)|SmP]])
* 1935–1940: [[Ulrik Olsen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1940–1942: Anton O. Næss ([[Coalition Party (Norway)|SmP]])
* 1942–1943: Lorentz A. Lossius ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1943–1945: Lars Kvendbø ([[Nasjonal Samling|NS]])
* 1945–1945: [[Ulrik Olsen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1946–1955: Ottar Guttelvik ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1956–1967: Worm Eide ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1968–1977: [[Asbjørn Jordahl]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1977–1979: Ole Stokke ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1980–1981: Otto Dyb ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1982–1983: [[Knut Engdahl]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1984–1989: Øivind Jensen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1989–1995: Harald Martin Stokke ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1995–1997: [[Aud Inger Aure]] ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1997–2007: [[Dagfinn Ripnes]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2007–2015: Per Kristian Øyen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2015–present: Kjell Neergaard ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
{{div col end}}

===Twin towns===
Kirstiansund has [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]] agreements with the following places:
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kokkola]], Finland
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Härnösand]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Fredericia]], Denmark

Together the three cities hold a tournament called ''Nordiske Dager'' ("Nordic Days").

==Parks and gardens==
[[File:KSU park1.jpg|thumb|right|A small section of the Langveien-park.]]
[[File:Langveien A.jpg|thumb|right|The street Magnus Blikstads gate]]
[[File:Johan P. Clausens Gate - Kristiansund, Norway 2022-07-11 (02).jpg|thumb|right|The street Johan P. Clausens Gate]]
Though fairly small in size, the city of Kristiansund contains many green parks and gardens, frequently used by the city's inhabitants. There are two larger parks near the city centre. The first one is located near [[Langveien]], and was constructed in the aftermath of [[World War II]] . The second one is located in [[Vanndamman]]. This area used to be part of the city water supply, due to the large amount of small lakes in the area. (hence the name "Vanndamman" (The Water ponds)) The two parks are partly linked together, but the Langveien-park serve more as an urban recreation area due to the short walking distance from the city centre, while the Vanndamman-park is more suitable for outings and [[jogging]].

==Transport==
Started in 1876 and still going strong is the ''[[Sundbåt]]'' ("Sound Boat"/"Strait Crossing Boat") shuttle service with a capacity of a few tens of passengers, travelling between the islands. The small motor ferry crosses the harbour from [[Kirkelandet]] to Innlandet, then goes on to Nordlandet, to Gomalandet, and back to Kirkelandet, repeating the round trip in half-hour intervals morning to evening on weekdays. The Sundbåt bears the distinction of being ''the world's oldest motorized regular public transport system in continuous service''.

The road to Kristiansund from the mainland, [[Norwegian National Road 70]] is connected to [[European route E39]] by the bridge/tunnel system called [[Krifast]]. After passing through the underwater [[Freifjord Tunnel]] from the central part of Krifast, National Road 70 crosses [[Frei (island)|Frei]], and enters Kristiansund over the [[Omsund Bridge]] onto Nordlandet. The [[Nordsund Bridge, Kristiansund|Nordsund Bridge]] brings the Rv 70 to Gomalandet and its terminus in downtown at [[Kirkelandet]]. Another high bridge, the [[Sørsund Bridge, Kristiansund|Sørsund Bridge]], leads from Kirkelandet to [[Innlandet (island)|Innlandet]]. E39 leads southwest to the town of [[Molde (town)|Molde]] and northeast via the [[European route E6]] to [[Trøndelag]] and the city of [[Trondheim]].

There used to be a [[RORO|car ferry]] going from [[Kirkelandet]] island to neighboring [[Averøy Municipality]] to the west, whose people have been commuting to town for many years for work as well as selling agricultural products. The ferry to Averøy connected Kristiansund to [[Norwegian National Road 64]], which continued along the scenic [[Atlanterhavsvegen]] to Molde. The ferry was replaced by the {{convert|5.7|km|adj=on}} long underwater [[Atlantic Ocean Tunnel]] in December 2009. Because both tunnels are forbidden for bicyclists, Kristiansund cannot easily be reached by bicycle.

A second car ferry goes from ''Seivika'' on [[Nordlandet]] to [[Tustna (island)|Tustna]] in the northeast (road: ''RV 680''), with further road and ferry connections to the islands of [[Smøla (island)|Smøla]] and [[Hitra (island)|Hitra]], and to [[Aure Municipality]] on the mainland.

Besides roads and car ferries and [[Kristiansund Airport, Kvernberget]], connections to/from Kristiansund consist of the traditional coastal express [[Hurtigruten]] connecting coastal towns from [[Bergen (city)|Bergen]] in the south to [[Kirkenes]] in the north, and the high speed [[catamaran]] passenger service [[Kystekspressen]] to Trondheim. Another option to get to Kristiansund is to fly with [[Scandinavian Airlines]] from several other Norwegian cities.

==Commerce and industry==
[[File:Kristiansund Cruisehavn, 2017.jpg|thumb|right|Kristiansund in 2017]]
Kristiansund is known as the major ''bacalhau'' city of Norway. [[Bacalhau]] is made of [[dried and salted cod|salted, dried codfish]],<ref>[[Dried and salted cod|Salted, dried cod]], used in bacalao (see [[Baccalà]] and [[Bacalhau]]), is known locally as ''klippfisk'' ("Cliff Fish", eng. clipfish), the name coming from the rounded, barren cliffs on which the fish were traditionally left to dry in the open air after being opened, gutted, flattened, salted, and pressed.</ref> and has traditionally been exported in large amounts to Spain, [[Portugal]] and Latin America as food suitable during [[Lent]]. In recent years Kristiansund has become the major [[Petroleum|oil]] and gas city at the mid-northwestern coast. Oil companies like [[Royal Dutch Shell]] and [[Statoil]] have offices in Kristiansund from where they serve their offshore installations at [[Haltenbanken]] (one of the northernmost underwater oil fields in the world).

Due to the city's heavy involvement in [[fish processing]] and international shipping, there used to be as many as seven [[diplomatic consulate|consulate]]s in Kristiansund, mainly to Latin countries. Currently, there are only five left: Britain, [[Finland]], [[Latvia]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[Portugal]].

==Culture and sports==
[[File:KIRKELANDET KIRKE Kristiansund Norway Odd Østbye modernist church in concrete built 1964 550 seats 2024-09-14 Trapper kors stairs cross exterior façade low morning sun IMG 0081.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kirkelandet Church]] in 2024. It was one of the first truly modern church buildings in Norway, constructed in the mid-1960s.]]
Kristiansund is an important cultural centre in the region of [[Nordmøre]]. The city is probably best known for housing one of Norway's oldest operas, which was established in 1928 by [[Edvard Bræin]]. There is an annual opera festival held every February in Kristiansund named The Opera Weeks (Operafestukene). In addition to this, Kristiansund is also host city of Northern Europes largest photo festival, Nordic Light. Even though this is a rather "young" festival, (Est. 2006) it has grown to become one of the most important of its kind in Europe, attracting famous photographers from all around the world, like [[Don McCullin]], [[Jock Sturges]] and [[William Klein (photographer)|William Klein]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nordic Light Fotohus |url=http://www.nle.no/?div_id=212&pag_id=214 |access-date=2022-03-10 |publisher=Nle.no}}</ref> Other smaller festivals held in Kristiansund include The Tahiti Festival and Kristiansund Church, Art and Culture Festival (shortened to the KKKK-festival in Norwegian).

Kristiansund's main [[association football|football]] team, [[Kristiansund BK]], is a result of the 2003 merger between the two largest football teams in the city, [[KFK]] and [[Clausenengen]], which together with support from local businesses helped in creating a united elite club commitment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Club |url=http://www.kristiansundbk.no/english-site/kristiansund-ballklubbs-historie-copy}}</ref> The club started at the 4th level (tredje divisjon) of the Norwegian football league system, and qualified for the 2017 season to play at the top level ([[Eliteserien]]). The team finished 7th in its first season at the top level, beating all expectation, and has since climbed upwards; Finishing 5th at the top level in 2020.

Other popular sports in Kristiansund include [[Volleyball]], [[Wrestling]], Swimming, [[Ice skating]] and [[Team handball|Handball]].

==Tourist attractions==
[[File:Milnbrygga Kristiansund.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Norwegian clipfish museum. These building are typical for Kristiansund, and are easy to see along the harbour.]]
[[File:Festivitet-ksu-P7130107-1.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Festiviteten in Kristiansund]]
* The archipelago of '''[[Grip, Norway|Grip]]''', northwest of Kristiansund is now part of Kristiasund municipality. Until 1964, it was [[Grip Municipality]], the smallest municipality of [[Norway]]. Today it is a deserted fishing village, but is a popular tourist attraction for the special architecture and unique location. Norway's smallest [[stave church]], which was constructed in the end of the 15th century is also located at Grip.
* '''Sundbåtene''' in Kristiansund claims to be the world's oldest public transport system, founded in 1876. The small "Sundbåt" passenger ferries crosses between the four "lands" of the city.
* The old city structure in '''Vågen''' is a center for the historical fishing settlement in Kristiansund. ''Mellemværftet'' is also located here, which is an old shipbuilding facility for sailing ships. The Norwegian Clipfish Museum is also located here.
* '''Innlandet''' is an old city part of Kristiansund with very special and unique coastal architecture. Innlandet is the part of Kristiansund that was least damaged during the bombings of Kristiansund during [[World War II]] .
* '''Nordic Light''' is an annual festival of photography arranged for the first time in 2006, and is currently the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. The festival is represented by [[Morten Krogvold]].
* '''Festiviteten''' (Kristiansund Opera) is the oldest opera house in Norway. It is built in Art Nouveau-style, and was completed in 1914. It is one of the few older buildings in the city centre of Kristiansund that survived the bombing of the city during [[World War II]] .
* '''Tahitifestivalen''' is an annual music festival that is arranged in Kristiansund. The festival is arranged by Frode Alnæs and the cafè Dødeladen on Innlandet. The festival was first introduced for the first time in 2000. There has been artist like [[Dance with a Stranger (band)|Dance with a Stranger]], [[Madcon]], [[Hellbillies]], [[Madrugada (band)|Madrugada]], [[Bigbang (Norwegian band)|Bigbang]] and many more.
*'''Varden''' is an old lookout tower located 78 meters above sea level. At the top you get magnificent views to the shipping lane with the fishing village Grip on the horizon. The panorama goes 360 degrees with the Nordmøre mountains as a powerful backdrop. Open every day with free access where you can view the mountains and fjords of Nordmøre.

==Notable people==
{{main category|People from Kristiansund}}
[[File:Portrett av Arnulf Øverland.jpg|140px|thumb|Arnulf Øverland]]

The following people are from, or have their roots in, Kristiansund.

=== The Arts ===
* [[Edvard Bræin]] (1887-1957), an organist, composer, and orchestra conductor
* [[Arnulf Øverland]] (1889–1968), a poet, wrote to inspire the [[Norwegian resistance movement]]
* [[Tordis Maurstad]] (1901–1997), a Norwegian stage actress<ref>{{IMDb name|0561274|Tordis Maurstad}}. Retrieved 30 March 2021.</ref>
* [[Ragnar Vold]] (1906–1967), a journalist, non-fiction writer, and novelist
* [[Vera Zorina]] (1917–2003), a ballerina, theatre, and film actress who was brought up in Kristiansund<ref>{{IMDb name|0957936|Vera Zoring}}. Retrieved 29 March 2021.</ref>
* [[Edvard Fliflet Bræin]] (1924–1976), a Norwegian composer and orchestra conductor
* [[Karsten Alnæs]] (born  1938), a fiction and popular history writer (parents were from Kristiansund)
* [[Ingar Knudtsen]] (born  1944), a fantasy & science fiction author who lives in Kristiansund
* [[Petter Schramm]] (1946-2014), a Norwegian poet who grew up in Kristiansund
* [[Øivind Elgenes]] (born 1958), a Norwegian vocalist, guitarist, and composer
* [[Frode Alnæs]] (born  1959), a singer and jazz guitarist who features with ''[[Dance with a Stranger (band)|Dance with a Stranger]]'' 
* [[Helge Tømmervåg]] (1961-2023), an electronic musician, stage name Mind over MIDI
* [[Dagfinn Koch]] (born 1964), a musician who writes chamber music and for orchestra, opera and ballet
* [[Jan Erik Mikalsen]] (born 1979), a Norwegian composer of [[contemporary classical music]]
* [[120 Days]] (2001–2012), a rock band, formerly known as ''"The Beautiful People"''

=== Public Service & business ===
[[File:Georg Ulrich Wasmuth.jpg|140px|thumb|Georg Ulrich Wasmuth]]
* [[Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie]] (1778–1849), a representative at the [[Norwegian Constituent Assembly]]
* [[John Moses (Norwegian politician)|John Moses]] (1781–1849), a merchant, politician, and representative at the [[Norwegian Constituent Assembly]]
* [[Georg Ulrich Wasmuth]] (1788–1814), a military officer and representative at the [[Norwegian Constitutional Assembly]]
* [[Peter Christian Knudtzon]] (1789-1864), a Danish businessman and ship-owner
* [[Nicolai Hanson]] (1870–1899), a Norwegian zoologist and Antarctic explorer
* [[Wollert Krohn-Hansen]] (1889—1973), a pastor and Bishop of [[Diocese of Sør-Hålogaland|Sør-Hålogaland]] from 1952-1959
* [[Kaare Fostervoll]] (1891–1981), the [[Director-General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|DG]] of [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] from 1949 to 1962
* [[Niels Werring]] (1897–1990), a Norwegian ship-owner of [[Wilh. Wilhelmsen]] Holding ASA
* [[Sigurd Frisvold]] (born 1947), an [[Norwegian Army|Army]] [[Norwegian military ranks|General]] and former [[Military of Norway|Chief of Defence]] from 1999 to 2005

=== Sport ===
[[File:Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Trondheim2011-1 crop.jpg|140px|thumb|Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 2011]]
* [[Ansgar Løvold]] (1888–1961), a wrestler, butcher, and philanthropist
* [[Arne Gaupset]] (1894–1976), a sport wrestler who competed at the [[1924 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Robert Gaupset]] (1906–1964), a wrestler who competed at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Ivar Stokke]] (1911–1993), a sport wrestler who competed in the [[1936 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Babe Didrikson Zaharias]] (1914–1956), a U.S. golfer, athlete, and two-time Olympic gold medalist (her father Ole came from Kristiansund)
* [[Anders Giske]] (born 1959), a footballer with 288 club caps and 38 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]
* [[Gøran Sørloth]] (born 1962), a former footballer with 250 club caps and 55 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 
* [[Gudrun Høie]] (born  1970), an amateur sport [[Amateur wrestling|wrestler]] and four-time world champion
* [[Anne Holten]] (born 1972), a Norwegian sport wrestler and twice world champion
* [[Øyvind Leonhardsen]] (born 1970), a footballer with 402 club caps and 86 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 
* [[Petter Rudi]] (born 1973), a retired footballer with 350 club caps and 46 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]
* [[Ole Gunnar Solskjær]] (born 1973), a footballer with 386 club caps and 67 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 
* [[Trond Andersen]] (born 1975), a former footballer with 334 club caps and 38 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 
* [[Jonny Hansen (footballer)|Jonny Hansen]] (born 1981), a footballer
* [[Aurora Mikalsen]] (born 1996), a footballer for [[Norway women's national football team]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Christiansund}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/kristiansund Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100118001703/http://www.smeggys.co.uk/images_norway_1986.php Some Photographs of a tour to Kristiansund in August 1986]
*{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christiansund |short=x}}

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{{Møre og Romsdal}}
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<!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  -- "The openness and friendliness of the Kristiansund people is well known -- this partly
  -- due to the long trading and said fish export traditions."
  -- Elements of fact but needs to be rephrased (e.g., in the direction of "comparatively
  – liberal and internationally oriented") and substantialised, & facts need to be confirmed:
  – e.g., 1905 referendum on monarchy/republic; pre-WWII organised Jewish community; actual
  – public protests against deportation of Jews during the war; 1972 EEC referendum; etc.
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<!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  -- Needing coverage:
  -- Cultural life -- Opera and ballet companies, professional sinfonietta, semi-professional
  -- symphony orchestra, vocal artists, blues festival (with Tustna), etc.
  – History – the town before 1742, incl. [[Jappe Ippes]]; (origins of) town's name
  – Kristiansund/Fosna; Lossius, Moses, Ramsay and Knudtzon families; local minorities;
  – economical hardships; town destroyed by German bombs in 1940; rebuilding of town
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[[Category:Kristiansund| ]]
[[Category:Nordmøre]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Møre og Romsdal]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Norway]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]