Editing Risør

{{short description|Municipality in Agder, Norway}}
{{about|the municipality in Norway|the town in Risør municipality|Risør (town)}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Risør
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|idnumber               = 4201
|image_skyline          = Risor2.jpg
|image_caption          = View of the [[Risør (town)|town of Risør]]
|county                 = Agder
|district               = Østre Agder
|capital                = [[Risør (town)|Risør]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonym                = Risøring
|language               = Neutral
|webpage                = www.risor.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Kai Strat
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 302
|area_total_km2         = 192.98
|area_land_km2          = 179.03
|area_water_km2         = 13.95
|area_water_percent     = 7.2
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 147
|population_total       = 6806
|population_density_km2 = 38
|population_increase    = -0.6
|coordinates            = {{coord|58|43|35|N|09|11|40|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V |utm_northing = 6509604 |utm_easting = 0511262 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

{{Audio|Risoer.ogg|'''Risør'''}} is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Agder]] [[counties of Norway|county]], Norway. It is located on the [[Skagerrak]] coast in the [[Districts of Norway|traditional region]] of [[Southern Norway|Sørlandet]]. The [[administrative centre]] of Risør municipality is the [[Risør (town)|town of Risør]]. There are many villages in Risør such as [[Akland]], [[Bossvika]], [[Fie, Norway|Fie]], [[Hødnebø]], [[Krabbesund]], [[Moen, Aust-Agder|Moen]], [[Nipe]], [[Røysland]], [[Sandnes, Risør|Sandnes]], [[Sivik]], [[Søndeled (village)|Søndeled]], and [[Stamsø]].

Risør is a tourist destination, and the surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills. Together with its coastline, Risør is known for its [[tourist attraction]]s such as the wooden boat festival which is staged during the first week of August every year. It also has a growing reputation as the regional capital of arts and crafts, which culminates in the "Villvin-festival" during the summer holiday.<ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Risør |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Ris%C3%B8r |access-date=2018-01-01 |date=5 April 2016 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no}}</ref>

The {{convert|193|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 302nd largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Risør is the 147th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 6,806. The municipality's population density is {{convert|38|PD/km2}} and its population has decreased by 0.6% over the previous 10-year period.<ref name="ssb pop">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=Table: 06913: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/06913/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref><ref name="ssb area">{{Cite web |last=Statistisk sentralbyrå |author-link=Statistics Norway |title=09280: Area of land and fresh water (km²) (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/09280/ |language=Norwegian}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Risør april 2019 (1).jpg|thumb|left|View of the outer harbour]]
[[File:Fra Søndeledfjorden.JPG|thumb|left|A farm along the Søndeledfjorden]]
[[File:Søndeled kirke.JPG|thumb|left|[[Søndeled Church]], built c. 1150]]
The [[Risør (town)|town of Risør]] was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1901, a part of the neighboring [[Søndeled]] municipality (population: 658) was transferred to Risør. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, the rural municipality of Søndeled (population: 3,134) was merged into the [[Risør (town)|town of Risør]] (population: 3,002) to form a new municipality of Risør which had a population of 6,136. On 1 January 1984, the uninhabited Folevatnet area of neighboring [[Tvedestrand]] was transferred to Risør.<ref name="Dag">{{Cite web |last=Jukvam |first=Dag |year=1999 |title=Historisk oversikt over endringer i kommune- og fylkesinndelingen |url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/00/90/rapp_9913/rapp_9913.pdf |publisher=[[Statistics Norway|Statistisk sentralbyrå]] |language=no |isbn=9788253746845}}</ref>

===Name===
The town and municipality is named after the small island of ''Risøya'' which is located on the sea, just off the coast of the town. The name likely comes from the [[Old Norse]] name {{lang|non|Ríseyjar}}. The first element is {{wikt-lang|non|rís}} which means "[[thicket]]" or "brush". The last element is {{wikt-lang|non|eyjar}} which means "[[islands]]". The relatively more modern [[Danish language]] version of ''eyjar'' is ''øer'', hence the current spelling of "Risør". The old name of the town (prior to 1909) was ''Øster Riisöer'' or ''Østerrisør'' (with {{wikt-lang|no|øster}} meaning "eastern" Risør). After 1909, it was simply called ''Risør''. The prefix was added in the 16th century to distinguish this town from the town of ''Vesterrisør'', the old name of the nearby town of [[Mandal, Norway|Mandal]]. After ''Vesterrisør'' was renamed ''Mandal'', the prefix was dropped as it was no longer needed.<ref name="snl" />

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] was granted on 18 July 1891. The [[blazon]] is ''"[[Azure (heraldry)|Azure]], [[per fess]] a rocky island sable with lighthouse and two stars argent over [[barry wavy]] azure and argent"''. This means the arms have a blue [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a black rocky island coming out of blue waves with a lighthouse on the island and two stars in the sky. The charge has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[argent]] which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The arms often have a [[mural crown]] over the shield. The lighthouse was chosen to symbolize the Holmen fortress built in 1788. The history of these arms is quite curious. It is said that on 18 July 1891 [[Oscar II of Sweden|King Oscar II]] visited the town of Risør so a menu had to be printed. It was printed with a coat of arms on the top, which was probably designed by the printer. That afternoon the King approved the new arms, mainly because his name was printed under the arms on the menu. The municipal flag does not has the same design as the coat of arms. The blue flag has one white star in the top left corner and three jagged horizontal white stripes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway - Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Risør |access-date=2023-07-16 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Risør, Aust-Agder (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-09-01.html |access-date=2023-07-16 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref>

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Risør'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="2"|Risør||[[Frydendal Church]]||[[Risør (town)|Risør]]||1879
|-
|[[Risør Church]]||[[Risør (town)|Risør]]||1647
|-
|rowspan="1"|Søndeled||[[Søndeled Church]]||[[Søndeled (village)|Søndeled]]||{{Circa|1150}}
|}

==History==
[[File:Town of Oster Riisöer (JW Edy plate 22).jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the town c. 1800]]
[[File:Batteriet på Holmen, Risør -1814.jpg|thumb|right|Painting of the battery at Holmen]]
[[File:Risør - no-nb digifoto 20151106 00042 NB MIT FNR 11714.jpg|thumb|right|Picture of the harbour c. 1950]]
The village of Risør was a small fishing village in the [[prestegjeld]] of [[Søndeled]] when Dutch vessels began to call there to purchase [[lumber|timber]] around the year 1570. By 1607, two inns had been opened to serve Dutch sailors. In 1630, Risør became a privileged port (''[[ladested]]''). The town has a timber church, [[Risør Church]] which was built in the [[Baroque]] style in 1647.

In 1723, Risør was granted [[Market town#Norway|town status]] which granted it a number of commercial privileges. By the end of the 18th century, 96 sailing vessels were owned by Risør merchants. It was the sixth largest shipping town and one of four shipbuilding centers in Norway.

In ''[[Letters Written in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark|Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark]]'', [[Mary Wollstonecraft]] wrote extensively while visiting Risør in 1783, including the following remarks:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wollstonecraft |first=Mary |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext02/ltswd10.txt |title=Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark |publisher=Cassell & Company |year=1889 |format=Project Gutenberg Etext version}}</ref>
* On entering Risør: "We were a considerable time entering amongst the islands, before we saw about two hundred houses crowded together under a very high rock—still higher appearing above."
* While at Risør: "...seaports are not favorable to improvement. The captains acquire a little superficial knowledge by traveling, which their indefatigable attention to the making of money prevents their digesting; and the fortune that they thus laboriously acquire is spent, as it usually is in towns of this description, in show and good living."
* While departing Risør: "The view of the town was now extremely fine. A huge rocky mountain stood up behind it, and a vast cliff stretched on each side, forming a semicircle. In a recess of the rocks was a clump of pines, amongst which a steeple rose picturesquely beautiful."

Risør played a role in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] in 1807–1814, when [[Denmark–Norway]] took France's side, and therefore became the enemy of Norway's most important trading-partner: Great Britain. (It is from this period that [[Henrik Ibsen]] took his subject, when he created his famous poem ''Terje Vigen''.) It was south of Risør, in [[Battle of Lyngør|Lyngør]] (now in the neighboring [[Tvedestrand]] municipality) that several British warships, headed by {{HMS|Dictator}} of the [[Royal Navy|English navy]] pursued and sank the last major vessel and the pride of Norway: the frigate [[HDMS Najaden (1811)|HDMS ''Najaden'']].

On 1 January 1838, the new [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law came into effect, granting each parish and town in Norway the rights to have a self-governing council. Thus, Risør was a small town with a council to run it.<ref name="Dag" />

Risør was almost wiped off the map in 1861. A great fire swept across the small town leaving just 85 houses and the 1647 [[Risør Church]]. The entire road network was re-worked after the fire to remove the small streets and alleys and have wider roads that are there today. The city was redesigned and rebuilt and today it presents a positive impression of a well kept town with white, wooden houses. White was chosen because it was an expensive paint and the residents wanted to give an expression of prosperity. Still today, most houses have white paint, although some have other colors on the sides and back of their houses.

By the second half of the 19th century, over 100 sailing vessels were based at their home port in Risør and more than 1,000 sailors called Risør home. The transition to steamships and the economic damage of [[World War I]], however, destroyed Risør's shipping industry.

On 1 January 1901, an area of the neighboring municipality of [[Søndeled]] (population: 658) was transferred to the city, greatly expanding Risør. 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 Risør (population: 3,002) and the entire municipality of Søndeled (population: 3,134) were merged to form a new, much larger municipality of Risør, with the town being the [[administrative centre]].<ref name="Dag" />

==Geography==
Risør is the easternmost coastal municipality in [[Agder]] county, located on the peninsula between the mouths of the [[Søndeledfjorden]] and [[Sandnesfjorden]], providing ready access to the [[Skagerrak]]. Risør municipality is bordered to the southwest by [[Tvedestrand]], to the northwest by [[Vegårshei]] and [[Gjerstad]], and to the northeast by [[Kragerø]] in [[Telemark]] county. The [[Nordfjorden (Aust-Agder)|Nordfjorden]] is a branch of the Søndeledfjorden that flows to the north of the large island of [[Barmen, Aust-Agder|Barmen]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stagg |first=Frank Noel |title=South Norway |publisher=George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. |year=1958}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Welle-Strand |first=Erling |title=Adventure Roads in Norway |publisher=Nortrabooks |year=1996 |isbn=9788290103717}}</ref>

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

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] ({{lang|no|Kommunestyre}}) of Risør is made up of 29 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                      = Risør
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 - Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/risør#seats |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 9
|Rødt                      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/agder/risør#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 1
|Rødt                      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 5
|Grønne                    = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Aust-Agder |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/aust-agder/risør#seats |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 29
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 2
|Rødt                      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Venstre                   = 4
|Høyre                     = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 7
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 5
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 8
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 4
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 2
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 7
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 1
|Venstre                   = 4
|otherparty                = Cross-party list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk liste
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|DLF                       = 2
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = Cross-party local list
|otherparty_no             = Tverrpolitisk Bygdeliste
|otherparty_number         = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 1
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 14
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|start                     = 1963
|end                       = 1967
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1964 |title=Kommunevalgene 1963 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_138.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 31
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 14
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Venstre                   = 7
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1959
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 5
|Venstre                   = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1955
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1951
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 10
|Høyre                     = 4
|Venstre                   = 3
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1947
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 20
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|Høyre                     = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|DRF/V                     = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 12
|NKP                       = 1
|Høyre                     = 3
|DRF/V                     = 3
|Local_Lists               = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1941* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|H/FV                      = 8
|Avholdspartiet            = 4
|Venstre                   = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 11
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1934
|end                       = 1937 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1935 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Høyre                     = 5
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 4
|Venstre                   = 5
|Avholdspartiet            = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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 |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Høyre                     = 5
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 4
|Venstre                   = 6
|Avholdspartiet            = 5
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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 |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Høyre                     = 5
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|Avholdspartiet            = 6
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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 |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|H/FV                      = 9
|Venstre                   = 7
|Avholdspartiet            = 6
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 6
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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 |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|H/FV                      = 9
|Venstre                   = 6
|Avholdspartiet            = 7
|Local_Lists               = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Risør
|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 |access-date=2020-12-12 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=no |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 28
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 5
|H/FV                      = 9
|Venstre                   = 9
|Avholdspartiet            = 5
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
{{incomplete list|date=July 2023}}
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Risør (incomplete list):
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*1845-1845: Jacob Wetlesen Prebensen
*1851-1851: Jacob Wetlesen Prebensen
*1862-1866: Jacob Wetlesen Prebensen
*1871-1876: Peder Christian Bjørnsgaard
*1877-1880: Søren Hille
*1880-1909: Jacob Christian Wetlesen Prebensen
*1922-1922: Andreas Hansson ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
*1988-1995: Laila Amalie Skarheim ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*1995-2007: Lars Lauvhjell ([[Centre Party (Norway)|Sp]])
*2007-2011: [[Knut Henning Thygesen]] ([[Red Party (Norway)|R]])
*2011-2023: Per Kristian Lunden ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
*2023-present: Kai Strat ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-20 |title=Høyre får ordfører i Risør |url=https://www.nrk.no/sorlandet/hoyre-far-ordforer-i-risor-1.16564810 |access-date=2024-01-28 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Politics===
In the 2007 municipal elections, Risør had the highest vote for the [[Red (Norway)|Red Electoral Alliance]] in Norway at 13.7 per cent. Also, [[Knut Henning Thygesen]] was elected as the only mayor from the [[Red (Norway)|Red Party]] through a direct mayor election.<ref>[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article1987465.ece Ftenposten article on the election] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919181425/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article1987465.ece |date=19 September 2008 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
Risør is located along the [[Skaggerak]] coast. The [[Stangholmen Lighthouse]] sits just offshore, marking a shipping channel leading to the town harbour. The [[European route E18]] highway runs along the western edge of the municipality. The [[Norwegian County Road 416]] connects the E18 highway with the town centre in the eastern side of the municipality. Other main roads in Risør include [[Norwegian County Road 411]] and [[Norwegian County Road 418]].

==Economy==
Risør was a town built as a result of shipping and industrial interests. The historic timber and fishing industries thrived for a few hundred years, but now they have mostly vanished. Paper production served as an economic basis for a time, until the [[Pulping|pulp factory]] was closed in 1970. Today Risør is more of a [[tourism|tourist destination]] with a burgeoning art colony and music festivals. Summer vacationers account for a major part of the economy.<ref name="snl" />

==Attractions==
Risør has many tourist attractions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cornwallis |first=Graeme |title=Norway |last2=Bender |first2=Andrew |last3=Swaney |first3=Deana |date=May 2002 |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |isbn=978-1-74059-200-0 |edition=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lemmer |first=Gerhard |url=https://archive.org/details/norwaylemm00lemm |title=Nelles Guide Norway |last2=Frey |first2=Elke |last3=Rahe |first3=Helge |publisher=Nelles Verlag |year=2001 |isbn=978-3-88618-897-0 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Insight Guides Norway |date=November 1996 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-395-81912-8 |editor-last=Taylor-Wilkie |editor-first=Doreen |edition=2}}</ref>
* A world class [[chamber music]] festival, is held in late June
* A [[bluegrass music]]-festival every mid-July. Norway's only festival of its kind.
* A popular artists’ market (''Villvinmarked'' or "Villvin-festival") is held in July
* A wooden boat festival (Trebåtfestival) is held in August. During the festival the population swells to 20,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Risør Trebåtfestival |url=http://www.trebatfestivalen.no/ |access-date=4 March 2009 |language=no}}</ref>
* [[Risør Church|''Den Hellige Ånds'' Church]], built in 1647
* The [[citadel]] at Tangen, a fortification from the Napoleonic Wars (with modifications from the German occupation period)
* ''Risør Akvarium'', salt water [[aquarium]] with over 100 different species. The only salt water aquarium in the south region of Norway.
* [[Risør Underwater Post Office]], is established in 2004.<ref name="draft05">{{Cite news |date=12 June 2007 |title=(Risør Undervannspostkontor) |publisher=[[TVNorge]] |language=no}}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:Knut henning thygesen.jpg|100px|thumb|Knut Henning Thygesen, 2008]]
[[File:Myggen 2017.jpg|100px|thumb|Erik Mykland, 2017]]
{{main category|People from Risør}}
* [[Isak Lauritssøn Falck]] (1601–1669), a land-owner and timber merchant who developed the growing town of Risør<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isach Lauritzen Falch og Dorthe Engvoldsdatter |url=http://www.eidangerslekt.org/brevik-slekt/brevik-til-1701/isach-falch-1601.htm |access-date=10 July 2016 |publisher=eidangerslekt.org}}</ref>
* [[Christian Jensen Lofthuus]] (1750-1797), a peasant who led a revolt in 1786 called ''Lofthusreisingen''
* [[Henrik Carstensen]] (1753–1835), a timber merchant, shipowner, rep. [[Norwegian Constituent Assembly]]
* [[Carsten Henrik Bruun]] (1828–1907), a shipmaster of whaling vessels, also involved in [[Seal hunting|sealing]] 
* [[Nikolai Prebensen]] (1850–1938), a politician and [[List of County Governors of Finnmark|County Governor of Finnmark]] & [[List of County Governors of Aust-Agder|Aust-Agder]]
* [[Dikken Zwilgmeyer]] (1853–1913), a fiction writer of children's literature
* [[Isak Martinius Skaugen]] (1875–1962), a sea captain who founded ''[[I. M. Skaugen]]'' a shipping co.
* [[Ove Ansteinsson]] (1884–1942), a journalist and author
* [[Per Sunderland]] (1924–2012), a stage and film actor<ref>{{IMDb name|0839149|Per Sunderland}}. Retrieved 14 January 2021.</ref>
* [[Victor D. Norman]] (born 1946), a politician & professor of economy and rector at [[Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration|NHH]] 
* [[Carl Magnus Neumann]] (born 1944), a jazz saxophonist who lived in Risør starting in 2000
* [[Knut Henning Thygesen]] (born 1953), an author, politician, and mayor of Risør in 2007 
* [[Erik Mykland]] (born 1971), a [[Association football|footballer]] with 371 club caps and 78 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Risør Municipality}}
{{wiktionary|Risør}}
{{Wikivoyage|Risør}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/risor Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://risor.rv.no/ Risor Rødt] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.risor.kommune.no Risør kommune] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.risor-woodenboat.no/ Risør Wooden Boat Festival] annually in August {{in lang|no}}
*[http://rlb.no/tourist/kommune/0901/info/ Tourist Information Risør] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060326110708/http://www.visitrisor.no/eng/index.htm Visit Risør]
*[http://www.detlillehotel.no/ Det Lille Hotel] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.austagderblad.no/ Aust Agder News] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.kammermusikkfest.no/ Risør chamber music festival] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060109094423/http://kulturnett.no/geografisknavigering/geografisknavigering_visning.jsp?fylke=T921062&kommune=T908368 Culture in Risør on the map] {{in lang|no}}
*[http://www.reuber-norwegen.de/AustAgder/FramesAustAgderKarte.html Map of Aust-Agder including Risør municipality] {{in lang|de}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070810074629/http://www.houses-europe.com/risorby/ Risørby] – facts and pictures of Risør {{in lang|no}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Risør
|North     = [[Gjerstad]]
|Northeast = [[Kragerø]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = 
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Tvedestrand]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Vegårshei]]
}}
{{Agder}}
{{authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Risor}}
[[Category:Risør| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Agder]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]