Editing Skien

{{short description|Municipality in Telemark, Norway}}
{{about|the municipality in Telemark, Norway|the town and urban area within this municipality|Skien (town)}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Skien
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            = 
|image_skyline          = Skien fraa Brekkeparken.jpg
|image_caption          = View of the city centre
|idnumber               = 4003
|county                 = Telemark
|district               = Grenland
|capital                = [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
|established            = 1 Jan 1838
|preceded               = none
|demonyms               = Skiensmann (male)<br />Skienskvinne (female)<br />Skiensfolk
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Skien komm.svg
|flag                   = 
|webpage                = www.skien.kommune.no
|mayor                  = Marius Roheim Aarvold
|mayor_party            = [[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]]
|mayor_as_of            = 2023
|area_rank              = 147
|area_total_km2         = 779.19
|area_land_km2          = 718.97
|area_water_km2         = 60.22
|area_water_percent     = 7.7
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 18
|population_total       = 55924
|population_density_km2 = 77.8
|population_increase    = 5.5
|coordinates            = {{coord|59|12|29|N|9|33|10|E|region:NO|display=inline,title}}
|utm_zone = 32V | utm_northing = 6563352 | utm_easting = 0531568 | geo_cat = adm2nd
}}

'''Skien''' ({{IPA|no|ˈʂêːən|lang|No-Skien.ogg}})<ref name="snl" /> is a [[List of municipalities of Norway|municipality]] in [[Telemark]] county, [[Norway]]. It is located in the [[Traditional districts of Norway|traditional district]] of [[Grenland]], although historically it belonged to [[Grenmar]]/Skiensfjorden, while Grenland referred the [[Norsjø]] area and [[Bø, Telemark|Bø]]. The [[administrative centre]] of the municipality is the [[Skien (town)|city of Skien]], which is also the administrative centre of the whole county. Some of the notable villages in the municipality include [[Åfoss]], [[Hoppestad]], [[Klovholt]], [[Luksefjell]], [[Melum]], [[Kilebygda]], [[Skotfoss]], [[Sneltvedt]], and [[Valebø]].<ref name="snl">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Skien |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/Skien |date=2023-08-15 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no |editor2-last=Lundbo |editor2-first=Sten |accessdate=2023-09-24}}</ref>

The {{convert|779|km2|adj=on}} municipality is the 147th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Skien is the 18th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 55,924. The municipality's [[population density]] is {{convert|77.8|PD/km2}} and its population has increased by 5.5% 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> The [[conurbation]] of [[Porsgrunn/Skien]] is reckoned by [[Statistics Norway]] to be the [[List of urban areas in Norway by population|seventh largest urban area in Norway]], straddling an area of three municipalities: Skien municipality (about 62% of the population), [[Porsgrunn Municipality]] (30%), and [[Bamble Municipality]] (8%). This entire area is home to more than 100,000 people.

The municipality has existed since 1838, but the city of Skien is one of Norway's oldest cities, with an urban history dating back to the Middle Ages, and received privileges as a [[market town]] in 1358. From the 15th century, the city was governed by a 12-member council. Skien was historically a centre of seafaring, timber exports, and early industrialization.  It was one of Norway's two or three largest cities between the 16th and 19th centuries. It was also one of Norway's most internationally oriented cities, with extensive contact with its export markets in the [[Low Countries]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Denmark]]. It retained its position as [[Eastern Norway]]'s leading commercial city until the 19th century, when it gradually started to lose importance to the emerging capital of [[Oslo|Christiania]] following the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref name="Haave">{{Cite book |last=Haave |first=Jørgen |title=Familien Ibsen |publisher=Museumsforlaget |year=2017 |isbn=9788283050455 |author-link=Jørgen Haave}}</ref> The city was the birthplace of playwright [[Henrik Ibsen]], and many of his famous dramas are set in places reminiscent of early 19th-century Skien.

==General information==
The [[Skien (town)|town of Skien]] was established as an urban municipality on 1 January 1838 (see [[formannskapsdistrikt]] law). On 1 January 1856, an area of [[Gjerpen|Gjerpen Municipality]] (population: 1,286) was [[Municipal annexation|annexed]] by the growing town of Skien. Again, on 1 July 1916, another area of [[Gjerpen|Gjerpen Municipality]] (population: 1,332) and an area of [[Solum, Norway|Solum Municipality]] (population: 1,042) was [[Municipal annexation|annexed]] by the growing town of Skien. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the [[Schei Committee]]. On 1 January 1964, the [[Skien (town)|town of Skien]] (population: 15,805) was merged with the neighboring [[Solum, Norway|Solum Municipality]] (population: 13,706) and [[Gjerpen|Gjerpen Municipality]] (population: 15,300) plus the [[Valebø]] area of [[Holla, Telemark|Holla Municipality]] (population: 259). These areas became the new Skien Municipality.<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 municipality (originally the [[Skien (town)|town of Skien]]) is named after the Skien river ({{langx|non|Skiða}}) since it ran through the town. The name is the plural [[genitive case]] of the word {{wikt-lang|non|skið}} which means "[[ski]]", likely referring to the straight path of the river.<ref name="snl" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rygh |first=Oluf |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2006120600018 |title=Norske gaardnavne: Bratsbergs amt |date=1914 |publisher=W. C. Fabritius & sønners bogtrikkeri |edition=7 |location=Kristiania, Norge |pages=126–127 |language=no |authorlink=Oluf Rygh}}</ref>

===Coat of arms===
The [[coat of arms]] is derived from the oldest known seal of the city, dating back to 1609. The [[blazon]] is ''"[[Gules]], two crossed ski-poles  with central star between two skis [[addorsed]] between two flower plants issuant from a [[terrace in base]] Or"''. This means the arms have a red [[field (heraldry)|field]] (background) and the [[charge (heraldry)|charge]] is a two ski poles forming a [[cross]] with a star at the crosspoint located in between two [[ski]]s which in turn are between two tall flower plants growing out of a flat ground at the bottom of the shield. A [[mural crown]] is usually displayed above the shield. The charge has a [[tincture (heraldry)|tincture]] of [[Or (heraldry)|Or]] which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used. The skis are a semi-[[canting arms|canting]] element (based on the meaning of the town's name) and the cross is a [[Religious symbolism|religious symbol]]. There have been several theories about the meaning of the cross, but its meaning is not clearly known. It has been suggested that it is a symbol for the main church in Skien, the Holy Cross church. The small star may be a symbol of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|St. Mary]] as the second medieval church of Skien was devoted to her. Besides the skis and cross, there are two [[Ranunculus acris|meadow buttercups]] on each side. The municipal flag is white with a small image of coat of arms next to the name "Skien kommune".<ref name="NK">{{Cite web |title=Civic heraldry of Norway – Norske Kommunevåpen |url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Skien |access-date=2023-09-24 |publisher=Heraldry of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Skien, Telemark (Norway) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no-08-06.html |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=Flags of the World}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Skien kommune, våpen |url=https://foto.digitalarkivet.no/fotoweb/archives/5003-Kommunev%C3%A5pen/Kart%20og%20tegninger%20og%20segl/Skien%20fra%20SNL.JPG.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5003-Kommunev%25C3%25A5pen%2F%3Fq%3Dskien |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=Digitalarkivet |publisher=Arkivverket |language=no}}</ref>

In 1854, the arms were shown as two skis, but the cross was now made from [[ski pole]]s, as another canting element. This remained so until the early half of the 20th century. In the 1980s, the city officially adopted the current arms, which are identical to the oldest seal. The colours are the colours that have been used since the 19th century. The differences between the seal and the present arms are that in the arms the cross is placed on top of the skis and the star is changed from a four-pointed star to a six-pointed star, and that the cross is made of ski-poles.<ref name="NK" /> {{see also-text|Arms of [[Alvdal#Coat of arms|Alvdal]] and [[Trysil#Coat of arms|Trysil]]}}

==History==
[[File:Frogner hovedgård - Skien (1).jpg|thumb|left| Frogner Manor in Skien]]
Until 1979, it was thought that Skien was founded in the 14th century. However, the archaeological discovery of a carving of the [[Skien animal]] has established that its founding preceded 1000 A.D. The city was then a meeting place for inland farmers and marine traders, and also a centre for trading [[Sharpening stone|whetstones]] from [[Eidsborg]] (inland Telemark). [[Gimsøy Abbey]] was founded in the 12th century. Skien was given formal [[Market town|commercial town]] rights by the Norwegian crown in 1358. [[Lumber|Timber]] has historically been the principal export from Skien, and in the sixteenth century the city became the Kingdom's leading port for shipping timber. The oldest remaining building is Gjerpen church (built in approximately 1150).

From the 16th century, the city came to be dominated by a group of families known as [[Patrician (post-Roman Europe)|patricians]]. In an 1882 letter to [[Georg Brandes]], [[Henrik Ibsen]] mentions the families [[Paus]], Plesner, [[von der Lippe (Norwegian family)|von der Lippe]], [[Cappelen (family)|Cappelen]] and [[Blom (family from Skien)|Blom]] as the most prominent patrician families when he grew up there.<ref name="Ibsen">{{Citation |last=Ibsen |first=Henrik |title=Letter to Georg Brandes |date=21 September 1882 |work=Henrik Ibsens skrifter |url=http://www.dokpro.uio.no/litteratur/ibsen/hi17.txt |publisher=[[University of Oslo]] |author-link=Henrik Ibsen}}</ref>
The current town layout was fixed after the last town fire in 1886.

==Government==
Skien 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 [[Telemark District Court]] and the [[Agder Court of Appeal]].

===Municipal council===
The [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]] {{lang|no|(Kommunestyre)}} of Skien is made up of 55 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                      = Skien
|start                     = 2023
|end                       = 2027
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2023 – Telemark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2023/ko/telemark/13#seats |access-date=2024-01-29 |publisher=[[Valgdirektoratet]]}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = 
|Total                     = 55
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 13
|Demokratene               = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 9
|Grønne                    = 2
|Høyre                     = 13
|INP                       = 3
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Rødt                      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 2019
|end                       = 2023
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2019 – Vestfold og Telemark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2019/ko/vestfold%20og%20telemark/skien#seats |access-date=2023-09-23 |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 55
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 18
|FNB                       = 1
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Grønne                    = 3
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 3
|Rødt                      = 3
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 1
|otherparty                = City party
|otherparty_no             = Bypartiet
|otherparty_number         = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 2015
|end                       = 2019
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2015 – Telemark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2015/ko/telemark/skien#seats |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref><ref name="ssb valg">{{Cite web |title=Table: 04813: Members of the local councils, by party/electoral list at the Municipal Council election (M) |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/04813/ |publisher=Statistics Norway |language=Norwegian}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 55
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 6
|Grønne                    = 2
|Høyre                     = 9
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 2
|Venstre                   = 2
|otherparty                = City party
|otherparty_no             = Bypartiet
|otherparty_number         = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 2011
|end                       = 2015
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Kommunestyrevalg 2011 – Telemark |url=https://valgresultat.no/valg/2011/ko/telemark/skien#seats |publisher=Valg Direktoratet}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 55
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 21
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 7
|Høyre                     = 15
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Rødt                      = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 3
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 2007
|end                       = 2011
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 55
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 21
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Venstre                   = 3
|Høyre                     = 6
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 14
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 2003
|end                       = 2007
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" />
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 49
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 18
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 11
|Høyre                     = 5
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 8
|Venstre                   = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1999
|end                       = 2003
|reference                 = <ref name="ssb valg" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2000 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1999 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/publikasjoner/pdf/nos_c621/nos_c621.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253748531 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 49
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 9
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5
|Venstre                   = 2
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1995
|end                       = 1999
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1995 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c342.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253743351 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 69
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 23
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 11
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5
|Venstre                   = 2
|Pensjonistpartiet         = 5
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1991
|end                       = 1995
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1991 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_c057.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253737939 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 69
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 21
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 5
|Høyre                     = 14
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 8
|Rød_Valgallianse          = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 6
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 12
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1987
|end                       = 1991
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1988 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1987 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b765.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253726325 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 69
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 29
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 9
|Høyre                     = 16
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 5
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1983
|end                       = 1987
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1983 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b450.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253720378 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo-Kongsvinger, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 69
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 34
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 3
|Høyre                     = 18
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 7
|Senterpartiet             = 1
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 2
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1979
|end                       = 1983
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1979 |title=Kommunestyrevalget 1979 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_b093.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253710836 |issn=0332-8023 |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 77
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 34
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Høyre                     = 20
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 11
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 4
|Venstre                   = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1975
|end                       = 1979
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=Kommunevalgene 1975 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a769.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253705646 |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 77
|Fremskrittspartiet        = 1
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 33
|DLF                       = 2
|Høyre                     = 14
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 13
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Venstreparti = 7
|Venstre                   = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1971
|end                       = 1975
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1973 |title=Kommunevalgene 1972 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a457.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |isbn=8253701144 |location=Oslo, Norge |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 77
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 37
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 8
|Senterpartiet             = 4
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 6
|Venstre                   = 8
|otherparty                = Socialist common list
|otherparty_no             = Venstresosialistiske felleslister
|otherparty_number         = 3
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|start                     = 1967
|end                       = 1971
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1967 |title=Kommunevalgene 1967 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_a214.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge |volume=I}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 77
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 39
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|NKP                       = 1
|Senterpartiet             = 3
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 8
|Venstre                   = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 77
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 42
|Høyre                     = 10
|NKP                       = 2
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Senterpartiet             = 2
|Sosialistisk_Folkeparti   = 5
|Venstre                   = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1959
|end                       = 1963
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1960 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1959 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xii_022.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 30
|Høyre                     = 12
|NKP                       = 4
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Venstre                   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1955
|end                       = 1959
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1957 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1955 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_252.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 61
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 29
|NKP                       = 6
|Høyre                     = 11
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Venstre                   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1951
|end                       = 1955
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1952 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1951 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_xi_120.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 26
|NKP                       = 6
|Høyre                     = 10
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 5
|Venstre                   = 13
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1947
|end                       = 1951
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1948 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1947 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_165.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|NKP                       = 9
|Høyre                     = 8
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 4
|DRF/V                     = 14
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1945
|end                       = 1947
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1947 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1945 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_x_133.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|NKP                       = 12
|Høyre                     = 6
|Kristelig_Folkeparti      = 6
|Venstre                   = 9
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1937
|end                       = 1940* 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1938 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1937 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_133.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Høyre                     = 11
|Venstre                   = 21
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 24
|NKP                       = 4
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|city                      = yes
|start                     = 1934
|end                       = 1937 
|reference                 = <ref>{{Cite web |date=1935 |title=Kommunevalgene og Ordførervalgene 1934 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/histstat/nos/nos_ix_057.pdf |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Høyre                     = 10
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 5
|Venstre                   = 17
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 23
|NKP                       = 5
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|H/FV                      = 15
|Venstre                   = 18
|Borgerlige_Felleslister   = 2
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|NKP                       = 8
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Høyre                     = 10
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 7
|Venstre                   = 16
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 17
|NKP                       = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Høyre                     = 13
|H/FV                      = 8
|DRF/V                     = 7
|Avholdspartiet            = 6
|SDA                       = 7
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 3
|otherparty                = Workers' Common List 
|otherparty_no             = Arbeidernes fellesliste
|otherparty_number         = 16
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 60
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 19
|SDA                       = 5
|H/FV                      = 21
|Venstre                   = 4
|DRF                       = 1
|Avholdspartiet            = 10
|}}
{{Kommunestyre table
|name                      = Skien
|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 |publisher=Statistisk sentralbyrå |language=Norwegian |format=PDF |location=Oslo, Norge}}</ref>
|collapsed                 = yes
|Total                     = 52
|Arbeiderpartiet           = 18
|Høyre                     = 16
|Venstre                   = 5
|Frisinnede_Venstre        = 6
|smallparty                = Joint list of the [[Temperance Party (Norway)|Temperance Party]] <small>({{lang|no|Avholdspartiet}})</small> and the [[Radical People's Party (Norway)|Labour Democrats]] <small>{{lang|no|(Arbeiderdemokratene)}}</small>
|smallparty_color          = linear-gradient(135deg, {{Party color|Temperance Party (Norway)}} 50%, {{Party color|Radical People's Party (Norway)}} 50%);
|smallparty_number         = 7
|}}
{{div col end}}

===Mayors===
The [[Mayor#Scandinavia|mayors]] ({{langx|no|ordfører}}) of Skien:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ørdførerne i Skien, Gjerpen, og Solum |url=http://www.gjerpenu.net/dagmagne/skien/ordforer.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020080742/http://www.gjerpenu.net/dagmagne/skien/ordforer.htm |archive-date=2018-10-20 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Gjerpenu.net |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* 1838-1838: Christopher Myhre	
* 1838–1840: Peter Fredrik Feilberg	
* 1840–1842: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]
* 1842–1843: Hother Bøttger	
* 1844–1845: Cornelius Blom	
* 1845–1847: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]
* 1847–1848: [[Herman Bagger]]
* 1848–1850: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]
* 1850–1851: [[Herman Bagger]]
* 1851–1860: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]
* 1860–1861: [[Herman Bagger]]	
* 1861–1867: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]
* 1867–1869: [[Herman Bagger]]
* 1869–1872: Hans Julius Hammer	
* 1872–1873: Anthon H. Steenstrup	
* 1873–1876: [[Hans Severin Arentz]]	
* 1876–1878: [[Johan Castberg]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1878–1879: Hans Dulin ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1879–1881: Johan R. Garben	
* 1881–1883: Hans Dulin ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1883–1886: Axel Borchgrevink ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1886–1887: Martin Walther ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1887–1893: [[Paul Steenstrup Koht]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1893–1896: Hans Gurstad ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1896–1897: Hans Larsen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1897–1899: [[Carl Stousland]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1899–1905: Tholf Grini ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1905–1909: Søren B. Paulsen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1909–1910: Tholf Grini ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1910–1911: Johannes Sørfonden ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1911–1912: Harald Kristoffersen ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1912–1914: Tholf Grini ([[Free-minded Liberal Party|FV]])
* 1914–1917: Jonas P. Solheim ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1917–1919: [[Carl Stousland]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1919–1920: Tholf Grini ([[Free-minded Liberal Party|FV]])
* 1920–1926: Lars Skjelbred ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1926–1927: Hermann Olaus Hansen ([[Communist Party of Norway|NKP]])
* 1927–1928: Christian C. Bruun ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1928–1929: Jørgen Bøhle ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1929–1931: Carl Hartmann ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1932–1935: Jørgen Bøhle ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1931–1932: K. Slagstad ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1935–1937: [[Ambros Sollid]] ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1938–1941: Øivind Stensrud ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1945-1945: Øivind Stensrud ([[Liberal Party (Norway)|V]])
* 1945–1947: Hermann Olaus Hansen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1948–1952: Aslak Nilsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1952–1964: Arnt Haraldsen ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1964–1967: Johan Heisholt ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1967–1980: Sigurd Namløs ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1980–1984: Halvor Aas ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 1984–1986: [[Einfrid Halvorsen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1986–1987: Per Sigurd Lauvstad ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1988-1988: [[Einfrid Halvorsen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1988–1989: Audun Kleppe ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1990–1993: Per Sigurd Lauvstad ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1993-1993: [[Rolf Erling Andersen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1994–1995: Audun Kleppe ([[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|KrF]])
* 1995–1999: [[Rolf Erling Andersen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 1999–2001: [[Kari Lise Holmberg]] ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2001–2003: Jan Terje Olsen ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])
* 2003–2011: [[Rolf Erling Andersen]] ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2011–2023: Hedda Foss Five ([[Labour Party (Norway)|Ap]])
* 2023–present: Marius Roheim Aarvold ([[Conservative Party (Norway)|H]])<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-12 |title=Aarvold (28) kan bli ordfører i Skien |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestfoldogtelemark/aarvold-_28_-kan-bli-ordforer-i-skien-1.16554056 |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
* 2024, Feb 1 – May 15: Jørn Inge Næss ([[Progress Party (Norway)|FrP]]), Acting Mayor <ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-11 |title=Ny ordfører i 15 uker |url=https://www.skien.kommune.no/politikk/aktuelt/ny-ordfoerer-i-15-uker/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |work=[[NRK]] |language=no}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Rv36GunnarKnudsensVeg.jpg|thumb|Riksvei 36: Gunnar Knudsens Veg]]

===Roads===
The [[European route E18]] highway runs through neighboring [[Porsgrunn (town)|Porsgrunn]] and it connects to the [[Norwegian national road]] 36 which is the main road through Skien. It follows along the Skienselva river to the north. Another main route used by most buses coming from Oslo is [[Norwegian county road]] 32 which goes through [[Siljan (village)|Siljan]] and on to the northeast.

===Water===
Skien is the main terminus for the [[Telemark Canal]]. The "Norsjø-Skienskanalen" section of the canal, with one terminus at Skien and the other at Løveid, was built in 1854&ndash;1861. In Europe, canals were commonly built in the pre-railroad period to transport goods, timber, and passengers. The "Porsgrunn river" runs from the lock at Skien through Porsgrunn to the [[Frierfjord]]. Skien harbour is located at ''Vold havneterminal''.

===Railroads===
Skien was connected to the [[Rail transport in Norway|Norwegian railway network]] ([[Vestfold Line|Vestfoldbanen]]) in 1882. In 1919, [[Bratsberg Line|Bratsbergbanen]] railway line opened between Skien and [[Notodden (town)|Notodden]]. [[Vy]] still operates regular train services on both railways.

===Air===
The local airport was [[Skien Airport, Geiteryggen]]. It served domestic flights to [[Bergen]] and [[Stavanger]] as well as flights to [[Trondheim]] by the airline [[Vildanden (airline)|Vildanden]]. For the present, no commercial flights are operated from Geiteryggen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NRK |title=Synd at flyplassen blir lagt ned |url=https://www.nrk.no/telemark/synd-at-flyplassen-blir-lagt-ned-1.12416926 |access-date=3 April 2018 |website=nrk.no}}</ref>

==Culture and recreation==
[[File:Kirkegata sett fra Ibsenparken.jpg|thumb|[[Skien Church]]]]
[[File:Skien videregående skole - Brekkeby.jpg|thumb|Skien Secondary school, Dept. Brekkeby]]

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="font-size:medium"|'''''Churches in Skien'''''
!Parish ({{lang|no|sokn}})!!Church name!!Location of the church!!Year built
|-
|rowspan="1"|Borgestad||[[Borgestad Church]]||Borgestad||1907
|-
|rowspan="2"|Gimsøy og Nenset||[[Gimsøy Church (Telemark)|Gimsøy Church]]||Gimsøy||1922
|-
|[[Nenset Church]]||Tollnes||1961
|-
|rowspan="3"|Gjerpen||[[Gjerpen Church]]||[[Skien (town)|Skien]]||1153
|-
|[[Luksefjell Church]]||[[Luksefjell]]||1858
|-
|[[Valebø Church]]||[[Valebø]]||1903
|-
|rowspan="2"|Gulset og Skotfoss||[[Gulset Church]]||[[Gulset]]||1986
|-
|[[Skotfoss Church]]||[[Skotfoss]]||1900
|-
|rowspan="2"|Kilebygda og Solum||[[Kilebygda Church]]||[[Kilebygda]]||1859
|-
|[[Solum Church]]||[[Solum, Norway|Solum]]||1766
|-
|rowspan="1"|Melum||[[Melum Church]]||[[Melum]]||1728
|-
|rowspan="1"|Skien||[[Skien Church]]||[[Skien (town)|Skien]]||1894
|}
[[Skien Church]] is the largest church in Telemark county, and is famous for its two twin [[Steeple (architecture)|tower]]s and great [[church organ|organ]].

===Ibsen and Telemark Museums===
Skien was the birthplace of the author and playwright [[Henrik Ibsen]], probably the most important writer to emerge from Norway. Many of Ibsen's plays are set in an unnamed provincial town that suggests Skien. The former Ibsen family homestead at Venstøp outside Skien was established as the Ibsen Museum in 1958. The Ibsen Museum has now been incorporated into the multi-site [[Telemark Museum]], which includes several other historical sites.

===Music and entertainment===
[[Ibsenhuset]] is the local culture and conference center in Skien. It also houses concerts by international and national artists, opera, theatre and other cultural events. [[Skien kunstforening]] has a department in Ibsenhuset, and the local culture school and library are also located in the building. The venue is also home to the regional symphony orchestra, Grenland Symfoniorkester.

[[Teater Ibsen]] is the city theatre, and is still used for small productions.

In the summer of 2009 Elton John held a concert at the new Skagerak Arena, the soccer pitch for the local footfall team Odd. Next to Skagerak Arena is Stevneplassen, where car shows, concerts, flea markets and the annual "Handelsstevnet" – a trade fair with entertainment and a small amusement park – are held. The Handelsstevnet was closed down after the annual fair in 2011.

In Skotfoss, a small suburb of Skien further up the Telemark Canal, concerts are held at Løveid Sluser. There are plans to hold cultural events and concerts at Klosterøya (a downtown graffiti park).

===Amusement parks===
There are no local amusement parks in Skien. Lekeland was a small amusement park for children just outside the town, but it closed in 2008. Every year there is a [[traveling carnival]] with rides and merry-go-arounds for a week, in "Stevneplassen". There is an indoor [[waterpark]] and a big outdoor climbing park in [[Skien Fritidspark]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Badeland, Skien fritidspark |url=http://www.visitgrenland.no/?lang=no&id=300260 |access-date=2009-02-06 |publisher=visitgrenland.no}}</ref>

===Frogner Manor in Skien===
{{ill|Frogner Manor (Skien)|lt=Frogner Manor|no|Frogner Hovedgård (Skien)}} (''Frogner Hovedgård'') is a manor house on the outskirts of Skien. The manor house was built for shipowner and timber merchant [[Blom (family from Skien)|Christopher Hansen Blom]] (died 1879) and his wife Marie Elisabeth (Cappelen) Blom (died 1834). The main building is influenced by Italian Renaissance architecture. The garden was laid out in English landscape style in the 1850s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blom – slekt fra Skien |url=https://snl.no/Blom%2Fslekt_fra_Skien |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321032841/https://snl.no/Blom%2Fslekt_fra_Skien |archive-date=March 21, 2016 |access-date=February 1, 2016 |publisher=Store norske leksikon}}</ref>

[[File:KirkenKapitelberget.jpg|thumb|Kapitelberget church ruins]]

===Kapitelberget===
The Church on Kapitelberget (''Kirken på Kapitelberget'') was a medieval church. Kapitelberget was a private chapel on Bratsberg farm dating to the early 1100s. It is not known when the church went out of use, but Bratsberg farm burned down in 1156. in 1576, [[Peder Claussøn Friis]] reviewed it as a ruin. The site was first excavated in 1901. In 1928, [[Gerhard Fischer (architect)|Gerhard Fischer]] undertook restoration and preservation. The work was completed in 1933. 
<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilhelm Swensen |title=Kirken på Kapitelberget |url=http://www.porsgrunn.folkebibl.no/bok/kulturbilder/kapitelberget.html |access-date=September 1, 2016 |publisher=Porsgrunn biblioteks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jon Gunnar Arntzen |title=Bratsberg |url=https://snl.no/Bratsberg |access-date=September 1, 2016 |publisher=Store norske leksikon}}</ref>

==Economy==
===Media===
The daily newspapers ''[[Varden (newspaper)|Varden]]'' and ''[[Telemarksavisa]]'' are published in Skien. The local television for [[Telemark]], TVTelemark, is located in Skien.

===Commerce and industry===
The largest industries are [[ABB Group|ABB Asea Brown Boveri]] ([[engineering]] firm), [[Norske Skog Union]] (a [[paper mill]] which was closed down in the spring of 2006), and [http://www.efd-induction.com/ EFD Induction] ([[induction heating]] and [[induction welding]]).

Other important places of work are [[Telemark Hospital]] and [[Telemark|Telemark county municipality]].
[[Agder Court of Appeal]] is located in Skien.

Because the [[European route E18|E18]] highway lies outside of the [[Metropolitan area|metropolitan]] area of [[Grenland]], Skien has lost many important companies to the cities in [[Vestfold]].{{Citation needed |date=February 2024}}

===Shopping===
Skien has three [[shopping mall]]s:
*''Handelsbyen Herkules'' (110 stores and services)
*''Arkaden Skien Storsenter'' (47 stores and services)
*''Lietorvet Senter'' (28 stores and services)

==Sports==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}

===Arenas===
*[[Gjerpenhallen]]
*[[Grenland Speedway Arena]]
*[[Mælahallen]]
*[[Skagerak Arena]]
*[[Skien Fritidspark|Skienshallen]]
*[[Skien Ishall]]
*[[Skien Isstadion]]
{{Col-2}}

===Clubs===
*[[Gjerpen IF]] ([[Team handball|handball]])
*Grenland Speedwayklubb (motorcycle speedway)
*[[Odds BK|Odds Ballklubb]] ([[Association football|football]])
*[[Sceen Curling Klubb]] ([[curling]])
*[[Skien Ishockeyklubb]] ([[ice hockey]])
*[[Tollnes BK|Tollnes Ballklubb]] (football)
*[[Moflata table tennis]] (table tennis)
*[[Skien Innebandyklubb]] (Floorball)
{{Col-end}}

==Notable people==
{{main category|People from Skien}}
[[File:Severin Løvenskiold (by Berglien).jpg|140px|thumb|Severin Løvenskiold, 1854]]
[[File:Gunnar Knudsen 02.jpg|140px|thumb|Gunnar Knudsen]]

=== Public service & public thinking ===
* [[Jørgen von Ansbach]] (ca.1510–ca.1590), a German-Norwegian timber merchant who was Mayor of Skien
* [[Diderik von Cappelen]] (1761–1828), a wholesaler, shipowner, estate owner, and politician
* [[Ulrich Fredrich von Cappelen]] (1770–1820), a ship owner and timber merchant
* [[Severin Løvenskiold]] (1777–1856), a landowner, Prime Minister, and Governor in Norway
* [[Peter Andreas Munch]] (1810–1863), a historian who worked on the medieval history of Norway
* [[Brynild Anundsen (publisher)|Brynild Anundsen]] (1841–1913), a Norwegian-American editor and publisher
* [[Gunnar Knudsen]] (1848–1928), the [[List of heads of government of Norway|Prime Minister of Norway]] from 1908–1910 & 1913–1920
* [[Hjalmar Johansen]] (1867–1913), a [[List of polar explorers|polar explorer]]
* [[Halvdan Koht]] (1873–1965), a Norwegian historian and politician 
* [[Carl Størmer]] (1874–1957), a Norwegian mathematician and astrophysicist
* [[George Awsumb]] (1880–1959), a Norwegian-American architect
* [[Alfhild Hovdan]] (1904–1982), a tourist manager who started the [[Trafalgar Square Christmas tree]]
* [[Herman Wold]] (1908–1992), a Swedish [[Econometrics|econometrician]] and statistician
* [[Einfrid Halvorsen]] (born 1937), a trade unionist and mayor of Skien from 1983 to 1986
* [[Bjørn Tore Godal]] (born 1945), a politician who was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994–1997 
* [[Jon Fredrik Baksaas]] (born 1954), the [[CEO]] of [[Telenor]]
* [[Margareth Øvrum]] (born 1958), an engineer and executive VP of [[Statoil]]
* [[Eskil Pedersen]] (born 1984), the leader of the Labour Party´s Youth Organization, AUF, during terrorist attack on AUF at [[2011 Norway attacks|Utøya]] on 22 July 2011
* [[Bastian Vasquez]] (1990 – ca.mid 2015), a Norwegian [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]] jihadist
[[File:Henrik Ibsen av Eilif Peterssen 1895.jpg|140px|thumb|Henrik Ibsen, 1895]]
[[File:Paal Flaata (220246).jpg|140px|thumb|Pål Flåta, 2016]]

=== The arts ===
* [[August Cappelen]] (1827–1852), a Norwegian painter of melancholic, dramatic landscapes
* [[Henrik Ibsen]] (1828–1906), a Norwegian playwright and theatre director<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Ibsen, Henrik | volume= 14 |last= Gosse |first= Edmund William |author-link= Edmund William Gosse| pages = 224&ndash;226 |short = 1}}</ref>
* [[Iver Holter]] (1850–1941), a Norwegian composer and conductor
* [[Rolf Christensen]] (1894–1962), an actor in operettas, plays and farces, and film director<ref>{{IMDb name|0159891|Rolf Christensen|section= bio}}. Retrieved 24 December 2020</ref>
* [[Ella Peaters]] (1907–1991), an actress, revue artist, singer, and circus performer
* [[Aage Samuelsen]] (1915–1987), a Norwegian evangelist, singer, and [[composer]]
* [[Knut Wigert]] (1916–2006), a Norwegian actor, known for his [[Ibsen Museum (Oslo)|Ibsen]] roles<ref>{{IMDb name|0927732|Knut Wigert|section= bio}}. Retrieved 24 December 2020</ref>
* [[Kari Løvaas]] (1939–2025), a Norwegian operatic soprano
* [[Tor Åge Bringsværd]] (born 1939), an author, playwright, editor, and translator
* [[Yngvar Numme]] (born 1944), a singer, actor, revue writer, and director<ref>{{IMDb name|0637907|Yngvar Numme|section= bio}}. Retrieved 22 December 2020</ref>
* [[Torhild Staahlen]] (1947–2022), a Norwegian operatic mezzo-soprano
* [[Iver Kleive]] (born 1949), a Norwegian composer and organist
* [[Audun Kleive]] (born 1961), a Norwegian jazz drummer
* [[Bugge Wesseltoft]] (born 1964), a jazz musician, pianist, composer, and producer
* [[Gisle Kverndokk]] (born 1967), a Norwegian contemporary composer
* [[Heidi Hauge]] (born 1967), a Norwegian folk and country music singer
* [[Paal Flaata]] (born 1968), a Norwegian vocalist
* [[Bård Tufte Johansen]] (born 1969), a Norwegian comedian
* [[Wetle Holte]] (born 1973), a Norwegian jazz drummer and composer
* [[Lage Lund]] (born 1978), a Norwegian jazz guitarist
* [[Atle Pettersen]] (born 1989), a Norwegian singer and songwriter
* [[Julie Bergan]] (born 1994), a Norwegian singer and songwriter

=== Sport ===
[[File:Dag Erik Pedersen.jpg|140px|thumb|Dag Erik Pedersen, 2008]]
[[File:Tommy Svindal Larsen 01.jpg|140px|thumb|Tommy Svindal Larsen, 2010]]
* [[Per Mathias Jespersen]] (1888–1964), a gymnast who was a team silver medallist at [[1908 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Werner Nilsen]] (1904–1992), an American high-scoring soccer forward
* [[Nicolai Johansen]] (1917–1999), the Secretary Gen. the [[Norwegian Football Association]] from 1955–1983
* [[Geir Karlsen (footballer)|Geir Karlsen]] (born 1948), a retired footballer with nearly 300 club caps and 32 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]
* [[Dag Erik Pedersen]] (1959–2024), a road racing cyclist and anchorman with [[NRK]]
* [[Jeanette Nilsen]] (born 1972), a handball player who was a team bronze medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Tommy Svindal Larsen]] (born 1973), a retired footballer with 517 club caps and 24 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]
* [[Torjus Hansén]] (born 1973), a Norwegian former footballer with 373 club caps
* [[Frode Johnsen]] (born 1974), a retired footballer with 518 club caps and 35 for [[Norway national football team|Norway]]
* [[Alexander Aas]] (born 1978), a retired Norwegian footballer with 350 club caps
* [[Erik Midtgarden]] (born 1987), a Norwegian footballer with 320 club caps

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Norway}}
Skien is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Loimaa]], Finland
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Minot, North Dakota|Minot]], United States
*{{flagicon|ISL}} [[Mosfellsbær]], Iceland
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Onești]], Romania
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sorrento]], Italy
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Thisted Municipality|Thisted]], Denmark
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Uddevalla Municipality|Uddevalla]], Sweden
{{div col end}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Hjellen - Skien.jpg| The harbour in the centre of Skien
File:Langbryggene - Skien.jpg| The harbour
File:Snipetorp Skien.jpg|
File:Skien sparebank.jpg| The main bank in Skien (Skien sparebank)
File:Skien stasjon sett fra syd.jpg| Skien Station
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Skien}}
{{wiktionary|Skien}}
*[http://ssb.no/kommunefakta/skien Municipal fact sheet] from [[Statistics Norway]] {{in lang|no}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Telemark}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Skien}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Skien |volume= 25 | page= 187 |short= 1}}
*[http://www.skien.kommune.no/ Municipal website] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002800/http://www.induction-heating.com.cn/ Municipal website] {{in lang|no}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928163241/http://www.skien.kommune.no/ITF-SKI/knginter.nsf/web/bdEngelskInformasjon Municipal website] {{in lang|en}}

{{Telemark}}
{{25 largest municipalities of Norway}}
{{Authority control}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

[[Category:Skien| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Telemark]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Norway]]