# Agder

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County in Southern Norway

Not to be confused with [Southern Norway](/source/Southern_Norway). For other uses see [Agder (disambiguation)](/source/Agder_(disambiguation)).

County in Norway

Agder County Agder fylke County Flag Coat of arms Agder within Norway Coordinates: 58°46′46.53″N 7°40′6.45″E / 58.7795917°N 7.6684583°E / 58.7795917; 7.6684583 Country Norway County Agder District Southern Norway Established 1 Jan 2020 • Preceded by Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder counties Administrative centre Kristiansand Government • Body Agder County Municipality • Governor (2022) Gina Lund (Ap) • County mayor (2019) Arne Thomassen (H) Area • Total 16,433.67 km2 (6,345.08 sq mi) • Land 14,980.95 km2 (5,784.18 sq mi) • Water 1,452.72 km2 (560.90 sq mi) 8.8% • Rank #8 in Norway Population (2021) • Total 308,843 • Rank #8 in Norway • Density 20.6/km2 (53/sq mi) • Change (10 years) +9.3% Demonym Egde or Egd[1] Official language [2] • Norwegian form Neutral Time zone UTC+01:00 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+02:00 (CEST) ISO 3166 code NO-42[3] Website Official website Data from Statistics Norway

**Agder** is a [county](/source/Counties_of_Norway) (*fylke*) and [traditional region](/source/Districts_of_Norway) in the southern part of [Norway](/source/Norway)[4] and is coextensive with the [Southern Norway](/source/Southern_Norway) region. The county was established on 1 January 2020, when the old [Vest-Agder](/source/Vest-Agder) and [Aust-Agder](/source/Aust-Agder) counties were merged.[5] Since the early 1900s, the term [Sørlandet](/source/Southern_Norway) ("south country, south land, southland") has been commonly used for this region, sometimes with the inclusion of neighbouring [Rogaland](/source/Rogaland). Before that time, the area was considered a part of [Western Norway](/source/Western_Norway).[6]

The area was a medieval [petty kingdom](/source/Petty_kingdoms_of_Norway), and after Norway's unification became known as *Egðafylki* and later *Agdesiden*, a county within the kingdom of Norway. The name Agder was not used after 1662, when the area was split into smaller governmental units called Nedenæs, Råbyggelaget, Lister, and Mandal. The name was resurrected in 1919 when two counties of Norway that roughly corresponded to the old Agdesiden county were renamed [Aust-Agder](/source/Aust-Agder) (East Agder) and [Vest-Agder](/source/Vest-Agder) (West Agder). Even before the two counties joined in 2020, they cooperated in many ways; the [University of Agder](/source/University_of_Agder) had sites in both Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder, as did many other institutions, such as the [Diocese of Agder og Telemark](/source/Diocese_of_Agder_og_Telemark), the [Agder Court of Appeal](/source/Agder_Court_of_Appeal), and the [Agder Police District](/source/Agder_Police_District).

## Name

The origin of the name *Agder* is uncertain. The [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) form of the name is *Agðir* or *Egðafylki*, and may derive from Old Norse *ǫgð* or Indo-European root **ak-*, 'to be sharp', suggesting 'the land that juts out (into the sea)'. This same root may also appear in place names like *[Agdenes](/source/Agdenes_Municipality)* (in [Orkland Municipality](/source/Orkland_Municipality)), *Aga* (in [Bømlo Municipality](/source/B%C3%B8mlo_Municipality)) and *Agdestein* (in [Stord Municipality](/source/Stord_Municipality)). Another interpretation links it to Old Norse *agi*, meaning 'rough seas', which would make Agder 'the land by the turbulent sea'.[6][7]

The Old Norse term for the inhabitants of the area was *Egðir*. The *Egðir* are believed to be the same etymologically as the *Augandzi* people mentioned in the *[Getica](/source/Getica_(Jordanes))* of [Jordanes](/source/Jordanes), who wrote of [Scandza](/source/Scandza) (Scandinavia) in the 6th century.[8] If Jordanes's *Scandza* is a palatalized form of **Scandia*, then *Augandzi* is likely a palatalized form of **Augandii*, residents of **Augandia*.[9]

## Municipalities

On 1 January 1838, the [formannskapsdistrikt](/source/Formannskapsdistrikt) law went into effect, creating local municipalities all over Norway. The municipalities have changed over time through mergers and divisions as well as numerous boundary adjustments. When Agder county was established on 1 January 2020, it had 25 municipalities.

Municipal number Arms Name Establishment Former municipal number (pre-2020 mergers) Former county 4201 Risør Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0901 Risør Aust-Agder 4202 Grimstad Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0904 Grimstad 4203 Arendal Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0906 Arendal 4204 Kristiansand Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1001 Kristiansand 1017 Songdalen 1018 Søgne Vest-Agder 4205 Lindesnes Municipality 1 January 1964 (1964-01-01) 1002 Mandal 1021 Marnardal 1029 Lindesnes 4206 Farsund Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1003 Farsund 4207 Flekkefjord Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1004 Flekkefjord 4211 Gjerstad Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0911 Gjerstad Aust-Agder 4212 Vegårshei Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0912 Vegårshei 4213 Tvedestrand Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0914 Tvedestrand 4214 Froland Municipality 1 January 1850 (1850-01-01) 0919 Froland 4215 Lillesand Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0926 Lillesand 4216 Birkenes Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0928 Birkenes 4217 Åmli Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0929 Åmli 4218 Iveland Municipality 1 January 1886 (1886-01-01) 0935 Iveland 4219 Evje og Hornnes Municipality 1 January 1960 (1960-01-01) 0937 Evje og Hornnes 4220 Bygland Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0938 Bygland 4221 Valle Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 0940 Valle 4222 Bykle Municipality 1 January 1902 (1902-01-01) 0941 Bykle 4223 Vennesla Municipality 1 January 1864 (1864-01-01) 1014 Vennesla Vest-Agder 4224 Åseral Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1026 Åseral 4225 Lyngdal Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1027 Audnedal 1032 Lyngdal 4226 Hægebostad Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1034 Hægebostad 4227 Kvinesdal Municipality 1 January 1838 (1838-01-01) 1037 Kvinesdal 4228 Sirdal Municipality 1 January 1849 (1849-01-01) 1046 Sirdal

## History

[Norway](/source/Norway) of the [Viking Age](/source/Viking_Age) was divided into petty kingdoms ruled by chiefs who contended for land, maritime supremacy, or political ascendance and sought alliances or control through marriage with other royal families, either voluntary or forced. These circumstances produced the generally turbulent and heroic lives recorded in the *[Heimskringla](/source/Heimskringla)*.

For example, the [Ynglinga saga](/source/Ynglinga_saga) tells us that Harald Redbeard, chief of Agðir, refused his daughter [Åsa](/source/%C3%85sa_Haraldsdottir_of_Agder) to Gudröd Halvdanson, on which event Gudröd invaded Agðir, killed Harald and his son Gyrd, and took Åsa whether she would or no. She bore a son, Halvdan (the Black), and later arranged to have Gudröd assassinated. Among the royal families, these events seem to have been rather ordinary. Her word was the last in the argument, as her grandson, Harald Fairhair, unified Norway.

**Kings of Agder**

****Legendary Kings****

- [Harald Agderking](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harald_Agderking&action=edit&redlink=1)

- [Víkar](/source/V%C3%ADkar)

- Kissa

- [King Bjæring](/source/Bj%C3%A6ring)

****Monarchs of Agder (790–987)****

- [Harald Granraude](/source/Harald_Granraude), 7??–815, father of Åsa

- [Åsa](/source/Queen_%C3%85sa), between 815 and 834–838, mother of Halfdan the Black

- [Halfdan the Black](/source/Halfdan_the_Black), father of [Harald Fairhair](/source/Harald_I_of_Norway), from 838

- [Kjotve the Rich](/source/Kjotve_the_Rich), late 9th century

- [Harald Gudrødsson Grenske](/source/Harald_Grenske), 976–987

Prior to the Viking Age is a gap in the region's history for a few hundred years, but in [Jordanes](/source/Jordanes) we also find regions of the same but earlier forms of names, presumably also petty kingdoms under now unknown chiefs. The previous most credible source, [Ptolemy](/source/Ptolemy), gives the briefest of sketches, only citing all of Norway as the [Chaedini](/source/Chaedini) ("country people"). Perhaps the difference between kingdoms was not sufficiently important to cite them individually.

Prior to then the most credible and respected source, [Tacitus](/source/Tacitus) in *[Germania](/source/Germania_(book))* Chapter 44 described the [Suiones](/source/Swedes_(Germanic_tribe)), who were divided into civitates (kingdoms?) along the coast of Scandinavia and were unusual in owning fleets of a special type of ship. These were pointed on both ends and were driven by banks of oars that could be rearranged or shipped for river passage. They did not depend on sail (so Tacitus says) but other than that they do not differ from Viking ships. These civitates went all the way around Scandinavia to the Arctic, or at least to regions of very long days, where they stopped.

It seems clear that in the [Roman Iron Age](/source/Roman_Iron_Age) Norway was populated by people of the same identity as Sweden, who were called the Suiones by Latin sources. In settling the coast at some point in prehistory they had been divided into civitates by the terrain. These states took on mainly geographical names or names of individuals or mythological characters. Agder was one of them.

After the unification of Norway by Harold Fairhair and army and allies in the 10th century, all the civitates became provinces (*fylker*) and after their conversion to Christianity, they became dioceses or parishes. The development of [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) into local dialects and the dissimilation of customs due to isolation added an ethnic flavor to the area, which is cherished today.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Navn på steder og personer: Innbyggjarnamn"](https://www.sprakradet.no/sprakhjelp/Skriverad/navn-pa-steder-og-personer/Innbyggjarnamn/) (in Norwegian). Språkrådet.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Forskrift om målvedtak i kommunar og fylkeskommunar"](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2019-12-20-2114) (in Norwegian). Lovdata.no.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Bolstad, Erik; Thorsnæs, Geir, eds. (2024-01-09). ["Kommunenummer"](https://snl.no/kommunenummer). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Arealstatistikk for Norge"](http://kartverket.no/kunnskap/Fakta-om-Norge/Arealstatistikk/Arealstatistikk-Norge/). *Kartverket* (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2020-01-02.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Dette er Norges nye regioner"](https://www.vg.no/i/zoEB1). *www.vg.no*. 21 February 2017.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-snl_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-snl_6-1) Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2026-03-04). ["Agder"](https://snl.no/Agder). *[Store norske leksikon](/source/Store_norske_leksikon)* (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 2026-05-09.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sandnes, Jørn; Stemshaug, Ola, eds. (1997). ["Agder"](https://www.norskstadnamnleksikon.no/). *Norsk stadnamnleksikon*. Det Norske Samlaget. Retrieved 2025-03-07.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Kulturhistoriske landskap av nasjonal interesse på Agder. Rapport](https://ra.brage.unit.no/ra-xmlui/handle/11250/2723709) (Report). Riksantikvaren. 2021. p. 5.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Völundarhúsins, Freyia. ["Augandzi (The Tribe and Kingdom of Agder, Norway)"](http://freya.theladyofthelabyrinth.com/?page_id=571). Retrieved 2016-12-31.

v t e Southern Norway County Agder Former counties: Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder Cities and towns Kristiansand Arendal Grimstad Mandal Farsund Flekkefjord Lillesand Lyngdal Risør Tvedestrand Larger urban areas (not towns or cities) Vennesla Søgne Blakstad Birkeland Evje Liknes Nodeland Vanse Vigeland Vestbygda Tonstad Sira Spangereid Myra Åmli Hægeland Øvrebø Eikeland Hovden Byglandsfjord Høvåg Valle Bykle Gjerstad Municipalities Arendal Birkenes Bygland Bykle Evje og Hornnes Farsund Flekkefjord Froland Gjerstad Grimstad Hægebostad Iveland Kristiansand Kvinesdal Lillesand Lindesnes Lyngdal Risør Sirdal Tvedestrand Valle Vegårshei Vennesla Åmli Åseral Regions Kristiansand Region Lister Region Setesdal Region Østre Agder Region

v t e Counties of Norway Current counties Østfold (Est. 1662) Akershus (Est. 1662) Oslo (Est. 1842) Innlandet (Est. 2020) Buskerud (Est. 1685) Vestfold (Est. 1821) Telemark (Est. 1662) Agder (Est. 2020) Rogaland (Est. 1662) Vestland (Est. 2020) Møre og Romsdal (Est. 1662) Trøndelag (Est. 2018) Nordland (Est. 1662) Troms (Est. 1866) Finnmark (Est. 1662) Former counties Aust-Agder (1685–2019) Bergen (1831–1972) Hedmark (1781–2019) Hordaland (1763–2019) Oppland (1781–2019) Sogn og Fjordane (1763–2019) Sør-Trøndelag (1804–2017) Troms og Finnmark (2020–2024) Nord-Trøndelag (1804–2017) Vest-Agder (1685–2019) Vestfold og Telemark (2020–2024) Viken (2020–2024)

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National Norway Geographic MusicBrainz area Artists KulturNav Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Agder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agder) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agder?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.