Historical and old photos of Sarpsborg, Viken

A small historical reference

Geography: Sarpsborg, historically Borg, is a city and municipality in Viken county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.

Sarpsborg is part of the fifth largest urban area in Norway when paired with neighbouring Fredrikstad. As of 1 January 2018, according to Statistics Norway these two municipalities have a total population of 136,127 with 55,840 in Sarpsborg and 81,278 in Fredrikstad.

Borregaard Industries is, and always has been, the most important industry in the city. The city is also the home of Borg Bryggerier, part of the Hansa Borg Bryggerier, which is Norway's second largest brewery-group.

City districts:

Alvim, Borgenhaugen, Brevik, Fritznerbakken, Gleng, Grålum, Greåker, Hafslund, Hannestad, Hasle, Høysand, Ise, Klavestadhaugen, Kurland, Lande, Opsund, Sandbakken, Sannesund, Sarpsborg, Skjeberg, Valaskjold, Varteig, Yven

Date of foundation: 1016

Population: 56 559

Auto and railway bridge, between 1900 and 1925

Church, between 1945 and 1960

Factory, between 1900 and 1950

Jernbanegaten - Railway street, between 1945 and 1960

Lilletorget - Square with Olaf statue, between 1900 and 1950

Market square, between 1900 and 1950

Panorama of the city, between 1900 and 1950

Sykehuset - Hospital, between 1900 and 1950

History

The city was founded as Borg by the Viking King Olav Haraldsson (Saint Olaf) in 1016. It was burned to the ground by Swedish invaders in 1567 during the Northern Seven Years' War. Half the population was evacuated down the river to what is today known as Fredrikstad, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) downstream.

Much of the rebuilt town disappeared into the river Glomma during a 1702 mudslide. Again Borg was rebuilt, and it was recreated as a city in 1839, and separated from Tune as a municipality of its own.

The rural municipalities of Tune, Skjeberg, and Varteig were merged with the city on 1 January 1992. The population is steadily growing, and during the summer of 2005 it reached 50,000 inhabitants.

In 2016 the town celebrated its 1,000th anniversary, and the entire year was commemorated by a special programme that encouraged historic preservation within the town.

Origin: en.wikipedia.org