Sortland
ⓘ (Norwegian) or Suortá (Northern Sami) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Vesterålen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sortland. Other population centres in Sortland include Bø, Holand, Holmstad, Liland, Sigerfjord, Strand, and Vik. The Norwegian Coast Guard has its northern base in Sortland, called Kystvaktskvadron Nord.
Sortland Municipality
Sortland kommune Suorttá suohkan | |
|---|---|
View of Sortland from Strandheia mountain | |
|
Flag | |
Nordland within Norway | |
Sortland within Nordland | |
| Coordinates: 68°42′31″N 15°16′51″E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Nordland |
| District | Vesterålen |
| Established | 1841 |
| • Preceded by | Hadsel Municipality |
| Administrative centre | Sortland |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2023) | Grete Ellingsen (H) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 721.95 km2 (278.75 sq mi) |
| • Land | 697.34 km2 (269.24 sq mi) |
| • Water | 24.60 km2 (9.50 sq mi) 3.4% |
| • Rank | #159 in Norway |
| Population (2023) | |
| • Total | 10,561 |
| • Rank | #109 in Norway |
| • Density | 15.1/km2 (39/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +4.8% |
| Demonym | Sortlending |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Neutral |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-1870 |
| Website | Official website |
In 1997, the municipal council declared "town status" for the urban area of Sortland. Sortland is the largest town and commercial centre in Vesterålen. The town of Sortland is located close to the Sortland Bridge which crosses the Sortlandsundet strait and connects the two large islands of Langøya and Hinnøya by road. Since a lot of houses in the town are painted blue, Sortland is sometimes referred to as "the blue city".
The 722-square-kilometre (279 sq mi) municipality is the 159th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Sortland is the 109th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 10,561. The municipality's population density is 15.1 inhabitants per square kilometre (39/sq mi) and its population has increased by 4.8% over the previous 10-year period. In January 2012, the number of citizens in Sortland reached 10,000 for the first time.