Vestfold og Telemark
Vestfold og Telemark (Urban East Norwegian: [ˈvɛ̂stfɔɫ ɔ ˈtêːləmɑrk]; lit. 'Vestfold and Telemark') was a county in Norway, which existed from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023. The county was the southernmost one of Eastern Norway and consisted of two distinct and separate traditional regions: the former counties of Telemark and (most of) Vestfold. The capital was located in the town of Skien, which was also the county's largest city. While Skien was the seat of the county municipality, the seat of the County Governor was Tønsberg. It bordered the counties of Viken, Vestland, Rogaland and Agder until its dissolution.
Vestfold og Telemark County
Vestfold og Telemark fylke | |
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Flag Coat of arms | |
Vestfold og Telemark within Norway | |
Vestfold og Telemark County Vestfold og Telemark County | |
| Coordinates: 59°30′N 9°00′E | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Vestfold og Telemark |
| District | Eastern Norway |
| Established | 1 January 2020 |
| • Preceded by | Telemark Vestfold |
| Disestablished | 31 December 2023 |
| • Succeeded by | Telemark Vestfold |
| Administrative centre | Skien (county municipality) Tønsberg (county municipality offices and governor) |
| Government | |
| • Body | Vestfold og Telemark County Municipality |
| • Governor (2022) | Fred-Ivar Syrstad (acting) |
| • County mayor (2020) | Terje Riis-Johansen (Sp) |
| Area (upon dissolution) | |
| • Total | 17,466 km2 (6,744 sq mi) |
| • Land | 15,925 km2 (6,149 sq mi) |
| • Water | 1,541 km2 (595 sq mi) 8.8% |
| • Rank | #7 in Norway |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 421,882 |
| • Rank | #6 in Norway |
| • Density | 26.5/km2 (69/sq mi) |
| • Change (10 years) | +6.4% |
| Demonyms | Vestfolding, Telemarking, or Teledøl |
| Official language | |
| • Norwegian form | Neutral |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | NO-38 |
| Website | Official website |
Telemark voted against the merger, on the basis that the regions have nothing in common and do not constitute a natural geographical, cultural, social or political entity. Regardless, the Storting voted on 7 January 2018 to merge the counties by force, and the merger took effect on 1 January 2020. Unlike Telemark or Vestfold, it does not form a traditional or cultural region, but is instead administrative.
On 15 February 2022, the county council decided to vote for the future of Vestfold og Telemark county as it was reported that politicians did not co-operate well across the former county borders. With 42 votes against 19, the county council voted for a separation of the county into its former counties of Telemark and Vestfold. Representatives to the respective county councils were elected in the 2023 local elections and the old counties was to be re-established on 1 January 2024.
On 31 December 2023, the county ceased to exist. The new counties of Telemark and Vestfold was re-established on 1 January 2024.