Bø, Telemark
Encyclopedia
Bø is a municipality
in Telemark
county
, Norway
. It is part of the traditional region
of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bø i Telemark. The municipality of Bø was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
). The area of Lunde
was separated from Bø in 1867 to become a separate municipality.
Bø is well-known for its folk traditions and for being home to one of the four branches of Telemark University College
(Høgskolen i Telemark). Bø has several times been called "the most beautiful place on earth" in modern literature, among others in Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
's story, En glad Gut ("A Happy Boy").
In 1923 the county of Telemark decided to start a secondary school in Bø, the equivalent of today's middle school or "ungdomsskole", called Telemark Realskole. At this time secondary schools mostly existed in the larger towns and cities, and most youngsters ended their schooling after 7 years. It was the county's intention to expand this school to a high school as soon as practically possible. This happened in 1947, and the school's name was Telemark Offentlige Landsgymnas. The existence of this school made it possible to establish Distriktshøgskulen i Telemark in Bø, and from there expand the educational opportunities in Bø.
) is named after the old Bø farm (Old Norse
: Bœr), since the first church was built here. The name is identical with the word bœr which means "homestead
" or "farm
".
is from modern times. They were granted on 19 February 1988. The arms show three gold-colored fiddle
s on a red background. Bø is historically known for its music
al tradition, as well as the production of fiddles (similar to the hardingfele
). The fiddle was thus chosen as an appropriate symbol for the municipality.
clientele and the Gygrestol rock formation. There is also Kroa i Bø, one of the oldest and most respected music scenes in Norway. The club won the award for "Concert promoter of the Year 2005" and is based on voluntary work from students of the Telemark University College.
with Bø: Bengtsfors
, Västra Götaland County
, Sweden
Puumala
, Eastern Finland
, Finland
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
county
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is part of the traditional region
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Midt-Telemark. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bø i Telemark. The municipality of Bø was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt
Formannskapsdistrikt was the name for a Norwegian local self-government districts put into force in 1838. This system of municipality was created in a bill approved by the Storting and signed into law by King Carl Johan on 14 January 1837...
). The area of Lunde
Lunde, Telemark
Lunde is a former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. The municipality centre was Bjervamoen.It was created by a split from Bø on 1 January 1867. At that time Lunde had a population of 2,257....
was separated from Bø in 1867 to become a separate municipality.
Bø is well-known for its folk traditions and for being home to one of the four branches of Telemark University College
Telemark University College
Telemark University College is the fourth largest university college in Norway. The University College has about 5000 students. It is split between four different locations. The campuses are located in Bø, Notodden, Porsgrunn and Rauland.-Hierarchy:The university college is organised into four...
(Høgskolen i Telemark). Bø has several times been called "the most beautiful place on earth" in modern literature, among others in Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
's story, En glad Gut ("A Happy Boy").
In 1923 the county of Telemark decided to start a secondary school in Bø, the equivalent of today's middle school or "ungdomsskole", called Telemark Realskole. At this time secondary schools mostly existed in the larger towns and cities, and most youngsters ended their schooling after 7 years. It was the county's intention to expand this school to a high school as soon as practically possible. This happened in 1947, and the school's name was Telemark Offentlige Landsgymnas. The existence of this school made it possible to establish Distriktshøgskulen i Telemark in Bø, and from there expand the educational opportunities in Bø.
Name
The municipality (originally the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) is named after the old Bø farm (Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Bœr), since the first church was built here. The name is identical with the word bœr which means "homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
" or "farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
".
Coat-of-arms
The coat-of-armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
is from modern times. They were granted on 19 February 1988. The arms show three gold-colored fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
s on a red background. Bø is historically known for its music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al tradition, as well as the production of fiddles (similar to the hardingfele
Hardingfele
A Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument used originally to play the music of Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings and thinner wood...
). The fiddle was thus chosen as an appropriate symbol for the municipality.
Attractions
Bø is famous for its waterpark Sommarland (the largest of its kind in Norway). Another popular sight in Bø is the traditional bar "Stallkroa", with its wooden interior and hillbillyHillbilly
Hillbilly is a term referring to certain people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas of the United States, primarily Appalachia but also the Ozarks. Owing to its strongly stereotypical connotations, the term is frequently considered derogatory, and so is usually offensive to those Americans of...
clientele and the Gygrestol rock formation. There is also Kroa i Bø, one of the oldest and most respected music scenes in Norway. The club won the award for "Concert promoter of the Year 2005" and is based on voluntary work from students of the Telemark University College.
Books about Bø
- 17. roman, Dag SolstadDag SolstadDag Solstad is a Norwegian novelist, short-story writer, and dramatist whose work has been translated into several languages. He has written nearly 30 books and is the only author to have received the Norwegian Literary Critics’ Award three times...
2009 - Russisk rulett, Terje Tveit 1989
- Fytti Katta!!!, Halvor KleppenHalvor KleppenHalvor Kleppen is a Norwegian media personality, theme park owner and writer.He was hired in Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio in 1973, and worked in the entertainment department. In the summer of 1982 he presented the show Sumarteltet, where he toured with a circus and made an...
1985 - Bøsoga, Stian Henneseid 1986
- Aldrin Akrobat blir astronaut, Webjørn Espeland 2011
Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Bø: Bengtsfors
Bengtsfors Municipality
Bengtsfors Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Bengtsfors....
, Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Puumala
Puumala
Puumala is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Eastern Finland
Eastern Finland
Eastern Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Western Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered Russia.- History :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
External links
- Municipal fact sheet from Statistics NorwayStatistics NorwayStatistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
- Bø Sommarland waterpark
- Kroa i Bø music venue