Egilsstaðir
Encyclopedia
Egilsstaðir is a town
in east Iceland
on the banks of Lagarfljót
river.
It is part of the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað
, the county seat of Norður-Múlasýsla
and the largest settlement of the Austurland
region with, as of 2011, a population of 2,257 inhabitants.
. It was established in 1947 as an effort by the surrounding rural
districts recognising it had become a regional service center. The town, which is named after Egilsstaðir farm, is near the bridge over Lagarfljót where all the main roads of the region meet, Route 1
as well as the main routes to the Eastfjords.
Egilsstaðir has grown to become the largest town of east Iceland and its main service, transportation and administration center. The town has an airport, college
and a hospital
. The town grew quickly during the economic boom in the region from 2004-2008 associated with the building of the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project
and Alcoa's
aluminium
smelting plant in Reyðarfjörður
. The growth has slowed markedly since the banking collapse in 2008.
.
Urbanisation in Egilsstaðir can be traced to Jón Bergsson (1855–1923), a farmer, who laid the groundwork for increased commerce and services at the Egilsstaðir farm by erecting a large residential building there at the start of the 20th century. The house is still in use as a hotel. Jón bought the farm Egilsstaðr at the close of the 19th century because of its location, when he predicted „Crossroads will be here“, which proved prescient.
Along with others, Jón Bergsson also took the initiative to establish a co-operative Kaupfélag Héraðsbúa (KHB) with headquarters there in 1909.
In subsequent years, bridges were built over Lagarfljót river og Eyvindará river and a road made over Fagridalur to Reyðarfjörður
. Later, the regional headquarters for mail and telephone services were located at Egilsstaðir.
In 1947 Egilsstaðir was incorporated as a town and a rural jurisdiction Egilsstaðahreppur, with neighboring jurisdictions Vallahreppur and Eiðahreppur contributing land to the new jurisdiction. The town soon grew and by 1980 the population exceeded 1000. In 1987, the status of the town was upgraded to (kaupstaður) and renamed Egilsstaðabær, or the city of Egilsstaðir. In early 2011, the number of inhabitants was 2.257 and had increased by 41 percent from the year 2001, when 1.600 were registered there.
On 7. june 1998 Egilsstaðabær was united with Vallahreppur, Skriðdalshreppur, Eiðahreppur and Hjaltastaðarhreppur under the name Austur-Hérað. Austur-Hérað then became Fljótsdalshérað
in the year 2004.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in east Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
on the banks of Lagarfljót
Lagarfljót
The lake Lagarfljót is situated in the east of Iceland near Egilsstaðir. Its surface is measuring 53 km² and it is 25 km long, its greatest width is 2.5 km and its greatest depth 112 m...
river.
It is part of the municipality of Fljótsdalshérað
Fljótsdalshérað
-Population and area:As of April 1, 2008, it had a total population of 4033. At 8884 km², it is the largest municipality in the country in terms of area. The biggest town in the municipality is Egilsstaðir, with a population of 2300....
, the county seat of Norður-Múlasýsla
Norður-Múlasýsla
Norður-Múlasýsla is a county of Iceland. It is located in the Austurland region of the country....
and the largest settlement of the Austurland
Austurland
Austurland is a region in eastern Iceland. Its area is 22,721 km² and its population is 15,300. The biggest town in the region is Egilsstaðir, with a population of 2300. The oldest municipality in the Eastfjords is Seydisfjörðr municipality established 1895, with population of 706 the year...
region with, as of 2011, a population of 2,257 inhabitants.
Overview
Egilsstadir is located at 65°17′N 14°23′W. The town is young, even by Icelandic standards where urbanization is a fairly recent trend compared to mainland EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It was established in 1947 as an effort by the surrounding rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
districts recognising it had become a regional service center. The town, which is named after Egilsstaðir farm, is near the bridge over Lagarfljót where all the main roads of the region meet, Route 1
Route 1 (Iceland)
Route 1 or the Ring Road is a main road in Iceland that runs around the island and connects all habitable parts of the country . The total length of the road is ....
as well as the main routes to the Eastfjords.
Egilsstaðir has grown to become the largest town of east Iceland and its main service, transportation and administration center. The town has an airport, college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
and a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. The town grew quickly during the economic boom in the region from 2004-2008 associated with the building of the Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project
Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project
Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant is a hydroelectric power plant in eastern Iceland designed to produce 4,600 GWh annually for Alcoa's Fjardaál aluminum smelter to the east in Reyðarfjörður. The project, named after nearby Mount Kárahnjúkur, involves damming the Jökulsá á Dal River and the Jökulsá...
and Alcoa's
Alcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
smelting plant in Reyðarfjörður
Reyðarfjörður
Reyðarfjörður is a town in Iceland. It has a population of 1,102 and is one of the most populated villages that constitute the municipality of Fjarðabyggð.-History:...
. The growth has slowed markedly since the banking collapse in 2008.
History
In written accounts, Egilsstaðir is first mentioned in the 15th century as a place for legislative assembly. The nearby river, Eyvindará, is mentioned in Saga of the Sons of Droplaug and Saga of the inhabitants of FljótsdalurFljótsdæla saga
Fljótsdæla saga is one of the Icelandic sagas. It is probably the last one written, perhaps from about 1500, probably by an author in the East Fjords, and is a sequel to Hrafnkels saga....
.
Urbanisation in Egilsstaðir can be traced to Jón Bergsson (1855–1923), a farmer, who laid the groundwork for increased commerce and services at the Egilsstaðir farm by erecting a large residential building there at the start of the 20th century. The house is still in use as a hotel. Jón bought the farm Egilsstaðr at the close of the 19th century because of its location, when he predicted „Crossroads will be here“, which proved prescient.
Along with others, Jón Bergsson also took the initiative to establish a co-operative Kaupfélag Héraðsbúa (KHB) with headquarters there in 1909.
In subsequent years, bridges were built over Lagarfljót river og Eyvindará river and a road made over Fagridalur to Reyðarfjörður
Reyðarfjörður
Reyðarfjörður is a town in Iceland. It has a population of 1,102 and is one of the most populated villages that constitute the municipality of Fjarðabyggð.-History:...
. Later, the regional headquarters for mail and telephone services were located at Egilsstaðir.
In 1947 Egilsstaðir was incorporated as a town and a rural jurisdiction Egilsstaðahreppur, with neighboring jurisdictions Vallahreppur and Eiðahreppur contributing land to the new jurisdiction. The town soon grew and by 1980 the population exceeded 1000. In 1987, the status of the town was upgraded to (kaupstaður) and renamed Egilsstaðabær, or the city of Egilsstaðir. In early 2011, the number of inhabitants was 2.257 and had increased by 41 percent from the year 2001, when 1.600 were registered there.
On 7. june 1998 Egilsstaðabær was united with Vallahreppur, Skriðdalshreppur, Eiðahreppur and Hjaltastaðarhreppur under the name Austur-Hérað. Austur-Hérað then became Fljótsdalshérað
Fljótsdalshérað
-Population and area:As of April 1, 2008, it had a total population of 4033. At 8884 km², it is the largest municipality in the country in terms of area. The biggest town in the municipality is Egilsstaðir, with a population of 2300....
in the year 2004.
Points of interest
- Eiðar longwave transmitterEiðar longwave transmitterEiðar longwave transmitter is a facility of the Icelandic Broadcasting Company used for longwave broadcasting on 207 kHz with a power of 100 kW. Eiðar longwave transmitter situated at Eiðar near Egilsstaðir uses as antenna an omnidirectional aerial in form of a steel lattice mast radiator insulated...
- Kárahnjúkar dam
- Hallormsstaðaskógur - the biggest forest in Iceland
- Hengifoss - a waterfall in FljótsdalurFljótsdalurFljótsdalur is a valley in east Iceland....
- Skriðuklaustur - the mansion of writer Gunnar GunnarssonGunnar GunnarssonGunnar Gunnarsson was an Icelandic author who wrote mainly in Danish. He grew up, in considerable poverty, on Valþjófsstaður in Fljótsdalur valley and on Ljótsstaðir in Vopnafjörður...
- Öxi - mountain road between Egilsstaðir and DjúpivogurDjupivogurDjúpivogur is a small town and municipality located on a peninsula in eastern Iceland, near the island of Papey and on the fjord Berufjörður.As of 2011, it has a population of 352....
Notable natives
- Sveinn Birkir Björnsson - editor of the Reykjavík Grapevine.
- Sigmar VilhjálmssonSigmar VilhjálmssonSigmar Vilhjálmsson , nicknamed Simmi, is an Icelandic TV host. He is the son of Vilhjálmur Einarsson, silver medallist of the 1956 Summer Olympics in triple jump....
- Iceland TV host. - Hjálmar JónssonHjálmar Jónsson (footballer)Hjálmar Jónsson is an Icelandic football defender.-Club career:After playing for Icelandic clubs Höttur and Keflavik ÍF, he joined Swedish club IFK Göteborg in 2002, a club he has played for since...
- Iceland national team footballer. - Jón Bergsson, farmer at Egilsstaðir from 1889 to 1923.
- Vilhjálmur EinarssonVilhjálmur EinarssonVilhjálmur Einarsson is a former Icelandic athlete, and triple-jump silver medalist at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia...
, triple-jump athlete, silver medal winner at the 1956 Olympic games. - Bloodgroup - Band.