Vest-Agder fylke | ||
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County | ||
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Vest-Agder within Norway |
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Coordinates: 58°34′59″N 7°34′59″E / 58.583°N 7.583°ECoordinates: 58°34′59″N 7°34′59″E / 58.583°N 7.583°E | ||
Country | Norway | |
County | Vest-Agder | |
Region | Sørlandet | |
County ID | NO-10 | |
Administrative centre | Kristiansand (and largest city) | |
Government | ||
• Governor | Stein A. Ytterdahl (2016–present) |
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• County mayor | Terje Damman (Høyre) (2011–present) |
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Area | ||
• Total | 7,276.53 km2 (2,809.48 sq mi) | |
• Land | 6,678.89 km2 (2,578.73 sq mi) | |
• Water | 597.64 km2 (230.75 sq mi) | |
Area rank | #15 in Norway, 4.9% of Norway's land area | |
Population (2016) | ||
• Total | 182,701 | |
• Rank | 14 (3.5% of country) | |
• Density | 27.4/km2 (71/sq mi) | |
• Change (10 years) | 12.6 % | |
Demonym(s) | Vestegde | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+01) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+02) | |
Official language form | Neutral | |
Income (per capita) | 137,000 NOK | |
GDP (per capita) | 219,928 NOK (2001) | |
GDP national rank | 14 (2.27% of country) | |
Website | www |
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Vest-Agder [ˈvɛst ˈɑɡdər] (listen) (West Agder) is a county in Norway, bordering Rogaland to the west and Aust-Agder to the east. In 2016, there were 182,701 inhabitants, which is about 3.5% of the total population in Norway. Its area is about 7,277 square kilometres (2,810 sq mi). The county administration is located in its largest city, Kristiansand.
Shipping, commerce, and recreation are the main industries here. Compared to other counties of Norway, Vest-Agder is noted for having the highest level of foreign exports. Another international dimension linked to the county is the large-scale emigration to North America that took place from the 1850s and onwards, which resulted in many Americans returning to the county after Norway became prosperous. This feature is particularly predominant in Kvinesdal and Farsund, which maintains strong cultural links with the United States.
The meaning of the name is "(the) western (part of) Agder". See also: Aust-Agder
Lister og Mandal amt was created on 1 January 1662 and it consisted of the two old lens of Lister and Mandal. This name continued until 1 January 1919, when the name was changed to Vest-Agder.