Trøndelag (; or is a county in central Norway, coextensive with the Trøndelag region (also known as Midt-Norge or Midt-Noreg, "Mid-Norway"). It was created in 1687, then named Trondhjem County (); in 1804 the county was split into Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag by the King of Denmark-Norway. After over two centuries of separation, in 2018 they were reunited following a referendum held two years earlier.
The largest city in Trøndelag is the city of Trondheim. The administrative centre is Steinkjer, while Trondheim functions as the office of the county mayor. Both cities serve the office of the county governor; however, Steinkjer houses the main functions.
Trøndelag county and the neighbouring Møre og Romsdal county together form what is known as Central Norway. A person from Trøndelag is called a trønder. The dialect spoken in the area, trøndersk, is characterized by dropping out most vowel endings; see apocope.
Trøndelag is one of the most fertile regions of Norway, with large agricultural output. The majority of the production ends up in the Norwegian cooperative system for meat and milk, but farm produce is a steadily growing business.
Name The Old Norse form of the name was . The first element is the genitive plural of which means “person from Trøndelag”, while the second is (plural of which means “law; district/people with a common law” (compare Danelaw, Gulaþingslǫg and Njarðarlǫg). A parallel name for the same district was which means “the homeland (heim) of the ”. Þróndheimr may be older since the first element has a stem form without umlaut, cf. the older singular of (plural).
also has a cognate in Old English as (plural), which is the basis of various Modern English translations of the name, such as and .
The county and national governments have also approved a Southern Sami name for the county: . When it is used with the word for county, it is .
History
People have lived in this region for thousands of years. In the early iron-age Trøndelag was divided into several petty kingdoms called fylki. The different fylki had a common law, and an early parliament or thing. It was called Frostating and was held at the Frosta peninsula. By some, this is regarded as the first real democracy.
In the time after Håkon Grjotgardsson (838-900), Trøndelag was ruled by the Jarl of Lade. Lade is located in the eastern part of Trondheim, bordering the Trondheimsfjord. The powerful Jarls of Lade continued to play a very significant political role in Norway up to 1030.
Jarls of Lade (Ladejarl) were: Håkon Grjotgardsson, the first jarl of Lade. Sigurd Håkonsson, son of Håkon. Killed by Harald Greyhide. Håkon Sigurdsson, son of Sigurd. Conspired with Harald Bluetooth against Harald Greyhide, and subsequently became vassal of Harald Bluetooth, and in reality independent ruler of Norway. After the arrival of Olaf Trygvason, Håkon quickly lost all support and was killed by his own slave, Tormod Kark, in 995. Eirik Håkonsson, son of Håkon. Together with his brother, Svein, governor of Norway under Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark from 1000 to 1012. Håkon Eiriksson, son of Eirik. Governor of Norway under Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark from 1012 to 1015.
Trøndelag (together with parts of Møre og Romsdal) was briefly ceded in 1658 to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde and was ruled by king Charles X until it was returned to Denmark-Norway after the Treaty of Copenhagen in 1660. During that time, the Swedes conscripted 2,000 men in Trøndelag, forcing young boys down to 15 years of age to join the Swedish armies fighting against Poland and Brandenburg. Charles X feared the Trønders would rise against their Swedish occupiers, and thought it wise to keep a large part of the men away. Only about one-third of the men ever returned to their homes; some of them were forced to settle in the then Swedish Duchy of Estonia, as the Swedes thought it would be easier to rule the Trønders there, utilising the ancient maxim of divide and rule.
In the fall of 1718, during the Great Northern War, General Carl Gustaf Armfeldt was ordered by king Charles XII of Sweden to lead a Swedish army of 10,000 men into Trøndelag to take Trondheim. Because of his poor supply lines back to Sweden, Armfeldt's army had to live off the land, causing great suffering to the people of the region. Armfeldt's campaign failed: the defenders of Trondheim succeeded in repelling his siege. After Charles XII was killed in the siege of Fredriksten in Norway's southeast, Armfeldt was ordered back into Sweden. During the ensuing retreat, his 6,000 surviving threadbare and starving Caroleans were caught in a fierce blizzard. Thousands of Caroleans froze to death in the Norwegian mountains, and hundreds more were crippled for life.
Government
The county is governed by the Trøndelag County Municipality. The town of Steinkjer is the seat of the county governor and county administration. However, both the county governor and Trøndelag County Municipality also have offices in Trondheim.
The county oversees the 41 upper secondary schools, including nine private schools. Six of the schools have more than 1000 students: four in Trondheim plus the Steinkjer Upper Secondary School and the Ole Vig Upper Secondary School in Stjørdalshalsen. The county has ten Folk high schools, with an eleventh folk high school being possibly being opened in Røros, with a possible start in 2019.
Districts The county is often sub-divided into several geographical regions: Namdal, the greater Namsen river valley Fosen, the Fosen peninsula and surrounding areas Innherred, the areas surrounding the inner Trondheimsfjorden Stjørdalen, the Stjørdalen valley Trondheim Region, the areas surrounding the large city of Trondheim Gauldalen, the Gaula river valley Orkdalen, the Orkla river valley
Towns and cities There are ten towns/cities in Trøndelag, plus the "mining town" of Røros. Trondheim (in Trondheim Municipality) Steinkjer (in Steinkjer Municipality) Stjørdalshalsen (in Stjørdal Municipality) Levanger (in Levanger Municipality) Namsos (in Namsos Municipality) Rørvik (in Nærøysund Municipality) Verdalsøra (in Verdal Municipality) Orkanger (in Orkdal Municipality) Brekstad (in Ørland Municipality) Kolvereid (in Nærøy Municipality) Bergstaden Røros (in Røros Municipality)
Geography Along the coast in the southwest are the largest islands in Norway south of the Arctic Circle, including Hitra and Frøya. The broad and long Trondheimsfjord is a main feature, and the lowland surrounding the fjord are among the most important agricultural areas in Norway. In the far south is the mountain ranges Dovrefjell and Trollheimen, and in the southeast is highlands and mountain plateaus, and this is where Røros is situated. The highest mountain is the tall Storskrymten, which is located in the county border between Møre og Romsdal, Innlandet, and Trøndelag. North of the Trondheimsfjord is the large Fosen peninsula, where Ørland Municipality is at its southwestern tip. Several valleys runs north or west to meet the fjord, with a river at its centre, such as Meldal, Gauldal, Stjørdal, Verdal. Further north is the long Namdalen with the largest river, Namsen, and Namsos is situated where the river meets the Namsen fjord. The rivers are among the best salmon rivers in Europe, especially Namsen, Gaula, and Orkla. On the northwestern part of the region is the Vikna archipelago with almost 6,000 islands and islets.
There are many national parks in the region, including Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park, Forollhogna National Park, Skarvan and Roltdalen National Park, Femundsmarka National Park and Børgefjell National Park.
Climate Trøndelag is one of the regions in Norway with the largest climatic variation – from the oceanic climate with mild and wetter winters along the coast to the very cold winters in the southeast inland highlands, where Røros is the only place in southern and central Norway to have recorded . The first overnight freeze (temperature below in autumn on average is August 24th in Røros, October 9th at Trondheim Airport Værnes, and as late as November 20th at Sula in Frøya. Most of the lowland areas near the fjords have a humid continental climate (or oceanic if -3C is used as winter threshold), while the most oceanic areas along the coast have a temperate oceanic climate with all monthly means above . The inland valleys, hills, and highlands below the treeline have a boreal climate with cold winters and shorter summers, but still with potential for warm summer temperatures. Above the treeline is alpine tundra.
Trøndelag There are 38 municipalities in Trøndelag.List of municipality numbers of Norway
MunicipalNumber Name Adm. Centre Location inthe county Established Old Municipal No.(before 2020) Former County5001 Trondheim Municipality Trondheim 1 Jan 1838 5001 Trondheim Municipality5030 Klæbu Municipality Trøndelag5006 Steinkjer Municipality Steinkjer 23 Jan 1858 5006 Steinkjer Municipality5039 Verran Municipality5007 Namsos Municipality Namsos 1 Jan 1846 5005 Namsos Municipality5040 Namdalseid Municipality5048 Fosnes Municipality5014 Frøya Municipality Sistranda 1 Jan 1964 1620 Frøya Municipality Sør-Trøndelag5020 Osen Municipality Steinsdalen 1 June 1892 1633 Osen Municipality5021 Oppdal Municipality Oppdal 1 Jan 1838 1634 Oppdal Municipality5022 Rennebu Municipality Berkåk 1 Jan 1839 1635 Rennebu Municipality5025 Røros Municipality Røros 1 Jan 1838 1640 Røros Municipality5026 Holtålen Municipality Renbygda 1 Jan 1838 1644 Holtålen Municipality5027 Midtre Gauldal Municipality Støren 1 Jan 1964 1648 Midtre Gauldal Municipality5028 Melhus Municipality Melhus 1 Jan 1838 1653 Melhus Municipality5029 Skaun Municipality Børsa 1 Jan 1890 1657 Skaun Municipality5031 Malvik Municipality Hommelvik 1 Jan 1891 1663 Malvik Municipality5032 Selbu Municipality Mebonden 1 Jan 1838 1664 Selbu Municipality5033 Tydal Municipality Ås 1 Jan 1901 1665 Tydal Municipality5034 Meråker Municipality Midtbygda 1 Jan 1874 1711 Meråker Municipality Nord-Trøndelag5035 Stjørdal Municipality Stjørdalshalsen 1 Jan 1902 1714 Stjørdal Municipality5036 Frosta Municipality Frosta 1 Jan 1838 1717 Frosta Municipality5037 Levanger Municipality Levanger 1 Jan 1838 1719 Levanger Municipality5038 Verdal Municipality Verdalsøra 1 Jan 1838 1721 Verdal Municipality5041 Snåsa Municipality Snåsa 1 Jan 1838 1736 Snåsa Municipality5042 Lierne Municipality Sandvika 1 Jan 1964 1738 Lierne Municipality5043 Røyrvik Municipality Røyrvik 1 July 1923 1739 Røyrvik Municipality5044 Namsskogan Municipality Namsskogan 1 July 1923 1740 Namsskogan Municipality5045 Grong Municipality Medjå 1 Jan 1838 1742 Grong Municipality5046 Høylandet Municipality Høylandet 1 Jan 1901 1743 Høylandet Municipality5047 Overhalla Municipality Ranemsletta 1 Jan 1838 1744 Overhalla Municipality5049 Flatanger Municipality Lauvsnes 1 Jan 1871 1749 Flatanger Municipality5052 Leka Municipality Leknes 1 Oct 1860 1755 Leka Municipality5053 Inderøy Municipality Straumen 1 Jan 1838 1756 Inderøy Municipality 1723 Mosvik Municipality 5054 Indre Fosen Municipality Årnset 1 Jan 2018 1624 Rissa Municipality Sør-Trøndelag 1718 Leksvik MunicipalityNord-Trøndelag5055 Heim Municipality Kyrksæterøra 1 Jan 2020 1571 Halsa Municipality Møre og Romsdal5011 Hemne Municipality5012 Snillfjord Municipality (part) Trøndelag5056 Hitra Municipality Fillan 1 Jan 1838 5013 Hitra Municipality5012 Snillfjord Municipality (part)5057 Ørland Municipality Botngård 1 Jan 1838 5015 Ørland Municipality5017 Bjugn Municipality5058 Åfjord Municipality Årnes 1 Jan 1838 5018 Åfjord Municipality5019 Roan Municipality5059 Orkland Municipality Orkanger 1 Jan 2020 5012 Snillfjord Municipality (part)5016 Agdenes Municipality5023 Meldal Municipality5024 Orkdal Municipality5060 Nærøysund Municipality Kolvereidand Rørvik 1 Jan 2020 5050 Vikna Municipality5051 Nærøy Municipality5061 Rindal Municipality Rindal 1 Jan 1858 1567 Rindal Municipality Møre og Romsdal