Horten | |
|---|---|
 View of the coastline of the town | |
| Nickname: Marinebyen (Town of the Marines) | |
  Horten Location of the town Show map of Vestfold Horten Horten (Norway) Show map of Norway | |
| Coordinates:59°25′02″N10°29′00″E / 59.41721°N 10.48344°E /59.41721; 10.48344 | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Eastern Norway |
| County | Vestfold |
| District | Jarlsberg |
| Municipality | Horten Municipality |
| Established as | |
| Ladested | 1857 |
| Kjøpstad | 1907 |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.63 km2 (3.33 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Population (2023)[2] | |
• Total | 20,859 |
| • Density | 2,418/km2 (6,260/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Hortenser |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Post Code | 3183 Horten |
Hortenⓘ is atown[1] inHorten Municipality inVestfold county,Norway. The town is located along theYtre Oslofjord about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of thetown of Tønsberg and about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the southeast of thetown of Holmestrand. Thetown of Moss lies about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the east, across thefjord.[4]
The 8.63-square-kilometre (2,130-acre) town has a population (2023) of 20,859 and apopulation density of 2,418 inhabitants per square kilometre (6,260/sq mi).[2]
The development of the town of Horten is closely related to theRoyal Norwegian Navy's activity in the area. By royal decree in 1818, Horten was designated as amilitary station similar toFredriksvern (now calledStavern). The new naval harbor was to be built in the bay that is surrounded by a small peninsula and several islands. The navy's main shipyard was also built at Horten. In 1855, the entire naval facility was namedKarljohansvern. Horten was designated as aladested in 1857, which separated it fromBorre Municipality and made it a self-governing urban municipality. In 1864, the naval school was transferred from Fredriksvern to Horten. In 1907, the small town was designated as akjøpstad. The naval facility was located at Karljohansvern until 1940. DuringWorld War II, theBattle of Horten Harbour took place just offshore from the town of Horten. On 23 February 1945, the Nazi-occupiedKarljohansvern base was bombed by British aircraft and the shipyard was completely destroyed. The base was rebuilt as a civilian state-owned company in 1948 (it closed in 1987). In 1960, the naval school was moved toBergen. In 1963, the navy's main base was moved from Horten toHaakonsvern near Bergen. The naval officer's school was located in Horten until 2009, when it was also moved to Bergen. Now, there is theRoyal Norwegian Navy Museum at Karljohansvern.[4]
The town is named after the oldHorten farm (spelled "Hortan" in 1552) since the town was built on the old farm site. The name has an uncertain meaning. The name may come from a local dialect wordhort which means the "outer, knotty bark on older trees" which likely derives from theOld Norse wordhǫrtr which means "something uneven" or "wrinkled". Another option could be that it is derived from theOld Norse wordhǫlkn orhelkn which means "rocky ground", "shelter", or "place of refuge". Yet another option is that it could be the definite form ofhort which can mean "bulge" (Old Norse:hǫrti). Several hills and mountains in Norway have the nameHorten orHorta and here it could be referring to the Brårudåsen hill lying in the middle of the town.[5][4]
Being located out on apeninsula, most major transportation arteries go to the west of Horten, and secondary roads connect the city to these routes. TheMoss–Horten Ferry (also known as the Bastø Ferry) crosses theOslofjord, connecting to thetown of Moss inØstfold count. The ferry departs 1–4 times per hour, and the journey takes about 30 minutes. The ferry transports about 1.8 million vehicles and 3.5 million passengers each year.[4]
TheVestfoldbanen railway line passes near the town of Horten, but not through the main town center.Skoppum Station is located southwest of the downtown, although several commuters prefer to useHolmestrand Station due to better road access.[6]
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