View source for Telemark

{{Short description|County in Eastern Norway}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox kommune
|name                   = Telemark
|fylke                  = yes
|native_name            = 
|native_name_lang       = 
|other_name             = 
|former_name            =
|image_skyline          = Tinn gaustatoppen rjukan IMG 0057.JPG
|image_caption          = Scenery of [[Rjukan]] and [[Gaustatoppen]] in Upper Telemark district
|map                    = none
|idnumber               = 40
|county                 = Telemark
|district               = [[Østlandet]]
|capital                = [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
|established            = 1662
|preceded               = 
|disestablished         = 1 Jan 2020
|succeeded              = [[Vestfold og Telemark]]
|established2           = 1 Jan 2024
|preceded2              = [[Vestfold og Telemark]]
|demonyms               = Teledøl<br />Telemarking
|language               = Neutral
|coatofarms             = Telemark våpen 2024.svg
|flag                   = Flag Telemark fylke (2023).svg
|webpage                = http://www.telemarkfylke.no/
|county_mayor           = Sven Tore Løkslid
|county_mayor_party     = [[Arbeiderpartiet|Ap]]
|county_mayor_as_of     = 2023
|governor               = Fred-Ivar Syrstad
|governor_party         = [[Arbeiderpartiet|Ap]]
|governor_as_of         = 
|area_rank              = 8
|area_total_km2         = 15298.2
|area_land_km2          = 13832.4
|area_water_km2         = 1465.7
|area_water_percent     = 9.6
|population_as_of       = 2023
|population_rank        = 13
|population_total       = 175546
|population_density_km2 = 12.7
|population_increase    = 2.7
|income_per_capita      = 139,900
|income_year            = 
|GDP                    = 219,404
|GDP_year               = 2001
|GDP_rank               = 12
|GDP_rank_percent       = 2.38
|coordinates            = {{coord|59.500|8.700|type:adm1st_region:NO|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Telemark''' ({{IPA|no|ˈtêːləmɑrk|pron|Telemark.ogg}}) is a [[Counties of Norway|county]] and a current electoral district in [[Norway]]. Telemark borders the counties of [[Vestfold]], [[Buskerud]], [[Vestland]], [[Rogaland]] and [[Agder]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nikel|first=David|date=2019-04-30|title=This Is Telemark, Norway|url=https://www.lifeinnorway.net/telemark-norway/|access-date=2021-05-26|website=Life in Norway|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, Telemark merged with the county of [[Vestfold]] to form the county of [[Vestfold og Telemark]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snl.no/Telemark|title=Telemark|first1=Svein-Gunnar|last1=Selland|first2=Sten|last2=Lundbo|date=8 June 2018|via=Store norske leksikon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ta.no/nyheter/telemark/vestfold/na-er-telemark-og-vestfold-slatt-sammen/s/5-50-370834|title=Nå er Telemark og Vestfold slått sammen|date=8 June 2017|website=ta.no}}</ref> On 1 January 2024, the county of Telemark was re-established after [[Vestfold og Telemark]] was divided again.

The name ''Telemark'' means the "[[March (territorial entity)|mark]] of the [[Thelir]]", the ancient [[North Germanic peoples|North Germanic tribe]] that inhabited what is now known as [[Upper Telemark]] in the [[Migration Period]] and the [[Viking Age]].

In the Middle Ages, the agricultural society of Upper Telemark was considered the most violent region of Norway.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Norgeshistorie|first1=Om|last2=Institutt for arkeologi|first2=konservering og historie (IAKH) ved UiO|title=De voldelige telemarksbøndene - Norgeshistorie|url=https://www.norgeshistorie.no/senmiddelalder/1015-de-voldelige-telemarksbondene.html|access-date=2020-06-04|website=www.norgeshistorie.no|language=no}}</ref> Today, half of the buildings from medieval times in Norway are located here.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-01-20|title=Best på gamle teknikker|url=https://www.telen.no/kultur/best-pa-gamle-teknikker-1.4626969?ns_campaign=article&amp;ns_mchannel=recommend_button&amp;ns_source=facebook&amp;ns_linkname=facebook&amp;ns_fee=0|access-date=2020-06-04|website=www.telen.no|language=no}}</ref> The dialects spoken in Upper Telemark also retain more elements of [[Old Norse]] than those spoken elsewhere in the country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Telemark|url=https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/telemark/|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.visitnorway.com|language=en}}</ref> Upper Telemark is also known as the birthplace of [[skiing]].<ref name=":0" />

The southern part of Telemark, [[Grenland]], is more urban and influenced by trade with the [[Low Countries]], [[northern Germany]], [[Denmark]] and the [[British Isles]].

Telemark has been one of Norway's most important industrial regions for centuries, marked in particular by the [[Norske Skog Union]] paper mills in [[Grenland]] and the [[Norsk Hydro]] heavy water and fertilizer production in [[Upper Telemark]].<ref>{{Citation|last1=Selland|first1=Svein-Gunnar|title=Telemark – tidligere fylke|date=2020-01-29|url=http://snl.no/Telemark_-_tidligere_fylke|work=Store norske leksikon|language=nb|access-date=2020-06-04|last2=Lundbo|first2=Sten|last3=Nilsen|first3=Jan Erik|last4=Thorsnæs|first4=Geir}}</ref>

Telemark county was re-established on 1 January 2024, following a vote of the county council of Vestfold og Telemark on 15 February 2022 to split the newly established county into its respective counties that existed before the merger took place; Telemark and Vestfold.

== History ==
[[File:Eidsborg stavkirke i Tokke.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|The 13th-century [[Eidsborg Stave Church]] in [[Tokke]], Upper Telemark]]
Telemark county was established as the fief Bratsberg in the late Middle Ages, during [[Denmark–Norway|Norway's union with Denmark]]. With the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1662 it became a county, and it was renamed Telemark in 1919 and was a county until 2020. The county administration was in the port town [[Skien (town)|Skien]], which was in the early modern period Norway's most important city, ahead of Christiania.

Telemark consists of several distinct historical regions. It takes its name from the largest of them, which is now called [[Upper Telemark]], but which was historically simply called Telemark. Telemark is named for the [[Thelir]] (Þilir in Old Norse), the ancient North Germanic tribe that inhabited what is now known as Upper Telemark since the [[Migration Period]] and during the [[Viking Age]]. The Norse form of the name was ''Þelamǫrk''. The first element is the genitive plural case of ''Þilir'' while the last element is ''mǫrk'' "woodland, borderland, [[March (territory)|march]]".

Traditional Telemark, i.e. Upper Telemark, is located in the inland and comprises more than two thirds of it according to its traditional definition. Both in medieval times and later (Upper) Telemark was the region of Norway with the most self-owning farmers.<ref>Hans Jacob Orning, "[http://www.norgeshistorie.no/senmiddelalder/artikler/1016-et-lokalt-maktspill.html Et lokalt maktspill]", Norgeshistorie.no, 28 November 2016</ref> It retained [[Norsemen|Norse]] culture to a larger degree than any other region in Norway, with respect to its more egalitarian organisation of society, religion, traditional values and language. Thus the people of Telemark were often described during the Middle Ages and early modern era as the most violent in Norway.<ref>Hans Jacob Orning, "[http://www.norgeshistorie.no/senmiddelalder/artikler/1015-de-voldelige-telemarksbondene.html De voldelige telemarksbøndene]", Norgeshistorie.no, 28 November 2016</ref> The dialects of Upper Telemark are also the dialects of Norwegian that are closest to [[Old Norse]]. The farmers of Telemark were marked by a strong-willed conservatism and belief in their traditional values that often defied the central authorities of Denmark-Norway; for example they held on to aspects of both [[Old Norse religion]] and later of [[Catholicism]] longer than other regions in Norway. (Upper) Telemark traditionally lacks cities entirely.

[[Grenland]] and the Skien fjord are flatter regions located closer to or at the coast. Historically Grenland referred to what is now called [[Midt-Telemark]], but over time the name Grenland has come to refer to the Skien fjord area. The latter is traditionally characterized by its cities and its involvement in seafaring and trade. It also includes several larger agricultural properties and estates, as well as industry. The culture and social structure are more urban, far less traditional, more influenced by contact with continental Europe and far less egalitarian. The most important city of the region, [[Skien (town)|Skien]], was historically one of Norway's most important cities, although its importance declined after the Napoleonic Wars. The playwright [[Henrik Ibsen]] was a native of Skien, and many of his plays are set in places reminiscent of the city and area.

During the Dano-Norwegian union the traditional regions of Telemark and Grenland/the Skien fjord became the fief (''len'') and later county (''[[amt (subnational entity)|amt]]'') of Bratsberg (Bradsberg). The fief and county was named after the farm Bratsberg, since this was the seat of the governor. In 1919 Bratsberg county was renamed Telemark. Despite this, Grenland retains a separate identity that is distinct from Telemark proper; the minority in the Storting voted for the name Grenland–Telemark in 1918.

Upper Telemark, particularly [[Kviteseid]], is known as the birthplace of [[skiing]] as a modern sport. Telemark lent its name to [[Telemark skiing]], a style invented by [[Sondre Norheim]], and the characteristic [[Telemark landing]] of [[ski jumping]]. Telemark is also known as the centre of the ''[[Bunad]]'' movement. Telemark has more buildings from medieval times than any other Norwegian region.

==Geography==
[[File:Summer landscape Telemark (2690578882).jpg|thumb|left|Mountain landscape in [[Vinje]], [[Upper Telemark]]]]
[[File:Langesund og Langøya 01.jpg|thumb|left|Coastal landscape in [[Langesund]], [[Nedre Telemark|Lower Telemark]]]]
Telemark is located in southeastern Norway, extending from the [[Hardangervidda]] mountain plateau in the North to the [[Skagerrak]] coast in the South. Telemark has a varied and scenic landscape, including a rugged coastline, valleys, lakes, hills mountains, and mountain plateaus.<ref name=":0" />

Southern Telemark is the location of the Gea Norvegica [[UNESCO Global Geoparks|UNESCO Global Geopark]] (UGG), established in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=GEA NORVEGICA UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK -Global Network of National Geoparks |url=http://www.globalgeopark.org/GeoparkMap/geoparks/Norway/12569.htm |website=www.globalgeopark.org}}</ref> The UGG carries significance to Norway with an abundance of [[larvikite]] along the [[Oslo Rift]], [[Paleozoic]] fossils, geological artifacts of [[glacial motion|glacial retreat]] from the [[Last Glacial Maximum|last glacial maximum]], and rocks from the [[Sveconorwegian orogeny|Sveconorwegian Orogeny]]. It is the first UGG in Scandinavia.

== Infrastructure ==
The international road [[European route E18|E18]] goes through the southern parts of Telemark, namely [[Grenland]] and the municipality of [[Kragerø]]. [[European route E134|E134]], another important motorway and the fastest route between [[Oslo]] and [[Bergen]], goes through the municipalities of [[Vinje]], [[Tokke]], [[Kviteseid]], [[Seljord]], [[Hjartdal]] and [[Notodden]]. [[RV36]], stretching from [[Porsgrunn]] to Seljord, links the E18 and E134 motorways.

Telemark is well served by railways. The [[Sørlandet Line]] runs through the traditional districts of Vestmar and Midt-Telemark, serving the municipalities of [[Drangedal]], [[Nome, Norway|Nome]], [[Bø, Telemark|Bø]] and [[Sauherad]]. Grenland is primarily served by the [[Vestfold Line]], but also has connections through the [[Bratsberg Line]] which runs between [[Skien (town)|Skien]] and [[Notodden]].

From Langesund, [[Fjord Line|Fjordline]] operates ferry services to [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]].

The main bus lines in the region are operated by [[Telemark Bilruter]], serving western and middle parts of the region, and [[Nettbuss]] which serves the middle, eastern and southern parts of the region. [[Drangedal Bilruter]] serves the [[Vestmar]] region.

==Population==
{{Historical populations
|footnote = '''''Source''': [http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/02/folkendrhist_en/tables/tab/08.html Statistics Norway].''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable%2FhovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=folkfram|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023110552/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable%2FhovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=folkfram|url-status=dead|title=Statistikkbanken|date=26 May 2012|archive-date=23 October 2013|website=ssb.no}}</ref>
|shading = off
|1951|136519  		  	 	  	  	  	 	  	  	  	  		  	  	  	  	  	
|1961|149943 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	
|1971|156778  	  	  	 	 	  	  	  	 	  	    	  	  	  	  	  	
|1981|162050  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	
|1991|162869  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	  	  	  	  	  	
|2001|165595 	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	 	  	  	  	  	  	 	  	  	  	
|2011|169185	
|2020|173,355||  	  	  	  	
}}
{{bar box
|title=Religion in Telemark<ref>[http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=kirke_kostra Statistics Norway - Church of Norway.] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120716151336/http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=0&tilside=selecttable/hovedtabellHjem.asp&KortnavnWeb=kirke_kostra |date=2012-07-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/tab-2010-12-13-02-en.html|title=Statistics Norway - Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance. County. 2006-2010|website=ssb.no}}</ref>
|titlebar=#ddd
|left1=religion
|right1=percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|Purple|86.60}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|Green|1.50}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|Red|0.24}}
{{bar percent|Other|Blue|11.66}}
}}
The largest population centres are [[Skien (town)|Skien]], [[Porsgrunn]], [[Notodden]], [[Rjukan]] and [[Kragerø]]. Other important places are [[Bø, Telemark|Bø]], [[Seljord]], [[Fyresdal]] and [[Vinje]].

==Coat of arms==
The [[coat of arms of Telemark]] is from modern times (1970). It shows an old type of [[battle axe]], significant for the county.

The county coat of arms valid from 1 January 2024 is a redesigned version of the county coat of arms for Telemark county from 1970 until the county merger in 2020.

==Notable telemarkinger/teledølar==
* [[Myllarguten]] (1801&ndash;1872), legendary fiddler born in [[Sauherad]]
* [[Aasmund Olavsson Vinje]] (1818&ndash;1870), author born in [[Vinje]]
* [[Sondre Norheim]] (1825&ndash;1897), father of [[Telemark skiing|skiing]] born in [[Morgedal]], [[Kviteseid]]
* [[August Cappelen]] (1827&ndash;1852), national romantic painter born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Snowshoe Thompson]] (Jon Torsteinson-Rue) (1827&ndash;1876),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snowshoethompson.org/history/|title=History – Snowshoe Thompson|website=snowshoethompson.org|date=21 September 2011 }}</ref> [[American pioneer]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/current/networking-a-nation/john-snowshoe-thompson.html |title=John "Snowshoe" Thompson |website=postalmuseum.si.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009134332/http://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/current/networking-a-nation/john-snowshoe-thompson.html |archive-date=2014-10-09}} </ref> and father of [[California]] [[skiing]]
* [[Henrik Ibsen]] (1828&ndash;1906), author born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[John Anders Johnson]] (1832&ndash;1901), American politician
* [[Thorbjorn N. Mohn]] (1844&ndash;1899), American Lutheran church leader and first president of [[St. Olaf College]]
* [[Brynild Anundsen (publisher)|Brynild Anundsen]] (1844&ndash;1913), founder of ''[[Decorah Posten]]''
* [[Marcus Olaus Bockman]] (1849&ndash;1942), Norwegian-American Lutheran theologian
* [[Herbjørn Gausta]] (1854&ndash;1924), American artist. Born in Vestfjørddalen
*[[Theodor Kittelsen]] (1857&ndash;1914), artist born in [[Kragerø]]
*[[George Awsumb]] (1880&ndash;1959), architect born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Vidkun Quisling]] (1887&ndash;1945), politician, collaborationist leader during [[World War II]]. Executed as a traitor, born in [[Fyresdal]]
* [[Aslaug Vaa]] (1889&ndash;1965), author born in [[Rauland]]
* [[Tarjei Vesaas]] (1897&ndash;1970), author born in [[Vinje]]
* [[Anne Grimdalen]] (1899&ndash;1961), sculptor born in Skafså, [[Tokke]]
* [[Eivind Groven]] (1901&ndash;1977), composer born in [[Lårdal]], [[Tokke]]
* [[Dyre Vaa]] (1903&ndash;1980), sculptor born in [[Vinje]]
* [[Klaus Egge]] (1906&ndash;1979), composer born in [[Gransherad]], [[Notodden]]
* [[Gunnar Sønsteby]], (1918&ndash;2012), war hero born in [[Rjukan]], [[Tinn]]
* [[Hans Herbjørnsrud]] (1938&ndash;2023), author born in [[Heddal]], [[Notodden]]
* [[Tor Åge Bringsværd]] (1939&ndash;2025), author born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Agnes Buen Garnås]] (1946&ndash;2024), musician born in [[Jondal]]
* [[Kåre Nordstoga]] (1954–), musician born in [[Notodden]]
* [[Bugge Wesseltoft]] (1964-), musician born in [[Porsgrunn]]
* [[Gisle Kverndokk]] (1967–), composer born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Jørn Lande]] (1968–), hard rock / heavy metal singer born in [[Rjukan]]
*[[Bård Tufte Johansen]] (1969–), comedian born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Odd Nordstoga]] (1972–), musician born in [[Vinje]]
* [[Frode Johnsen]] (1974–), footballer born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Terje Haakonsen]] (1974–), snowboarder born in [[Vinje]]
* [[Ihsahn]] (Vegard Sverre Tveitan) (1975–), black/extreme metal musician born in [[Notodden]]
* [[Julie Bergan]]  (1994-) Norwegian singer and songwriter born in [[Skien (town)|Skien]]

==Districts==
[[File:Øvre Telemark prosti.svg|thumb|Telemark county with [[Upper Telemark]] (traditional Telemark) in red]]
The county is conventionally divided into traditional districts. Traditionally the county is mainly divided into [[Upper Telemark]] (historically called simply Telemark or more recently Telemark proper) and [[Grenland]]. Upper Telemark is sometimes subdivided into [[Vest-Telemark]] and [[Aust-Telemark]]. The name [[Lower Telemark]] traditionally refers to Grenland and [[Midt-Telemark]], but was more of an administrative region than a cultural one. Regardless of definition, Upper Telemark constitutes the largest part by far. For example, the modern provostship of Upper Telemark comprises 12 municipalities and more than 80% of Telemark, also including Midt-Telemark.

An additional district, [[Vestmar]] is disputed. The district borders of this county are highly overlapping and to a certain extent undefined and/or disputed.

== Municipalities ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Rank 
! Name
! Inhabitants<ref>{{Cite web|title=01222: Endringar i befolkninga i løpet av kvartalet, for kommunar, fylke og heile landet (K) 1997K4 - 2020K1|url=http://www.ssb.no/statbankstatbank/table/01222/|access-date=2020-06-04|website=PX-Web SSB}}</ref>
! Area km<sup>2</sup>
! District
|- align="center"
| {{nts|1}}
| align="left" | [[File:Skien komm.svg|20px|Scheen, Skien kommune]] [[Skien Municipality|Skien]]
| align="right" | 54,942
| align="right" | {{nts|722}}
| align="right" | Grenland
|- align="center"
| {{nts|2}}
| align="left" | [[File:Porsgrunn komm.svg|20px|Porsgrunn kommune]] [[Porsgrunn]]
| align="right" | 36,397
| align="right" | {{nts|161}}
| align="right" | Grenland
|- align="center"
| {{nts|3}}
| align="left" | [[File:Bamble komm.svg|20px|Bamble kommune]] [[Bamble]]
| align="right" | 14,061
| align="right" | {{nts|282}}
| align="right" | Grenland
|- align="center"
| {{nts|4}}
| align="left" | [[File:Notodden komm.svg|20px|Notodden kommune]] [[Notodden]]
| align="right" | 13,049
| align="right" | {{nts|856}}
| align="right" | Aust-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 5
| align="left" | [[File:Bø Telemark komm.svg|20px|Bø i Telemark]][[Midt-Telemark (municipality)|Midt-Telemark]]
| align="right" | 10,444
| align="right" | 518
| align="right" | Midt-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 6
| align="left" | [[File:Kragerø komm.svg|20px|Kragerø kommune]] [[Kragerø]]
| align="right" | 10,380
| align="right" | {{nts|289}}
| align="right" | Vestmar
|- align="center"
| 7
| align="left" | [[File:Nome komm.svg|20px|Nome kommune]] [[Nome, Norway|Nome]]
| align="right" | 6,515
| align="right" | {{nts|389}}
| align="right" | Midt-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 8
| align="left" | [[File:Tinn komm.svg|20px|Tinn kommune]] [[Tinn]]
| align="right" | 5,691
| align="right" | {{nts|1858}}
| align="right" | Aust-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 9
| align="left" | [[File:Drangedal komm.svg|20px|Drangedal kommune]] [[Drangedal]]
| align="right" | 4,060
| align="right" | {{nts|998}}
| align="right" | Vestmar
|- align="center"
| 10
| align="left" | [[File:Vinje komm.svg|20px|Vinje kommune]] [[Vinje]]
| align="right" | 3,676
| align="right" | {{nts|2740}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 11
| align="left" | [[File:Seljord komm.svg|20px|Seljord kommune]] [[Seljord]]
| align="right" | 2,888
| align="right" | {{nts|672}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 12
| align="left" | [[File:Kviteseid komm.svg|20px|Kviteseid kommune]] [[Kviteseid]]
| align="right" | 2,403
| align="right" | {{nts|626}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 13
| align="left" | [[File:Siljan komm.svg|20px|Siljan kommune]] [[Siljan, Norway|Siljan]]
| align="right" | 2,340
| align="right" | {{nts|203}}
| align="right" | Grenland
|- align="center"
| 14
| align="left" | [[File:Tokke komm.svg|20px|Tokke kommune]] [[Tokke]]
| align="right" | 2,201
| align="right" | {{nts|907}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 15
| align="left" | [[File:Hjartdal komm.svg|20px|Hjartdal kommune]] [[Hjartdal]]
| align="right" | 1,573
| align="right" | {{nts|741}}
| align="right" | Aust-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 16
| align="left" | [[File:Nissedal komm.svg|20px|Nissedal kommune]] [[Nissedal]]
| align="right" | 1,448
| align="right" | {{nts|789}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
| 17
| align="left" | [[File:Fyresdal komm.svg|20px|Fyresdal kommune]] [[Fyresdal]]
| align="right" | 1,287
| align="right" | {{nts|1110}}
| align="right" | Vest-Telemark
|- align="center"
|- align="center"
|- bgcolor="pink" align="center" class="sortbottom"
|bgcolor="pink"| '''Total'''
|bgcolor="pink" align="left"| [[File:Telemark_våpen 2024.svg|20px|Telemark fylke]] Telemark
|bgcolor="pink" align="right"| 173,355
|bgcolor="pink" align="right"| '''{{nts|13173}}'''
|bgcolor="pink" align="right"| 
|}

==Cities==
{{Main|list of towns and cities in Norway}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Brevik, Norway|Brevik]]
* [[Kragerø]]
* [[Langesund]]
* [[Notodden]]
* [[Porsgrunn]]
* [[Rjukan]]
* [[Skien (town)|Skien]]
* [[Stathelle]]
{{div col end}}

==Parishes==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Atrå
* Austbygdi
* [[Bamble Church|Bamble]]
* Brevik
* Brunkeberg
* Bø
* Dal
* Drangedal
* Eidanger
* [[Eidsborg Stave Church|Eidsborg]]
* Flatdal
* Fyresdal
* [[Gjerpen Church|Gjerpen]]
* Gransherad
* Grungedal
* [[Heddal Stave Church|Heddal]]
* Helgen
* [[Herre Church|Herre]]
* Hitterdal, see Heddal
* Hjartdal
* Holla (Hollen)
* Hovin
* Hægland
* Høydalsmo
* Kilebygda
* Kragerø
* Kroken, see Drangedal
* [[Kviteseid Church|Kviteseid (Hvidesøe)]]
* [[Kviteseid Old Church|Old Kviteseid (Hvidesøe)]]
* Langesund
* Lisleherad (Lilleherred)
* Lunde
* Lårdal
* Mo
* Moland
* Mæl
* Mælum
* Møsstrand
* Nes
* Nesland
* Nissedal
* Notodden
* [[Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Porsgrunn]]
* Porsgrunn
* Rauland
* Rjukan
* Sannidal (Sannikedal)
* Saude
* Sauherad (Saude)
* Sauland
* Seljord
* Siljan
* Skafså
* [[Skien Church|Skien]]
* [[Skåtøy Church|Skåtøy]]
* Slemdal, see Siljan
* Solum
* Stathelle
* Tinn
* Treungen
* Tuddal
* Tørdal (Tørrisdal)
* Vestre Porsgrunn
* Veum
* Vinje
* Vrådal
* Ytre Flåbygd
* [[Østre Porsgrunn Church|Østre Porsgrunn]]
* Øyfjell
* Åmotsdal
* Brevik Branch (LDS, 1852–1864)
* Langesund Branch (LDS, 1852–1907)
* Skien (Frie Apostoliske, 1856–1892)
* Porsgrunn and Skien (Great Britain Consulate Birth Register, 1876–1891)
* Kragerø (Great Britain Death Register), 1895
{{div col end}}

==Villages==
{{Main|list of villages in Telemark}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Akkerhaugen]]
* [[Arabygdi]]
* [[Austbygdi, Telemark|Austbygdi]]
* [[Bjervamoen]]
* [[Bolkesjø]]
* [[Bostrak]]
* [[Brevik, Norway|Brevik]]
* [[Brunkeberg (Telemark)|Brunkeberg]]
* [[Bø, Telemark|Bø]]
* [[Dalen, Telemark|Dalen]]
* [[Edland]]
* [[Eidanger]]
* [[Eidsborg]]
* [[Eidstod]]
* [[Flatdal]]
* [[Folkestad, Bø|Folkestad]]
* [[Gautefall]]
* [[Gvarv]]
* [[Haukeli]]
* [[Heddal]]
* [[Helle, Telemark|Helle]]
* [[Henneseid]]
* [[Herre, Norway|Herre]]
* [[Hjuksebø]]
* [[Hjuksevelta]]
* [[Holtsås]]
* [[Hoppestad]]
* [[Hovin, Telemark|Hovin]]
* [[Høydalsmo]]
* [[Jomfruland]]
* [[Kil, Telemark|Kil]]
* [[Klovholt]]
* [[Landsverk, Norway|Landsverk]]
* [[Langangen]]
* [[Lunde, Telemark|Lunde]]
* [[Lårdal]]
* [[Miland]]
* [[Neslandsvatn]]
* [[Nissedal]]
* [[Nordagutu]]
* [[Portør]]
* [[Prestestranda]]
* [[Rauland]]
* [[Rudsgrendi]]
* [[Sannidal]]
* [[Sauland]]
* [[Skotfoss]]
* [[Skåtøy]]
* [[Sneltvedt]]
* [[Snurråsen]]
* [[Tinnoset]]
* [[Treungen]]
* [[Tuddal]]
* [[Tveitsund]]
* [[Tørdal]]
* [[Ulefoss]]
* [[Vadfoss]]
* [[Valebø]]
* [[Vinjesvingen]]
* [[Vrådal]]
* [[Yli]]
* [[Øyane]]
* [[Øyfjell]]
* [[Åfoss]]
* [[Åmdals Verk]]
* [[Åmotsdal]]
{{div col end}}

==Former municipalities==
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
{{Main|list of former municipalities of Norway}}
* [[Brevik, Norway|Brevik]]
* [[Bø, Telemark|Bø]]
* [[Eidanger]]
* [[Gjerpen]]
* [[Gransherad]]
* [[Heddal]]
* [[Holla, Telemark|Holla]]
* [[Hovin, Telemark|Hovin]]
* [[Langesund]]
* [[Lunde, Telemark|Lunde]]
* [[Lårdal]]
* [[Mo, Telemark|Mo]]
* [[Rauland]]
* [[Sannidal]]
* [[Sauherad]]
* [[Skåtøy]]
* [[Solum, Norway|Solum]]
* [[Stathelle]]
{{div col end}}

==Further reading==
* {{ Cite book | author = Martens, Irmelin | year = 2021 | title = Viking Age Swords from Telemark, Norway : An Integrated Technical and Archaeological Investigation | publisher = Cappelen Damm Akademisk N | isbn = 9788202696856  | url = http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_pliktmonografi_000002742  }}
* {{ Cite book | author = Ruud, Jørund A. | year = 1993 | title = Telemark | isbn = 8299301912 | publisher = Telemark fylkeskommune | url = http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008011004114  }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Telemark}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.telemark-fk.no Telemark county]
*[http://www.visittelemark.com Destination Marketing Organization for Telemark]
*[https://vtfylke.no/ Vestfold og Telemark county]

{{Telemark}}
{{Counties of Norway|current}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Telemark| ]]
[[Category:Counties of Norway]]
[[Category:1662 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in Norway]]
[[Category:2024 establishments in Norway]]
[[Category:Petty kingdoms of Norway]]