Gjerpen

Gjerpen is a former municipality in the southeastern province of Telemark in Norway and since 1964 part of the municipality of Skien.

History

The community Gjerpen, east of the center of Skien, was established on 1 January 1838. At the time of the census of 1835 it had 4381 inhabitants; in 1900 there were 7162nd 1950 had grown their number to 11994. Already on 1 July 1916 part of the municipality was amalgamated with 1,332 residents to Skien, and on 1 July 1920, a further portion with 437 inhabitants to Porsgrunn. The community included since the districts Borgestad, Bøle, Gulset and Luksefjell that were incorporated to Skien all on 1 January 1964 and Breidablkk, Borge and Hovenga in the south. These three were assigned to the municipality of Porsgrunn after civil protests in 1968. Prior to the incorporation Gjerpen had a population of around 15,300. The current district Gjerpen thus only includes a small part of the former municipality.

Economy

The valley of Gjerpen ( Gjerpendalen ) with the nature reserve Børsesjø is considered one of the most fertile agricultural areas in Norway, and the main industries are agriculture and forestry.

Church

The Church of Gjerpen, built in 1153 and restored several times in the years 1781, 1871, 1920 and 2004, is one of the oldest in the country. Is the grave of former Prime Minister (1942-1945) and Nazi collaborator Vidkun Quisling On her graveyard.