Akranes
| Akranes | |
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| — Town and municipality — | |
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 Akranes
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| Coordinates: 64°19′09″N 22°04′47″W / 64.31917°N 22.07972°WCoordinates: 64°19′09″N 22°04′47″W / 64.31917°N 22.07972°W | |
| Country | Iceland |
| Constituency[1] | Norðvesturkjördæmi |
| Region[2] | Vesturland |
| County | Borgarfjarðarsýsla |
| Municipality | Akraneskaupstaður |
| Established | 1604 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Árni Múli Jónasson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 6,623 |
| • Density | 2,000/sq mi (771/km2) |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
| Post Code | 300 |
| Website | Official website |
Akranes is a port town and municipality located on the west coast of Iceland.
It is the ninth most populous town in Iceland with a population of 6,623 people (January 1, 2011 est.). The area where Akranes is located was settled in the ninth century but did not receive a municipal charter until 1942.
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[edit] History
[edit] Overview
Akranes was settled in the 9th century by the brothers Þormóður and Ketill, sons of Bresi. They came from Ireland but were of Norse origin. The town started to form in the mid 17th century as a fishing village, and in 1942, it was formally chartered and in the following years, experienced the biggest surge in population in its history.
Industry has been a big and growing employer: a cement plant has been operated in the town since the 1950s, and an aluminum smelting plant has been in operation near the town since 1998.
[edit] Current situation
The fishing industry remains the town’s most important source of employment, but commerce is also a significant employer as Akranes acts as a service center for a large rural region surrounding it.
The town is expected to grow further in the coming years because of growing industry and improvements of transportation to the Reykjavík area, following the construction of the 5.57 km long Hvalfjörður Tunnel which was opened in 1998, one of the world’s longest underwater road tunnels.
Akranes' has a strong football tradition and the local team, ÍA, has for many years been among the best of the Icelandic football league. Former Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal midfielder Siggi Jonsson was born in Akranes and had three spells as a player with IA.
[edit] Notable people
Akranes was the birthplace of the Atom poet Jón Óskar (1921–1998).
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Media related to Akranes at Wikimedia Commons
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