Akranes Explained

Akraneskaupstaður
Settlement Type:	Municipality
Mapsize:	250px
Pushpin Map:	Iceland
Coordinates:	64.3158°N -22.0947°W
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Iceland
Subdivision Type1:	Region
Subdivision Name1:	Western Region
Subdivision Type2:	Constituency
Subdivision Name2:	Northwest Constituency
Leader Title:	Mayor
Leader Name:	Haraldur Benediktsson
Unit Pref:	Metric
Area Total Km2:	9
Population Footnotes:	^[1]
Population As Of:	2022
Population Total:	8,000
Population Density Km2:	823.44
Postal Code Type:	Postal code(s)
Postal Code:	300, 301, 302
Code1 Name:	Municipal number
Code1 Info:	3000

Akranes (pronounced as /is/) is a port town and municipality on the west coast of Iceland, around 50km (30miles) north of the capital Reykjavík.

The area where Akranes is located was settled in the 9th century; however, it did not receive a municipal charter until 1942.

History

Akranes was settled in the 9th century by the brothers Þormóður and Ketill, sons of Bresi, who came from Ireland. The town started to form in the mid-17th century as a fishing village. In 1942, it was formally chartered, and in the following years it had 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 aluminium smelting plant has been in operation near the town since 1998.

Economy

The fishing industry remains the town's most important source of employment. Akranes also acts as a service center for the large rural region surrounding it.

The town is expected to grow in the coming years because of an increase in industrial activity and improvements in transportation to the Reykjavík area. The 5.57abbr=onNaNabbr=on Hvalfjörður Tunnel, opened in 1998, is one of the world's longest underwater road tunnels.

Notable people

Akranes was the birthplace of the Atom poet Jón Óskar, the writer Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and footballers Ríkharður Jónsson and Arnór Sigurðsson.

Sport

Akranes has a strong football tradition. The local team, Íþróttabandalag Akraness (ÍA), which currently plays in the Úrvalsdeild karla, has for many years been among the best of the Icelandic football league system. Ríkharður Jónsson, who was born in the town, is often considered to be one of Iceland's finest footballers. He both played for and managed ÍA. Former Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal midfielder Siggi Jónsson was also born in Akranes and had three seasons as a player with ÍA. The town is also home to second division club Knattspyrnufélagið Kári.