Sunnhordland Explained

Sunnhordland
Settlement Type:District
Seat Type:Commercial Center
Seat:Stord
Area Total Km2:2860
Population Total:58680
Population As Of:2014
Population Density Km2:auto
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Norway
Subdivision Type1:County
Subdivision Name1:Vestland
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Vestlandet

Sunnhordland is a traditional district in the western region of Norway. The district consists of the southern coastal regions of the old Hordaland county (now part of Vestland county). It includes the areas that surround the mouth of the Hardangerfjorden and the surrounding islands. The municipalities of Sveio, Etne, Stord, Bømlo, Fitjar, Kvinnherad, and Tysnes (and sometimes Austevoll) make up the district of Sunnhordaland. The regional centre of this district is the town of Leirvik in Stord.

In all, the district includes about of land. There were about 58,680 inhabitants in 2014, giving it a population density of about . About 50% of the land area is mountainous land above in elevation with most of the population living below that level in the valleys and coastal areas.[1]

Name

The name Sunnhordland is derived from "søndre Hordaland" which means "the southern part of Hordaland". It is similar in nature to the nearby districts of Nordhordland and Midhordland.

People from Sunnhordland are called Sunnhordlendinger and the people in this area speak a Norwegian dialect called Sunnhordlandsmål.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sunnhordland – område. Store norske leksikon. Store norske leksikon. no. 2015-02-05.