Karmøy, the name comes from the word "Kormt" which of old means protection or shelter, most likely the island has got it's name because it lies outside the mainland as a protective barrier against the ocean.

The origin of Norway as a nation is also Karmøy, or more precisely in Karmsundet. Karmsundet was the main travel way towards the north, inside Karmøy traveling ships has since before the Vikings found a safe journey and shelter from the mighty ocean.

Karmøy is a place where the weather is harsh sometimes, but even so, you will find some of the best beaches imaginable here. Åkrasanden the by far the longest of our many sandy beaches. The island is a mixture of small town like villages, historical memorials, heavy industry, agriculture and fishing. Almost all sorts of fishing is represented on Karmøy, also sports fishing, freshwater or out west in the big ocean for the big fish!

Facts:
Inhabitants: 37.145 (Dec 31. 2000).
Area: 228,4 square kilometers, (50 of those on the mainland).
Biggest employer: Industry - Hydro Aluminium

Karmøy kommune (Karmøy municipal):
Municipal number: 1149
Address: 4250 Kopervik
Phone: 52 85 75 00
Fax: 52 85 22 32
Homepage: http://www.karmoy.kommune.no
E-mail: postmottak.sentral@karmoy.kommune.no

Statue of liberty in New York!
Around 1870 Vigsnes mines was one of Norway's biggest coppermine It was from here the copper used on the Statue of liberty that stands i New York came from. In Vigsnes Grubemuseum (Mining museum) you can learn more about the mining community that had 3000 inhabitants at it's height.

Norway's first capitol!
Norway's first Capitol was Avaldsnes. Here Harald Hårfagre established a 'Kongssete' when he ruled his newly gathered kingdom after the battle in Hafrsfjord in 872. Today it's Olavskirken (Håkon Håkonsen started building this church in 1250) that is the most significant memorial of Avaldsnes and Karmøy's great past. On Bukkøy, close to Olavskirken, there has been built a reconstructed Viking longhouse that in the summer is open for the public. The Vikingfestivalen is held here the first week of June every year.

A historical overview:
7 municipals becomes 1
Karmøy municipal is not an old municipal. Until 1965, what now is Karmøy municipal, actually were made up of 7 smaller municipals. The seven were; Torvastad, Avaldsnes, Stangaland, Kopervik, Åkra, Skudenes and Skudeneshavn.

Settlements since the stoneage
Karmøy is well represented in history before 1965 too. From the earliest times people have made Karmøy their home. Hunters, fishermen and farmers have all left behind marks of their presence on the island. Finds from the early stoneage - meaning from the very beginning of people in Norway - has been done on Karmøy.
Finds have actually found that from the early stoneage there has been industry on Karmøy - flintstone industry.

Karmsundet
Karmøy - and of course Karmsundet, has a long and well documented history. Most agree that Norway got it's name from here. The way to the north, Norvegen (northway) that eventually became Norge (Norway).

Avaldsnes
Kongsgården (The Kings farm) at Avaldsnes was in real existence till 1368, as a center for Norway's first major markedplace. When the magnificent Olavskirken was built (1250) it ranked as Royal church and was one of the most important churches in Norway.
The church is not the oldest church on the island though. Local historians can show at least 6 churches in use before the 1300!

Farming and fishing
Although trade and industry was developed early on karmøy; the main way to make a living has been fishing and farming. The people living on the island learned to combine the two to make the term 'farmer fisher', a term that has been used in resent history..
When the rich herrig fishing set in, karmøy lay very strategic. A big and always modern fleet of fishing vessels from karmøy; was always ready to hunt for the 'silver' of the sea (herring). Still today karmøy has a significant number of modern fishing vessels, in particular much of the nortsea fleet has home port in Karmøy.

Industry
In the 1960's the construction of 'Alnor' started, it became the biggest aluminum plant in Norway. Today the name is 'Karmøy Fabrikker' and the factory employs approximately 1500 people. It's part of Norsk Hydro. There is also a significant industry in fishproducts, farmproducts, mechanical industry and building contractors.