Porsgrunn: A Historical Overview

• Porsgrunn is mentioned for the first time in literature by Peder Claussøn Friis in his book "Norrigis Beschrifuelse" which was published in 1613, in a passage that likely was written in 1576 when Friis visited Skien: "2½ Mile from Haffuit, you come out into the Fiord, and it is called Porsgrund"

• Already at the time, the name may have referred to a larger area around the outlet of the river into the Fiord.

• Porsgrunn grew rapidly as a harbor for timber in the 1600s, when the river above Skien was filled with sagflis and also became deeper as a result of the settlements along the river's banks towards Skien.

• The tollhouse was moved from Skien to Porsgrunn in 1653, which led to further development of the town. By the 1800s, it had become a major trading and industrial center.

• In 1764, the town was separated from the surrounding counties of Eidanger, Solum and Gjerpen and became a separate parish. By this time, the townspeople had already built churches on both sides of the river, Vestre Porsgrund Church in 1758 and Østre Porsgrund Church in 1760.

Explore the history of Porsgrunn, from its mention in literature in the 16th century to its rapid growth as a harbor for timber in the 1600s and its development into a major trading and industrial center by the 1800s.