Sortland – Norway
Grete Ellingsen is the mayor of Sortland, Norway.
The municipal center Sortland is the regional center for Vesterålen and is profiled as “The Blue City by the Strait” following an initiative to paint all buildings in shades of blue. Today, around twenty buildings have been painted blue.
“Welcome to Sortland municipality, the regional center in the archipelago of Vesterålen. Get to know our blue city with a rich cultural life and fantastic nature.”
Grete Ellingsen, Mayor of Sortland
Sortland municipality has approximately 10,000 inhabitants, with around 5,200 residing in the city center. The city has a Hurtigruten port. The nearest airport is Stokmarknes Airport, about 20 minutes from the city center, and Evenes Airport is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes away.
Goals for Arctic Mayors’ Forum membership include community engagement, better communication, and problem-solving.
Quick Facts
Population
- English name: Sortland municipality
- Name local languages: Sortland kommune
- Population: 10 618
- Largest metropolitan area: Sortland
- Population Sortland: 10 618
Language and culture
- Traditional territory of: The Saami People
- Languages spoken: Norwegian, Saami
Work and education
- Mayor industries: Retail trade, forestry, agriculture, fishing
- Higher education: Opportunities for decentralized studies at Campus Sortland
Arctic Mayors’ Forum
- Joined: 2023