Østfold is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden (Västra Götaland County and Värmland), while Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The county administration is in Sarpsborg. Østfold is located between the Oslo Fjord and Sweden. It is a hilly landscape with a lot of woodland. The towns Askim, Fredrikstad, Moss, Mysen, Halden, and Sarpsborg are located here, making Østfold the county of Norway with most towns. The rivers Glomma and Tistedalselva run through the district.

Østfold is among the nation's oldest inhabited regions, with rock drawings and mounds throughout the area. Many manufacturing communities are situated here. Moss and Fredrikstad have shipyards. Granite mines are situated in Østfold, granite stone from these was used by Gustav Vigeland.

The county slogan: "The heartland of Scandinavia"

History

In the Viking Age, the area was part of Vingulmark, again part of Viken, and was partly under Swedish rule until the time of Harald Fairhair.

Later, when Norway was under Danish rule, the Danish king divided the area into many baronies, and the name Smålenene came into use. This is reflected to this day, in that contrary to many other landscapes of Norway, Østfold is culturally not a unity, but instead a mosaic of areas around the various cities and towns.

Municipalities

• Aremark
• Askim
• Eidsberg
• Fredrikstad
• Halden
• Hobøl
• Hvaler
• Marker
• Moss
• Rakkestad
• Rygge
• Rømskog
• Råde
• Sarpsborg
• Skiptvet
• Spydeberg
• Trøgstad
• Våler