Located on the southwest coast of Norway, Stavanger is the fourth-largest city with a population of 115,000 and also one of Norway’s oldest cities. South of the city lay a number of large, sandy beaches, a contrast to the fjords and mountains which dominate the Norwegian coastline.
For long periods of time Stavanger’s most important industries have been shipping, shipbuilding, and the canning industry. The city was officially founded in 1125 when the Stavanger bishopric was established. Stavanger became a center of civic administration and an important market town during the 12th century. Rich herring fisheries in the 19th century gave the city new life.
Like Houston, Stavanger is an important energy center. Due to the region’s short distance to petroleum reservoirs, Stavanger has become Norway’s capital for oil, gas and energy. In 2003, Norway was the world’s third-largest exporter of petroleum. Today the region has established a valuable mixture of trade and industry.
There are 132 Houston companies that have subsidiaries in Norway, while 14 Norwegian companies and organizations with offices in Houston, including the Consulate General of Norway, Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce and Norwegian Trade Council. Trade between Houston and Norway was valued at more than $1.1 billion in 2009.
Fast Facts:
Population: 125,000 (municipality)
Country: Norway
Continent: Europe
Latitude & Longitude: 58º58’ N, 5º45’ E
GMT Time Difference: +1
Time Difference from Houston: +7 Hours
Distance from Houston: 4850 mi/ 7800 km
Climate: The Gulf Stream provides mild winters and wet spells. The average rainfall for the area is 46 inches (1180 mm) per year. Temperatures are fairly stable, varying between 32 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (0-15 degrees Celsius). The warmest months are usually July and August. Autumn can often be windy and wet. Leftovers from tropical hurricanes often hit the west coast of Norway with winds up to hurricane force. Winters in Stavanger are usually mild and wet. The average temperatures for January and February are usually just above freezing. Snow does occur however.
Language: Norwegian
Governmental Structure: N/A
Current Mayor: The Honorable Leif Johan Sevland, Mayor of Stavanger
Other Sister Cities: Aberdeen, Scotland, UK; Antisirabe, Madagascar; Esbjerg, Denmark; Eskilstuna, Sweden; Esteli, Nicaragua; Fjardabyggd, Iceland; Jyväskylä, Finland; Nablus, Palestine; Netanya, Israel
Additional Information:
City of Stavanger Website
Stavanger Tourism
Consulate General of the Kingdom of Norway in Houston