ICELAND : The capital REYKJAVIK
Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik lies close to the mountain Esja. The
inhabitants mostly working in fishing, as well as in the typical
industry, trade and services that most modern cities offer as employment
possibilities. The city is Iceland’s centre for trade, transport, public
services, and education as well as for social and health care.
Reykjavik is also the country’s largest fisher harbour.
When Ingólfur Arnarson (Iceland’s first colonist) approached the
southern coast of Iceland, he tossed two timbers overboard of his ship.
He swore that he would build a farm on the exact spot where they would
drift ashore. He found the timbers on the site which is now Reykjavik
where he settled in 874. He called it “Reykjavik” (smoke bay) because of
the steam he saw rise out of the hot wells in the surrounding area.
Ingolfur’s farm stood inbetween the present townhall and the old
harbour.
It was not until the early 20th century that Reykjavik developped into a
real city. Until then it was nothing more than a village with some
farms. Around the mid-19th century this small community started to grow
around a wool dyeworks, a weaving plant and a rope factory belonging to
sherrif Skuli Magnusson (whose statue can be seen on the corner of
Adalstraeti Street).
When Reykjavik received its city charter in 1786 it had only 170
inhabitants. Slowly, the little village grew. Within a couple of decades
the seats of the government and the educational institutions were
transferred to Reykjavik. In 1844 the only printing plant in Iceland
moved from Vioey to Reykjavik. Iceland’s University was also founded
here in 1911.
Most of the city’s expansion happened in the 20th century, especially
after World War II. Nowadays, Reykjavik has a population of 113.730
inhabitants (dec 2004), concentrated on a surface of 994 km². Greater
Reykjavik (the city together with the suburbs) has a population of
183.845, which represents 62.7% of the total Icelandic population.
