The city of Tromsø is named after the island of Tromsøya, on which it stands. The last element of the city's name comes from 'island' (Norwegian: øy, Danish: ø), but the etymology of the first element is uncertain. Several theories … See more

The coat of arms of Tromsø was devised in 1870 and is blazoned "Azure, a reindeer trippant Argent." It is often surmounted by a mural crown with five or four turrets. The municipal authority … See more

The compact city centre has the biggest concentration of historic wooden houses north of Trondheim, and they co-exist with modern architecture. The houses date from 1789 to 1904, when building wooden houses was banned in the city centre, as in several other … See more

The area has been inhabited since the end of the ice age. Archeological excavations in Tønsvika, just outside the city limits, have turned up artifacts and remains of buildings estimated to be 9,000 to 10,000 years old.
Middle Ages: a … See more

Tromsø is the 12th largest municipality in Norway with a population of 77,095. The city is home to the world's northernmost university and … See more

Tromsø is the largest fishing port in Norway. Secondary to fishing, the University of Tromsø is a center for Arctic research. Tourism … See more

More than 100 nationalities are represented in the population. Among the more prominent minorities are the Sami, Russians, and Finns, both the local Kvens (descendants of 19th century Finnish immigrants) and recent immigrants from Finland proper. The … See more