Akershus

Akershus was a county (fylke) in Eastern Norway. It surrounded Oslo on the north, west, and south, along the Oslofjord, and formed part of the broader Oslo metropolitan region. The county took its name from the historic Akershus Fortress in Oslo, a medieval fortress that became a symbol of Norwegian royal authority and defense. Akershus Amt was established in 1685 and continued as Akershus Fylke after the 1919 reform; it functioned as a county until 2020, when it was merged into the new Viken county as part of a regional reform that consolidated counties in the southeast.

Administratively, Akershus had its own county council (Fylkesting) and county administration, responsible for regional planning, transport, cultural affairs, and public health within its area. It included parts of the Oslo metropolitan region as well as rural and suburban districts surrounding the city.

Geographically diverse, the county had coastal areas along the Oslofjord, forested inland zones, and agricultural land. Its economy was driven by services, trade, manufacturing, and logistics, with infrastructure and commuting connections to Oslo central for many residents. The region is also home to Akershus University Hospital, located in Lørenskog, and several other educational and cultural institutions.

Today, governance for the area is provided by Viken County Municipality, which inherited Akershus’s administrative responsibilities. The legacy of Akershus persists in place names, institutions, and the historical significance of the fortress.