Sarpsborg and Bethlehem

Sarpsborg

Country: Norway

Date of Agreement: 16 May 1997

Current Mayor:  Jan Engsmyr

Website: https://www.sarpsborg.com

Sarpsborg is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.

Together with Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg forms the fifth largest urban area in Norway. As of 1 April 2006, according to Statistics Norway these two municipalities have a total population of 121,097 with 50,135 in Sarpsborg and 70,962 in Fredrikstad.

Borregaard Industries is and always has been the most important industry in the city. The city is also the home of Borg Bryggerier, part of the Hansa Borg Bryggerier, Norway's second largest brewery-group.

In the 1960s, Sarpsborg was famous for its football (soccer) team, Sarpsborg FK, but is now more known for its ice hockey team, Sparta Warriors. In football, Sarpsborg 08 FF has taken over the local throne, currently playing on the 2nd highest national level, known as the Adecco League. 6.11.09, they sent arch-rival FFK down from the "Tippeliga" in a fantastic Play-off game on Fredrikstad stadion. Sarpsborg BK plays in the highest bandy division.