Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Vanse

Vanse is a village in Farsund Municipality in Agder county, Norway. The village is located on the Lista peninsula about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of the town of Farsund and about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the village of Vestbygd. The Farsund Airport, Lista is located just west of Vanse.

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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Vanse
Village
View of the village location within Farsund
View of the village location within Farsund
Map
Interactive map of Vanse
Coordinates: 58°05′41″N 6°41′40″E / 58.09472°N 6.69443°E / 58.09472; 6.69443
CountryNorway
RegionSouthern Norway
CountyAgder
DistrictLister
MunicipalityFarsund Municipality
Area
1
 • Total
1.94 km2 (0.75 sq mi)
Elevation
2
27 m (89 ft)
Population
 (2026)1
 • Total
2,075
 • Density1,070/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
4557 Vanse

Vanse3 is a village in Farsund Municipality in Agder county, Norway. The village is located on the Lista peninsula about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) west of the town of Farsund and about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of the village of Vestbygd. The Farsund Airport, Lista is located just west of Vanse.4

The 1.94-square-kilometre (480-acre) village has a population (2026) of 2,075 which gives the village a population density of 1,070 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,800/sq mi).1

History

The village was the administrative centre of the old Lista Municipality from 1838 until its dissolution in 1965. The old municipality was known as Vanse Municipality from 1838 until 1911.4

Vanse Church is a medieval stone church, built in 1037 in the village of Vanse. A stone monument stands near the church. it is a memorial of fatalities during the Gunboat War (1807–1814). It is surrounded by authentic small cannons and a circle of stones with chain. A speech is held by this stone each year on Constitution Day, May 17.5

American connections

The village of Vanse, has many connections to the United States due to high emmigration from Vanse to the US. The American Festival is held in Vanse each year.

Kjell Elvis has his own star in Selvaagpark modeled on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.6

  • 8th Avenue Diner in Vanse
    8th Avenue Diner in Vanse
  • The hall of 8th Avenue Diner, Vanse
    The hall of 8th Avenue Diner, Vanse
  • Trunken, a store in Brooklyn Square, Vanse
    Trunken, a store in Brooklyn Square, Vanse
  • Sign at Brooklyn Square, Vanse
    Sign at Brooklyn Square, Vanse
  • Vanse Church
    Vanse Church
  • The Gunboat War Memorial
    The Gunboat War Memorial
  • A gun (detail) at the Gunboat War Memorial
    A gun (detail) at the Gunboat War Memorial

Notable people

  • Kjell Elvis, a professional Elvis impersonator who was raised in Vanse
  • Karl Sanne, a Norwegian politician
References

References

  1. Statistisk sentralbyrå (27 October 2025). "Urban settlements. Population and area, by municipality".
  2. "Vanse, Farsund". yr.no. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  3. "Informasjon om stadnamn". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 26 May 2026.
  4. Thorsnæs, Geir; Lauritzen, Per Roger, eds. (2 March 2026). "Vanse (tettsted)". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  5. Rudjord, Kåre (1987). Listaboka IV. Bygdehistorie. Fra formannskapslov til kommunesammenslutning (in Norwegian). Farsund Kommune. pp. 450–452.
  6. "Vanse får sin egen «Walk of Fame". Lister24. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
External links