In the 7th century, Irish monks settled in the Faroe Islands, but already in the 8th century the archipelago was conquered by Norwegian farmers and in 1035 it became a Norwegian county.
Like the other North Atlantic islands, the Faroe Islands followed Norway into the personnel union with Denmark in 1380, and they, like Iceland and Greenland, remained under Danish dominion even after 1814, when Norway was forced into personnel union with Sweden.
In the middle of the 19th century, the Faroe Islands gained a seat in the Danish parliament and the royal trade monopoly was abolished. This led to a rapid economic development and an initial desire for independence, which was strengthened during the Second World War when the islands were occupied by the British and for five years were cut off from German-occupied Denmark.
- COUNTRYAAH.COM: Provides latest population data about Faroe Islands. Lists by Year from 1950 to 2020. Also includes major cities by population.
In 1948, the Faroe Islands gained far-reaching internal self-government, “home rule”, but Denmark retained control of, among other things, foreign and defense policy and the judiciary, and the Danish monarch remained the head of state. This arrangement still prevails, although the Faroe Islands appear relatively independent outward, have their own flag and seat in the Nordic Council. The Faroe Islands also marked their independence in 1973 when Denmark joined the then EC but the Faroe Islands chose to stay outside.
Faroe Islands – Torshavn
Torshavn
Tórshavn, Danish Thorshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands, located on the southeast side of the island of Streymoy; 12,200 residents (2013). Tórshavn is the seat of the Ombudsman, the Legislature and the Government, as well as the Faroe Islands’ economic and cultural center. museums and cultural center Nordic House (inauguration 1983). Tórshavn is also an important trading center with a fishing port, fish processing and other food industry and shipyards. Tórshavn has regular boat connections with Aberdeen (Scotland) and summertime with Esbjerg (Denmark), Bergen (Norway) and Seyðisfjörður (Iceland). From Torshavn Airport, located on the island of Vágar 67 km west of the city, regular air connections with Copenhagen and Reykjavík are maintained.
Tórshavn has grown up around a medieval town square. The city rights derive from the latter part of the 16th century.