Many historical sites bear witness rich sagatid. Today, approx. 1100 years after, is sailing through the fairway Karmsundet still among the most important and most frequented. Now it is in the north of the mainland grew up a city of just over 30,000 people, but the development of Haugesund has not taken more than of 150 years.
As late as 1839 lived there only 12 families at the sound. The rich amount of herring who was fished here had a need for a bigger place for all activities that followed. In 1854, Haugesund own municipality (900 inhabitants) and were also incorporated as a city. The bill for this new municipality became law on 26. August 1854 by King Oscar I, and this is the city's birthday. Strongly changing times, the city has seen, the city has played with the sea and the sea is a capricious partner, it takes - and it provides rich again, but you never know when.
