Nordfjordeid is the administrative centre of the municipality of Stad in Vestland county, western Norway. It is located at the end of the Eidsfjorden, an arm of the main Nordfjorden, west of the large lake Hornindalsvatnet. The village of Stårheim is located about to the west, the village of Mogrenda is about to the east, and the village of Lote is about to the southeast.
The town is a commercial hub for the municipality and greater Nordfjord region. It includes several industries, such as timber, agriculture, electronics and commerce. It is the shopping hub for surrounding villages and towns, due to the shopping center and commerce streets. There are five primary schools, one lower secondary school and an upper secondary school connected to the Opera House in the town.
Eid Church is also located in the town and it is the main church for the municipality. The European route E39 highway passes by Nordfjordeid on its way from Bergen to Ålesund. Norwegian National Road 15 passes through the town on its way from Måløy to Otta. Nordfjordeid is located approximately nine hours from the national capital of Oslo, five hours from the city of Bergen, and three hours from the city of Ålesund by car. The closest airport, Sandane Airport, Anda (SNDL) is 45 minutes from the town.
The town has a population (2018) of 2,974 and a population density of .
Etymology
During the Viking Age, Nordfjordeid was referred to as Eygis or Eid, meaning the inner most part of a fjord. Nordfjord directly translated means 'North Fjord'. The kingdom of Firda was known as the kingdom of the fjords, and was divided into Sunnfjord and Nordfjord, meaning South Fjord and North Fjord. In old Norse the administrative region of Nordfjord was referred to and later at the time of the Gulating.
Thus Nordfjordeid is a literal description of the location of the town: the inner part of the northern fjord.
History
Old Stone age
The oldest archeological discovery made in Nordfjordeid is over 6,000 years old. An axe from the Paleolithic Period. The area was well suited for fishing and hunting during the Stone Age, however little is known about human activity during this period.
Neolithic and Bronze age
During the late Stone Age, there was a transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture. In Nordfjordeid there is archeological evidence of human settlements dating back to the late Neolithic and Bronze Age. Remains of pits used for cooking, firepits, stone axes, technical production establishments, and up to ten huts have been discovered in the area known as Golvsengane. This is believed to be the predecessor settlement to the Myklebust farm that was central during the later Iron and Viking Ages.
Viking age
During the 7th century, the farm Myklebust () was the home of the Viking king, Audbjörn Frøybjørnsson, who ruled the kingdom of Firda (). Myklebust was the largest farm in Nordfjordeid (Eygis) and the center of power in Firda. Based on archeological evidence it is assumed that Nordfjordeid was the home of a family dynasty that ruled the area for centuries prior. The inhabitants were known as , and were mainly farmers and merchants. There were archeological finds of Saxon objects that originated from Ireland, thus it is believed that the Vikings of the farm participated in the Great Heathen Army, that conquered eastern Mercia during the 8th century. Nordfjordeid was strategically well placed, with large amounts of land available for agriculture, timber and other natural resources. The residents could easily prepare for incoming attacks as the only way to arrive was through the Eidsfjord, offering many vantage points, allowing early warnings when unknown travelers were spotted. Being close to the coast made travel easy, both north and south in Norway, and also toward England.
Death of King Audbjörn
Audbjörn was killed during the second battle of Solskjel in 870 against Harald Hairfair. Harald was on a quest to unite Norway under one rule leading to the Unification of Norway. Audbjörn wanted to maintain the current structure of petty kingdoms in Norway, in order to maintain his power. When news arrived that Harald was marching south from Trondheim, with a massive army; Audbjörn and King Arnvid of Sunnmøre gathered an army to defend their territories. A massive battle ensued with many casualties on both sides. Both kings fell during the battle.