Oddernes is a borough in the city of Kristiansand which lies in the municipality of Kristiansand in Agder county, Norway. The borough covers eastern Kristiansand on the east side of the Topdalsfjorden and the Varodd Bridge. The borough includes the former municipalities of Randesund and Tveit. There was a municipality of Oddernes from 1838 until 1965, but its boundaries were very different from those of the present-day borough.
Name
The borough (originally the parish) is named after the old Oddernæs farm (Old Norse: Otruness). The first part of the name comes from its location along the Otra river, and nes means peninsula, so the peninsula along the Otra river.
Geography
Districts and neighborhoods
Oddernes borough is divided up into four districts. Each district is also divided up into neighborhoods.
Centrums
Strømme Centrum is the largest urban centre in Oddernes, it is located in Søm and is the centrum for Søm and Randesund. There is Regional Psychiatric Centre there along with other health stations. Randesund Police Station, which is a police station for Oddernes. Søm Church is located there along with Randesund Free Church. Randesund IL has their football stadium there, next to an indoor swimming pool. Strømme School is an elementary school located there. Østbyen Dagsenter is a retirement home. There is also two kindergartens in the centrum.
Hamresanden is a centrum for the district of Tveit. It has a fast-food restaurant, a grocery store, a gas station and local stores along with Tveit Free Church.
Photos
Education
Transportation
Kristiansand Airport, Kjevik is located at Tveit and is the main airport serving Kristiansand and Southern Norway. In 2014 there were around 1 million travelers. The airport is served with domestic routes to some of Norway's largest cities and international routes to European cities and some charter flights to southern Europe.
European route E18 is the main road and a highway, it goes through Oddernes from the neighbor municipality and county Lillesand, Aust-Agder. E18 goes past the zoo and Sørlandsparken, then between Hånes and Søm before exiting the borough on the bridge Varoddbrua to Lund. Norwegian National Road 41 comes from Birkenes municipality and enters Kristiansand north in Tveit. The road also connects to the airport and ends with E18 at Timenes. County road 401 goes from E18 at Rona and through Søm and Randesund before exiting Kristiansand to Høvåg in Lillesand. In Lillesand County road 401 meets the County road 420 witch stars with Sørlandsparken in Kristiansand and ends in Arendal, Aust-Agder. County road 420 used to be the old E18 before the new one opened in 2009.
Buses in Oddernes is mostly served by routes 01, M1, M2, M3, 17, 18, 35, 36, 37, 100 and 139. These routes goes all day and extra in the rush hours, while the others goes only to certain times. Regional buses to Oslo stops at one stop in Oddernes, Håneskrysset, before continuing.
Tourism
Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park is the largest zoo in Norway and the second most visited tourist attraction in Norway after Holmenkollen, Oslo. The park also includes a tivoli and a waterpark. There are some hotels located in the area for visitors. Abrahavn is a resort in the zoo.
Randesund is a popular vacation area with a lot of cabins for rent at small islands or on the mainland. Hamresanden camping is a popular camping place with the beach. There is also a bible camp there. Kristiansand Travpark is a racetrack located between the zoo and Sørlandsparken.
Shopping
Sørlandsparken is located in Oddernes. The industrial shopping park includes Norway's largest mall Sørlandssenteret with over 195 stores. Other large brands like IKEA, Burger King, Toys R Us and car dealerships is located around the mall.
Rona Mall is a local mall located at Rona, Søm. The mall includes a fitness center, dentist, pharmacy, grocery store and a hair salon. On top of the mall, there is apartments. Rona Mall is located off the highway E18 and besides County Road 401.
Hånes Mall is a small local mall for the neighborhoods at Hånes, it is a part of an apartment building and has a grocery store and a hair salon. Hånes Mall is located in the neighborhood Vigvoll.
Lauvåsen Mall is a mall with a fitness center and hair salon. It is located off Norwegian National Road 41 between Grovikheia and Landauvåsen.