Villages in iceland

Villages

In comparison to other countries in Europe, urban development occurred much later in Iceland. From as early as the settlement in the 9th century until the beginning of the 20th century, the main industry by far was farming and fishing. It is estimated that in the 19th century up to 80% of the population lived by farming. Fishing was more seasonal.

Villages in Iceland

In comparison to other countries in Europe, urban development occurred much later in Iceland. From as early as the settlement in the 9th century until the beginning of the 20th century, the main industry by far was farming and fishing. It is estimated that in the 19th century up to 80% of the population lived by farming. Fishing was more seasonal.

The population of Reykjavík in 1801 which was the only village or town in Iceland at that time was not even 500 people. In 1901 the population in Reykjavík had increased to 6500 and there were now 3-4 more villages with populations of over 1000 people. During this period, 75% of the population lived through farming and only 10% lived in urban areas such as towns and villages.

It can be said that the industrial revolution Iceland began in the first years of the 20th century. With the motorisation of the fishing fleet, the fishing industry became a vital component of the Icelandic economy and urban development followed. An example would be a town in North Iceland, Siglufjörður, which developed solely due to herring fishing. Comparatively, in 1900, 10% of the population lived in urban areas and in 2000, it was 90%. The development of urban areas has mostly occurred over the past 100 years.

Another development over the last 30-40 years has been the migration of people from around Iceland to Reykjavík and the capital area. With 70% of the population living in the capital area today, there has been a steep decline in the populations of most villages around Iceland. Fishing, fish processing and farming are the main industries outside the capital area and one reason for the declining population is the quota system in the fishing industry that was established 30 years ago. Over these years, the fishing industry has declined in the urban areas thus limiting job opportunities there. Tourism has increased rapidly over the past 10 years though mostly concentrated in the capital area and southern Iceland.

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West Iceland

Akranes

Akranes is located at the west coast of Iceland; (GPS N64°19 17.75 W22°4 28.77). It has a population of  6600 people. The distance from Reykjavík by
North Iceland

Akureyri

Akureyri  (GPS: 65.795765, -18.116790)  is a town in North Iceland. It the the fourth largest town in Iceland after Reykjavík, Kópavogur and Hafnafjörður. The three largest
West Iceland

Arnarstapi

Arnarstapi or Stapi is a small fishing village at the foot of mountain Stapafell on the southern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, in West Iceland. It
West Iceland

Bíldudalur

Bíldudalur is located at the Westfjords (GPS N65° 41′ 8.19″ W23° 35′ 56.60″). It is situated on the south side of the fjord Arnarfjörður which is
North Iceland

Blönduós

Blönduós (GPS 65°39’29.85″N ; 20°16’51.56″W) is a town in the north west of Iceland. The population is 800 people. The distance from Reykjavík is 244 km
West Iceland

Bolungarvík

Bolungarvík (GPS (66° 9’17.68″N ; 23°15’6.43″W) is located on the Westfjords in the northwest of Iceland. It has a population of 900 people. The distance from
West Iceland

Borganes

Borgarnes is located in West Iceland (GPS N64° 32′ 38.988″ W21° 54′ 46.445″) with a populaton of 1900 people. The distance from Reykjavik is approximately 75
East Iceland

Borgarfjörður Eystri (Bakkagerði)

Bakkagerði is a small 100-person village located in Borgarfjörður Eystri (65.541824, -13.817115) in east Iceland. The fjord is short and wide and there are many beautiful
East Iceland

Breiðdalsvík

Breiðdalsvík is a small village located on the east coast of Iceland ( GPS 64.792262, -14.009456 ), named after a cove by the same name. It
West Iceland

Búðardalur

Búðardalur is in West Iceland (GPS N65° 6′ 31.41″ W21° 45′ 54.79″) It has a population of 280 people.The distance from Reykjavík is 153 km (
North Iceland

Dalvík

Dalvík (GPS 65°58’13.77″N 18°31’42.03″W) is in North Iceland, located on the west side of the fjord Eyjafjörður at Tröllaskagi peninsula It has a population of 1400
West Iceland

Djúpavík

Djjúpavík (GPS 65°56’37.84″N 21°33’24.44″W), is located in the Strandir coast in northern Westfjords. The population in the area Árneshreppur is about 50 people, with even fewer
East Iceland

Djúpivogur

Djúpivogur (GPS: 64.665701, -14.282775) is a small village located in East Iceland on a peninsula on the fjord Berufjörður. The peninsula separates the fjords Berufjörður and
East Iceland

Egilstaðir

Egilstaðir (GPS 65°15’44.77″N  14°23’51.61″W) is located in east Iceland by the river Lagarfljót. It has a  population of 2300 people. The distance from Reykjavík is 634
East Iceland

Eskifjörður

Eskifjörður (65° 4’40.87″N  14° 2’3.11″W) is located in the east coast of Iceland, and has the same name as the fjord. The population is about 1050
South Iceland

Eyrarbakki

Eyrarbakki (GPS 63°51’48.83″N  21° 8’52.00″W) is a small village by the coast of south Iceland. It is part of Árborg municipality with a population of 300
East Iceland

Fáskrúðsfjörður

Fáskrúðsfjöður (GPS 64°55’50.58″N  14° 0’44.89″W) is located in the east coast of Iceland with a  population of 670 people. The distance from Reykjavik is 660 km
West Iceland

Flateyri

Flateyri  (GPS N66°03´07.82 W23°30´49.58″) is located in Onundarfirdi in the Westfjords. It has a population of 200 people. The distance from Reykjavík is 439 km (
South Iceland

Garður

Garður (GPS  64° 3’45.99″N  22°38’6.43″W) is located in south west Iceland, on the Reykjanes peninsula. It has a population of 1400 people. The distance from Reykjavík
South Iceland

Grindavík

Grindavík (GPS 63°51’3.03″N 22°25’56.95″W) is a fishing village on the south cost of Reykjanes peninsula. It has a population of 3000 people. The distance from Reykjavík
West Iceland

Grundarfjörður

Grundarfjörður (GPS 64°55’29.54″N  23°15’35.69″W) is located on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, in West Iceland. It has a population of 850 people. The distance
South Iceland

Hella

Hella (63°50’2.72″N  20°23’52.79″W) is located in South Iceland, by the river Ytri-Rangá. It has a  population of 830 people. The distance from Reykjavík is 94 km
West Iceland

Hellissandur

Hellissandur and Rif are two villages about 2 km apart (GPS 64°54’56.42″N 23°52’33.97″W),located on the western area of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The population of Hellisandi is
North Iceland

Hofsós

Hofsós (GPS  65°53’47.35″N 19°24’43.06″W) is located in Northwest Iceland, situated on the east side of the fjord Skagafjörður. It has a population of 160 people. The
West Iceland

Hólmavík

Hólmavík (GPS  65°42’5.94″N 21°40’57.38″W) is located at the Westfjords in northwest Iceland.It is by the fjord Steingrímsfjöður, and the largest settlement in the Strandi region. It
East Iceland

Hornafjörður

Höfn í Hornafjörður (GPS  64°15’10.85″N  15°12’15.91″W) is located in the southeast of Iceland. It has a population of 1670 people. The distance from Reykjavik to Hofn
North Iceland

Húsavík

Húsavík (GPS 66° 2’39.73″N 17°20’21.18″W ) is located in north Iceland, a town in the Norðurþing municipality. The population is 2200 and the distance to Reykjavík
North Iceland

Hvammstangi

Hvammstangi (GPS  65°23’49.53″N 20°56’39.00″W) is located in northwest Iceland, part of the municipality Húnaþing vestra. It has a population of 540. The distance from Reykjavík to
South Iceland

Hveragerði

Hveragerði (GPS  63°59’56.54″N  21°11’15.79″W) is located in the south of Iceland. It has a population of 2400 and the distance from Reykjavík is 45 km (
South Iceland

Hvolsvöllur

Hvolsvöllur (GPS  63°45’3.97″N   20°13’22.13″W) is a town in south Iceland, part of the municipality Rangárþing eystra. It has a population of 930 and the distance to
West Iceland

Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður (GPS 66° 4’29.39″N  23° 7’31.94″W) is located in the Westfjords, northwest of Iceland .It is the largest town of the municipality of Ísafjorður. The other
South Iceland

Keflavík (Reykjanesbær)

Reykjanesbær (GPS  63°59’42.17″N 22°32’56.22″W) is a municipality of 3 communities, Njarðvík, Keflavik and Hafnir which is about 20 km away from the other two. Njarðvík and
South Iceland

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Kirkjubæjarklaustur (GPS  63°47’30.59″N  18° 2’37.04″W) is located in south Iceland, in the Skaftárhreppi municipality. It has a population of 1550 people. The distance from Reykjavík is
North Iceland

Kópasker

Kópasker (GPS  66°18’6.43″N 16°26’40.20″W) is a small village located in northeast Iceland, situated by the eastern side of the fjord Öxarjörður. It has a population of
East Iceland

Neskaupstaður

Neskaupstaður ( GPS:  65.147211, -13.715572 ) is a town on the east coast of Iceland. It has a population of 1500 people and its distance from
West Iceland

Norðurfjörður

Norðurfjörður  (GPS 66° 3’3.88″N  21°32’58.67″W) is located in the Westfjords, on the northwest side in an area called Strandir. This is the least populated municipality in
North Iceland

Ólafsfjörður

Ólafsfjörður (GPS 66° 4’19.47″N  18°39’12.80″W) is located in North Iceland on the Tröllaskaga peninsula, part of the municipality Fjallbyggð. It has a population of 780 and
West Iceland

Ólafsvík

Ólafsvík  (GPS 64°53’43.12″N  23°42’26.67″W) is located in west Iceland, on the northern side of the peninsula Snæfellsnes. It has a population of 980 people. The distance
West Iceland

Patreksfjörður

Patreksfjörður is located in the Westfjords (GPS 65.597079, -24.002243). It is a small village in a fjord of the same name.It is situated along the northern
North Iceland

Raufarhöfn

Raufarhöfn (GPS  66°27’7.22″N  15°56’59.43″W) is located in North East Iceland on the peninsula Melrakkarslétta, a part of the municipality Norðurþing. It has a population of 180.
East Iceland

Reyðarfjörður

Reyðarfjöður (GPS  65° 1’59.80″N 14°13’9.25″W) is located in East Iceland, part of the municipality Fjarðarbyggð. Reyðarfjörður is situated by a fjord with the same name. Reyðarfjörður
West Iceland

Rif

Hellissandur og Rif Hellissandur and Rif are two villages about 2 km apart (GPS 64°54’56.42″N 23°52’33.97″W),located on the western area of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The population
South Iceland

Sandgerði

Sandgerði  (GPS  64° 1’50.39″N   22°41’17.52″W) is located in South West Iceland, on the Reykjanes peninsula. It has a population of 1540 and the distance to Reykjavík
North Iceland

Sauðárkrókur

Sauðárkrókur (GPS  65°44’32.53″N   19°38’25.37″W) is a town located in North West Iceland, part of the municipality Skagafjörður. It has a population of 2500 people and the
South Iceland

Selfoss

Selfoss is a part of the municipal Árborg along with the villages of Eyarbakki, Stokkseyri  and farms between them called Sandvíkurhreppur.  Selfoss is the largest town
East Iceland

Seyðisfjörður

Seyðisfjörður (GPS  65°15’36.07″N 14° 0’29.81″W) is located in east Iceland, situated in the fjord of the same name. It has a population of 640 people and
North Iceland

Siglufjörður

Siglufjörður (GPS  66° 9’3.04″N 18°54’36.99″W) is a town situated by a fjord with the same name, on the northern part of Tröllaskagi peninsula in North Iceland.
North Iceland

Skagaströnd

Skagaströnd (GPS 65°49’22.89″N  20°18’16.16″W) is a village in North Iceland, on the west side of peninsula Skagi. The population is 480 and the distance to Reykjavík
East Iceland

Stöðvarfjörður

Stöðvarförður (64°49’58.35″N  13°52’19.94″W) is a small village in East Iceland, situated by a fjord of the same name. The population is 200 and the distance from
South Iceland

Stokkseyri

Stokkseyri (GPS  63°50’12.45″N 21° 3’46.19″W) is a small village on the south coast of Iceland, part of the municipality Árborg. The population is 440 and the
West Iceland

Stykkishólmur

Stykkishólmur Snæfellsnesi  (GPS 65° 3’56.97″N 22°44’34.37″W) is a town in west Iceland, on the north side of the peninsula Snæfellsnes. The population is 1100 people and
West Iceland

Suðureyri

Suðureyri (66° 7’50.85″N   23°31’39.08″W) is a small village in the Westfjords, north west Iceland.It is situated on the south side of the fjord Súgandafjörður. Suðureyri is
West Iceland

Tálknafjörður

Tálknafjörður (GPS 65°37’32.70″N  23°49’8.31″W) is located in the westfjords, Northwest Iceland .The poulation is 300 people and distance from Reykjavík 407 km ( 252 miles ).
South Iceland

Vestmannaeyjar

Vestmannaeyjar (63°26’37.51″N 20°16’24.96″W) is a town and archipelago of 15 to18 islands,  depending how they are classed. The largest Island, Heimaey has a population of 4100
South Iceland

Vík í Mýrdal

Vík  (GPS 63°25’10.97″N   19° 0’25.17″W) is a shortening of the name Vík í Mýrdal, and it is a village located in south Iceland. It has a
South Iceland

Vogar

Vogar (GPS 63°58’40.09″N  22°22’55.21″W) is located in the middle area of the northern side of the Reykjanes peninsula. It has population of 1030 people and the
East Iceland

Vopnafjörður

Vopnafjörður  (65°45’16.47″N   14°49’36.62″W) is located in Northeast Iceland. It has a population of 530 people. The distance from Reykjavík is 620 km ( 385 miles )
West Iceland

Þingeyri

Þingeyri ( GPS 65°52’18.70″N 23°28’51.00″W) is located in the Westfjord of Iceland, by the fjord Dýrafjöður. It has a population of 250 people and the distance
South Iceland

Þorlákshöfn

Þorlákshöfn  (63°51’22.38″N  21°23’14.07″W) is a town in South Iceland, a part of the muncipality Ölfushreppur. It has a population of 1450 people. The distance to Reykjavik
North Iceland

Þórshöfn

Þórshöfn (66°11’56.45″N ; 15°20’13.71″W) is a small village in Northeast Iceland, part of the municipal Langanesbyggð. It has a population of 360 people and the distance

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