# Sandnessjøen

> settlement in Alstahaug Municipality, Norway

**Wikidata**: [Q1004686](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1004686)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandnessjøen)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sandnessjen

## Summary
Sandnessjøen is a settlement and administrative centre located in Alstahaug Municipality, Norway. Situated on the physical feature of Alsta, it serves as a local urban hub with a population of 6,110 as of January 1, 2025. The town was officially designated as a city in 1999 and functions as the capital of Alstahaug Municipality.

## Key Facts
*   **Official Name:** Sandnessjøen
*   **Type of Entity:** City, administrative centre, and urban area in Norway.
*   **Location:** Alstahaug Municipality, Norway (situated on the physical feature Alsta).
*   **Coordinates:** 66.0167°N, 12.6333°E.
*   **Elevation:** 20 metres above sea level.
*   **Area:** 4.1 square kilometres (as of November 4, 2019).
*   **Population (Preferred):** 6,110 (as of January 1, 2025).
*   **Inception:** 1999.
*   **Administrative Role:** Capital of Alstahaug Municipality since January 1, 1965; previously served as the capital of Sandnessjøen municipality from 1899 to 1965.
*   **Demonym:** Sandnessjøværing.
*   **UN/LOCODE:** NOSSJ.

## FAQs
**What is the population of Sandnessjøen?**
The settlement has experienced slight population fluctuations in recent years. As of January 1, 2025, the population is 6,110. Previous records show 5,949 (2023), 5,956 (2022), 6,030 (2021), and 6,096 (2020).

**Where is Sandnessjøen located?**
Sandnessjøen is located in Alstahaug Municipality in Norway. Geographically, it sits on the physical feature known as Alsta, positioned at coordinates 66.0167°N latitude and 12.6333°E longitude.

**What is the administrative history of Sandnessjøen?**
The town currently serves as the administrative centre for Alstahaug Municipality, a role it has held since January 1, 1965. Prior to this, it functioned as the capital of its own municipality, Sandnessjøen, from 1899 until the 1965 merger.

**What are the unique identifiers for Sandnessjøen?**
The settlement is identified by several codes including UN/LOCODE NOSSJ, Geonames ID 3140301, and MusicBrainz Area ID 7fec711d-6b19-4cc6-a42c-09a83a908c58. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places under the SSR Place Name Number 622889.

## Why It Matters
Sandnessjøen serves as a critical administrative and demographic hub within the region of Nordland, Norway. Its designation as a city (inception 1999) and its role as the capital of Alstahaug Municipality establish it as a central point of governance and local culture. The settlement's sustained population—consistently hovering around 6,000 residents over the last decade—demonstrates its stability as a residential and urban center. Furthermore, its identity is formally recognized through international standards such as the UN/LOCODE NOSSJ, facilitating its role in logistics and trade.

## Notable For
*   **Administrative Capital:** Serves as the administrative centre for Alstahaug Municipality.
*   **City Status:** Officially designated as a city in 1999.
*   **Geographic Specificity:** Located distinctly on the physical feature Alsta.
*   **Cultural Identity:** Residents are known by the specific demonym "Sandnessjøværing."
*   **International Recognition:** Assigned the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) NOSSJ.

## Body

### Geography and Demographics
Sandnessjøen is an urban settlement classified as a city and administrative centre. It covers a total land area of 4.1 square kilometres. The settlement is geographically situated on Alsta, a physical land feature in Norway. The town's coordinates are 66.016667 North and 12.633333 East, with an elevation of 20 metres above sea level.

Demographically, Sandnessjøen has maintained a relatively stable population in the 2020s. According to the National Population Register, the settlement saw a low of 5,949 residents in 2023 but rebounded to a preferred count of 6,110 residents by January 1, 2025. The demonym for inhabitants of Sandnessjøen is "sandnessjøværing."

### Governance and History
The entity's administrative history is marked by two distinct periods of capital status. From 1899 until January 1, 1965, Sandnessjøen served as the capital of the Sandnessjøen municipality. Following a municipal reorganization, it became the capital of Alstahaug Municipality on January 1, 1965, a role it continues to hold.

The modern iteration of the settlement was formally established (inception) in 1999. It is classified as a "city" (a large human settlement) and an "urban area in Norway."

### Identifiers and Digital Presence
Sandnessjøen is cataloged under numerous international and national identification systems.
*   **Logistics:** UN/LOCODE NOSSJ.
*   **Geographical Databases:** GeoNames ID 3140301; GNS Unique Feature ID -277226; Who's on First ID 101814643.
*   **Cultural/Media:** MusicBrainz Area ID 7fec711d-6b19-4cc6-a42c-09a83a908c58; Store ID Google Play "Sandnessjøen" (exact match).
*   **Archival:** Freebase ID /m/018d93; SSR Place Name Number 622889; SSB Urban Settlement Number 7572.

### Multimedia and Linguistics
The settlement is documented extensively across various languages and platforms. It has a sitelink count of 24 and is featured in Wikipedia across 23 languages including English, Norwegian (no/nn), German, French, and Russian. Visual documentation is available through Wikimedia Commons categories, and the town is associated with multiple image files. Aliases for the settlement include Sandnessjoen, 桑內舍恩镇 (Chinese), and Санднессьёен (Russian).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. MusicBrainz
3. [Tettsteders befolkning og areal. Statistics Norway](https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/beftett/aar)
4. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2020. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
5. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2021. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
6. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2022. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
7. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2023. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
8. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2024. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
9. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2025. Statistics Norway. 2025](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
10. [Source](http://www.sprakradet.no/sprakhjelp/Skriverad/navn-pa-steder-og-personer/Innbyggjarnamn/)
11. GeoNames
12. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/no.htm)