Tromøya or Tromøy is the largest island in Southern Norway. The island is entirely located in the municipality of Arendal in Agder county, Norway. The island has about 5,300 residents which gives it a population density of about. The island is located directly across the harbor from the town of Arendal. The highest point on the island is the tall Vardåsen. The island is separated from the mainland to the north by the Tromøysundetstrait and it is separated from the island of Hisøya to the southwest by the Galtesundet strait. The long Tromøy Bridge is the suspension bridge that has been the only road connection to the mainland since it was completed in 1961. There is also a passenger ferry that takes six minutes to transport riders from Skilsø to the town of Arendal. The company Aker Pusnes is located in Pusnes. It is a designer and supplier of all types of deck machinery and mooring systems for marine and offshore applications. Historically, the island belonged to the municipality of Østre Moland until 1878. From 1878 until 1992, the island was part of the municipality of Tromøy. Since 1992, the island has been a part of the municipality of Arendal.
Name
The name of the island historically was Tromø, but more recently it has been spelled Tromøy or Tromøya. These names come from the Old Norse word Þruma which means "rim", "edge", or "border". The suffix -ø, øy, or -øya all mean "island".
Hove is an area located on the southwestern part of Tromøya which has easily cultivated due to its self-draining soil and it was therefore a convenient place for early agriculture. The first recorded cultivation of potatoes in Norway is believed of have occurred at the Hove farm which was one of the most significant estates on Tromøya. In 1757, the owner, Nils Mathiasen Aalholm, observed in his garden diary that potatoes were being cultivated on his farm.
During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, the Germans had an anti-aircraft school on Tromøya called the Feld Flakartillerie-schule 50. This school operated from 1941-1944 at a camp built on the Hove farm. The camp was built for 1,500 men. There were three radars on the island and supposedly four anti-aircraft cannons. Construction of a airstrip was begun, but never finished. Most of the camp's buildings, including the partially-completed airstrip, are still there today, along with a bunker with an unknown purpose. The bunker is currently undergoing restorations but work has been halted due to an ownership dispute. The German military used 75 buildings in the area, most of them built during the war.
The Arendal Herregaard Hotell was built in 1930 and it is one of the oldest hotels in the region. It stands about from Spornes beach. There are also two camps on the island: Hove Leirsenter and the Hove Familie Camping.
