How many people live in Akranes?

In 1942, the town was officially chartered and saw a great surge in its population growth. Today, Akranes has a population of approximately 6,700 people. An important service centre for surrounding regions, Akranes is expected to continue growing in future years.

Where is Akranes in Iceland?

Akranes is a port town in the west of Iceland, approximately 42 kilometres (26 miles) from Reykjavík. It sits at the tip of the peninsula separating the fjords of Hvalfjörður and Borgarfjörður. Explore these areas while on a self drive tour in Iceland. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Helgarun. No edits made.

Why is Akranes called skaginn?

Icelanders usually talk about the town as Skaginn which means peninsula. Akranes started to grow as a town in the 17th century around the fishing industry. Today the fishing industry is still the main source of employment for the town but Akranes is the main service center for the rural area around the town so trading is also important.