Buskerud

Buskerud extends from Oslo's western edge into mountain terrain where hydropower, forestry, and tourism dominate—a county that the 2020 Viken merger absorbed before political opposition restored it as an independent entity by 2024. Drammen serves as the county seat, functioning as a commuter city for Oslo while maintaining industrial traditions.

Hydropower provides the historical economic foundation. Norwegian electricity generation from water-powered turbines began in this region, with dams and power stations that still operate over a century later. The renewable electricity surplus enables energy-intensive industry—aluminum production, for instance—that would be uncompetitive without cheap, clean power.

Geilo and other mountain resorts attract winter sports tourism, providing employment in service industries that compensate for manufacturing decline in traditional industrial centers. The ski season creates economic surges that the summer hiking and cycling seasons cannot fully match.

Drammen's urban revitalization transformed a formerly industrial riverfront into residential and commercial development that changed the city's character within a generation. This demonstrates how post-industrial transition can succeed given time and investment. By 2026, expect continued commuter growth in Drammen area, tourism development in mountain zones, and hydropower to remain the reliable energy foundation that enabled electrification over a century ago.