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Odense municipality, (Danish: Odense Kommune) is a Danish municipality (Danish: kommune) in Funen County on the island of Funen in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 304 km², and has a total population of 186.595 (2006). 39 percent of Funen County's population live in this municipality. Odense's mayor is Jan Boye, representing the Conservative People's Party (since 1 January 2006). The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Odense. It is also the site of the Funen County council, and is the largest city on the island. Neighboring municipalities are Langeskov to the east, Munkebo to the northeast, Otterup to the north, Søndersø, Vissenbjerg, and Tommerup to the west, and Broby and Årslev to the south. The municipality is located near the Odense Fjord. The Odense Canal (Odense Kanal) flows out from the fjord and forms three ports in the city's industrial area. The Odense River (Odense Å) also flows out from the fjord and meanders through the municipality, including Odense town center where Sankt Jørgens Park and Munke Mose are located on its banks. The river terminates in Lake Arreskov (Arreskov Sø) in Faaborg municipality. The municipality is connected with all points on the island with an extensive system of roads, including the major E20 Fynske Motorway which runs across the island through the town of Odense and connect the island on the east to the island of Zealand (Sjælland) over the Great Belt Bridge and on the west to the Danish mainland, Jutland over the Little Belt Bridge. The town of Odense is also a major stop on the national railroad system lines. The municipality, a former "Provincial municipality" was re-created April 1, 1970 as Odense municipality as the result of a kommunalreform ("Municipal Reform") that merged a number of existing Provincial- Parish- and Village- municipalities: Allerup-Davinde, Allese-Næsbyhoved, Broby, Brændekilde, Bellinge, Dalum, Fraugde, Korup-Ubberud, Lumby, Odense, Paarup, Sanderum, Stenløse-Fangel, the "coalition-municipality" of Fjordager (which had been created in 1966 by merging Agedrup and Seden-Åsum municipalities), and Højby parish. Odense municipality will not be merged with other municipalities by January 1, 2007 as the result of nationwide ''Kommunalreformen'' ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007). The municipality runs 37 schools. Odense is also the home of 13 private schools.
The city of Odense Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, and also one of the oldest cities in Denmark. It celebrated its 1000 year anniversary in 1988. Its name refers to Odin in Norse mythology— Odins Vi ("Odin's Sanctuary"). Canute the Saint's (Sankt Knud) shrine was a great resort of pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages. In the 16th century the town was the meeting-place of several parliaments, and down to 1805 it was the seat of the provincial assembly of Funen. The famous author and poet Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense on April 2, 1805. Musuems honouring him have been created both in a house in the old part of Odense with a large collection of his works and belongings, and his childhood home, which is also located in the city. Odense also has a museum honoring the classical composer Carl Nielsen, who was born near Odense. Twin cities and towns (alphabetic list) | ||||||||
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