Oslo

===19th century===
The Royal Frederick University (now the [[University of Oslo]]) was founded in 1811; the fact that it was founded this late reportedly had an adverse effect on the development of the nation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drake |first=Michael |date=July 1965 |title=The growth of population in Norway 1735–1855 |journal=Scandinavian Economic History Review |language=en |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=97–142 |doi=10.1080/03585522.1965.10414366 |issn=0358-5522|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In 1814 the former provincial town of Christiania became the capital of the independent Kingdom of Norway, when the union with Denmark was dissolved and replaced by a [[Union between Sweden and Norway|personal union with Sweden]]. Several state institutions were established and the city's role as a capital initiated a period of rapidly increasing population. The government of this new state needed buildings for its expanding administration and institutions. Several important buildings and landmarks were erected in the 19th century, including the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] (1825-1848), the [[Bank of Norway]] (1828), the [[Storting]] (1861-1866), the [[University of Oslo|University]], the [[National Theatre (Oslo)|National Theatre]] and the [[Oslo Stock Exchange|Stock Exchange]]. Among the world-famous artists who lived here during this period were [[Henrik Ibsen]] and [[Knut Hamsun]] (the latter was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature). 

Large areas of the surrounding [[Aker, Norway|Aker municipality]] were incorporated in 1839, 1859, and 1878. The 1859 expansion included [[Grünerløkka]], [[Grønland, Oslo|Grønland]], and [[Old Town, Oslo|Oslo]]. At that time the area called ''Oslo'' (now ''Gamlebyen'' or Old Town) was a village or suburb outside the city borders east of Aker river.<ref>Boye, Else: ''Christiania 1814–1905''. Oslo: Grøndahl, 1976.</ref> The population increased from approximately 10.000 in 1814 to 230.000 in 1900. In 1850, Christiania overtook [[Bergen]] and became the most populous city in the country. Christiania expanded its industry from 1840, most importantly around [[Akerselva]]. There was a spectacular building boom during the last decades of the 19th century, with many new apartment buildings and renewal of the city center, but the boom collapsed in 1899.

In 1877 the city was renamed ''Kristiania''.