Måløy is one of the most important fishing ports in Norway. In 1997, Måløy was granted town status by the municipality.[3] The 2.15-square-kilometre (530-acre) town has a population (2018) of 3,283 and a population density of 1,527 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,950/sq mi).[1] Prior to 2020, the town was also the administrative centre of the old Vågsøy Municipality.
History
View of Måløy town from the harbour
Måløy was founded as a trading center on the small island of Moldøen, or Måløya, on the Ulvesundet strait between Vågsøy island and the mainland. As trade flourished, the town gradually moved to the larger island of Vågsøy, while keeping the name of the smaller island. This is the cause of some confusion, although the smaller island is today often known as "Lisje-Måløyna" (literally smaller Måløy) or "Øyna" (literally the island). During World War II, it was used as a German coastal fortress, which led to the eradication of all settlement on the island to make room for the fortress, and as a result of Operation Archery in December 1941.
Måløy was the administrative centre of the old municipality of Sør-Vågsøy which existed from 1910 until 1964, and it was then made the administrative centre of the new Vågsøy municipality which was created in 1964. In 2020, Vågsøy was merged with Flora Municipality to form the new Kinn Municipality. At that time, Måløy lost its administrative centre status.
Townscape
The town square in Måløy has a monument remembering the citizens of Sør-Vågsøy and Davik municipalities who died in World War II. Another monument, located elsewhere in the town, is a memorial to Martin Linge, the only Norwegian who died during Operation Archery. Few streets in Måløy are named; most, especially the ones on the hillside, are only numbered.
Panorama of Måløy
Culture
The festival Måløydagene is arranged in the town every year. In 2004, Måløy was awarded the role as a 2008 Tall Ships' Races main port. The town was the host of the participating tall ships from July 28 until August 4. The event had a budget of 18 million kr, of which the county government would sponsor 2.5 million kr. The town offered great hospitality and welcomed crews warmly. The town, with STI had organized much in the way of crew activities.[4][5]
The association football club Tornado Måløy FK is the result of a merger between the independent clubs Tornado and Måløy in 2002. The club has two stadiums, one of which is located in Måløy, the other is in Refvika. The club's two men's senior teams play in the Norwegian third division and fifth division as of 2008.
