::: Throughout history :::

In late medieval Ingøy was the largest fishing village in the county of Finnmark, with a townhall, court and the oldest, largest and most beautiful church in Finnmark (with an archbishop), wealthy shipowners and many craftsmen. The people at Ingøy paid the highest average amount of tax in the whole country, all due to the so far everlasting rich fishing resources around the island. The trade of stockfish gave high income for everyone.

::: Boats at the docks

Excavations show that people lived here for more than 8000 years ago, but the prime periode was 1300-1600 AC which most discoveries orginates from. From 1660-1800 times were not good because of colder climate and falling fish prices. During the Napoleon war Ingøy was an important station for the war against the English fleet.

Around 1850 things changed again for the better and Ingøy became the northernmost trading company in Norway. Some years later Fruholmen lighthouse and Ingøy radio station (wireless telegraph station) was built together with several fishing factories. Ingøy became the center of the district with its own, and first, bank, up to 12 fishing factories, a whale station, three shops, post offices and schools. During the seasonal cod fisheries in the spring there could be as many as 1500 fishermen in the island catching up to a sum of 7-8000 tons of cod every year. People here also kept sheep(up to 1000),goats(300),cows(60) and horses – and many cultivated their own potatoes and other vegetables.

::: Dried fish

During the second World War Ingøy radion station was bombed several times and the Germans started building a radar station on “Skaret”. The autumn of 1944 all bulidings were burned down, the farm animals were put down and all the 400 inhabitants were sent in fishing boats southwards. But most people came back and built new homes and boats and took up their lives again.

In spite of the fierce elements and narrowed minded bureaucrats and politicians – this small island is still alive as an active fishing village with a population just below 30 people living here throughout the whole year. We have a new shop, new fishing factory, long wave transmitter, lighthouse, waterworks, a school (three pupils) and pottery. About 40 millions has been invested here the last three years, and people are still optimistic.