Etymology

The municipality (originally the town) is named after the old Gjøvik farm (Old Norse: Djúpvík). The first element is djúpr which means "deep". The last element is vík which means "small bay" or "inlet".^[7]

Coat of arms

The original coat of arms was granted in 1922 and it was in use until 2 September 1960 when a new coat of arms was put into use. The diagonal division of the shield shows green and white to symbolise the dark forests around the (light) city. The vertical wavy pale symbolises the Hunnselva river that runs into the lake Mjøsa (the largest lake in Norway). At the same time the pale also symbolizes a linden tree (which has no known symbolism). The linden tree has yellow leaves over the green background and red leaves over the white background. The arms included the statement Vis et voluntas (meaning "force and will") on the lower part of the shield. The base of the design was meant to look like both water (the lake) and also a so-called "potpourri" vase, the most significant design of the glassworks factory that was the founding industry of the town.^[8] Photo of the old arms.

The current coat of arms was granted on 2 September 1960 to replace an older coat of arms. The official blazon is "Azure, a swan naiant argent" (Norwegian: På blå bunn en svømmende sølv svane). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a swimming swan (Cygnus cygnus). The swan has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The swan is a symbol for the side-wheel steamer Skiblander, often called the "white swan of Mjøsa", which is usually docked in the town harbor. The arms were designed by Finn Krafft. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has seven parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Gjøvik. It is part of the Toten prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Hamar.

Gjøvik Church is the main church for the municipality. It was designed by architect Jacob Wilhelm Nordan. The wooden structure was built between 1881 and 1882. Both the church buildings and fixtures are designed in Gothic Revival architecture. The exterior of the church has contrasting colors on wall surfaces and bearing structures. The altarpiece was painted by artist, Asta Nørregaard. The churchyard has a monument dedicated to the memory of Lutheran missionary, Paul Olaf Bodding. The church was restored during 1927, 1960, 2004-2005 and in 2009.^[11][12]

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Gjøvik is made up of 41 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.

Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Gjøvik:^[43]

Public Service & public thinking

• Anders Lysgaard (1756–1827), a farmer and representative at the Norwegian Constituent Assembly
• Hans Schikkelstad (1789–1843), a farmer and politician who founded O. Mustad & Søn
• Balthazar Mathias Keilhau (1797–1858), a Norwegian geologist and mountain pioneer
• Hans Mustad (1837–1918), a Norwegian businessperson who shaped the company O. Mustad & Son
• Johan Castberg (1862–1926), a jurist and politician in Gjøvik from 1890-1900
• Paul Olaf Bodding (1865–1938), a missionary to India memorialized by monument at Gjøvik church
• Ole Evinrude (1877–1934), a Norwegian-American who invented the first practical outboard motor
• Niels Ødegaard (1892–1976), an educator, newspaper editor, and politician
• Harold Harby (1894–1978), a city council member in Los Angeles, California
• Arne Austeen DFC (1911–1945), a Norwegian flying ace who was killed in WWII
• Ragnhild A. Lothe (born 1958), a microbiologist and cancer researcher
• Hans Olav Lahlum (born 1973), an historian, crime author, chess player, and politician

The Arts

• Finn Lange (1895–1976), a Norwegian actor^[45]
• Georg Adelly (1919–1997), a Swedish film actor^[46]
• Torbjørn Sunde (born 1954), a jazz trombonist and former speed-skater
• Kjell Ola Dahl (born 1958), an author of Nordic noir crime novels
• Per A. Borglund (born 1961), a Norwegian newspaper and magazine editor
• Per Elvestuen (born 1962), a Norwegian illustrator
• Mai Britt Normann (born 1966), a Norwegian singer-songwriter
• Eirik Hegdal (bornr 1973), a jazz saxophonist, composer, and leader of Trondheim Jazz Orchestra
• Ali Pirzad-Amoli (born 1988), a pop singer-songwriter and rapper who goes by the stage name A-Lee
• Anna Lotterud (born 1989), a singer-songwriter who goes by the stage name Anna of the North
• Nora Foss al-Jabri (born 1996), a singer and participant in the Norwegian 2012 Eurovision Song Contest

Sport

• Guttorm Berge (1929–2004), an Alpine skier, bronze medalist at the 1952 Winter Olympics
• Roger Aandalen (born 1965), a Norwegian boccia player and paralympic medallist
• Bente Nordby (born 1974), a former football goalkeeper with 172 caps with Norway women
• Tord Linnerud (born 1974), a rallycross driver
• Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk (born 1978), a retired team handball player and Olympic medallist
• Gro Hammerseng (born 1980), a handball player and captain of the Norwegian national team
• Ingvild Flugstad Østberg (born 1990), a cross-country skier and medallist at the 2014 Winter Olympics
• Maren Lundby (born 1994), a successful ski jumper and gold medallist at the 2018 Winter Olympics