Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Ringsaker farm (Old Norse: Ringisakr or Hringisakr) since the first Ringsaker Church was built there. The first element is the genitive case of ringir or ringi which has an unknown meaning. One possibility is that Ringir or Hringir ('Lord of the Ring') may have been an epithet or alias for the Norse god Ullr, based on a ceremony mentioned in the poem Atlakviða where an oath is sworn by hringi Ullar ('the ring of Ullr'). The last element is akr which means "acre" or "field".^[7]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 1 February 1985. The official blazon is "Gules, an moose statant argent" (Norwegian: I rødt en stående sølv elg). This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a moose. The moose 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 moose design is inspired by the pre-historic cave paintings found at the Stein farm in Ringsaker, indicating the early inhabitation of the area. The arms were designed by Arne Løvstad. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms.^[8][9][10]

Churches

The Church of Norway has six parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Ringsaker. The municipality makes up all of the Ringsaker prosti (deanery) within the Diocese of Hamar.

Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Ringsaker is made up of 39 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 Ringsaker (incomplete list):

Harald Hårfagre in 882

Ringsaker is first mentioned in King Harald Hårfagre's Saga, in the Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson. The saga reports that Harald Hårfagre (872–930) was but ten years old when he succeeded his father (Halfdan the Black). After Halfdan the Black's death, many chiefs coveted the dominions he had left. Among these King Gandalf was the first; then Högne and Fróði, sons of King Eystein of Hedemark; and also King Hogne Karuson of Ringerike.

Hake, the son of Gandalf, led an expedition of 300 men against Vestfold. King Harald's army, led by Guthorm, met and fought a great battle, and King Harald was victorious, killing king Hake. Then King Harald turned back, but King Gandalf had come to Vestfold so they defeated him also. When the sons of King Eystein in Hedemark heard the news, they proposed to meet at Ringsaker in Hedemark with the remaining kings, Hogne Karuson and Herse Gudbrand. King Harald and Guthorm found out where the Oppland kings were meeting, and coming undetected at night, set fire to the houses in which Hogne Karuson and Herse Gudbrand slept. King Eystein's two sons and their men fought, but both Hogne and Frode died.

After the fall of these kings, King Harald had subdued Hedemark, Ringerike, Gudbrandsdal, Hadeland, Thoten, Romerike, and the whole northern part of Vingulmark. In addition, King Gandalf was slain, and King Harald took the whole of his kingdom as far south as the river Raum (Glomma).^[36][37]

Saint Olaf in 1018

Ringsaker is again mentioned in a saga about 1018 when Olaf (later Saint Olaf) sent people to advise the Opplands that he was coming, as it was custom for the king to live as guest there every third year. In the autumn, he left Sarpsborg and went first to Vingulmark. He inquired about their Christianity, teaching some and punishing others. He went through that district, and on to Romerike. Christianity was weaker there and he punished all who had not obeyed his word. The king of Romerike proceeded to Ringsaker, to consult King Hrorek of Hedemark. They sent messages to King Gudrod of Gudbrandsdal, and to the King of Hadaland, inviting them to meet at Hedemark. The kings agreed to resist Olaf. They summoned the leaders from their kingdoms, and when they had assembled, the kings directed them to gather warriors. Most approved of the measure, but the kings were betrayed to Olav by Ketil Kavl of Ringanes (the southernmost district in Hedemark, Stange), who proceeded rapidly down lake Mjøsa to Eid, where Olaf was then located.

King Olaf, accompanied by 400 men, arrived at Ringsaker before the next day dawned. Ketil knew where the kings slept, and Olaf had all these houses surrounded. The kings were taken prisoners. King Hrorek's eyes were put out. King Gudrod's tongue was cut out. King Ring and two others were banished from Norway. King Olaf took possession of the land these kings had possessed, and after this Olaf alone bore the title of king in Norway.^[36][37]

Sigurd of Røyr in 1163

Sigurd of Røyr, who was Haakon II's champion, lived at Røyr (Rør) in Ringsaker. He died at Re in 1163.^[36][37]

Public service

• Eilert Waldemar Preben Ramm (1769 in Furnes – 1837), a Norwegian military officer and representative at the Norwegian Constitutional Assembly in 1814
• Jens Rynning (1778–1857), a priest and public education advocate, worked in Ringsaker
• Hovel Helseth (1779 in Nes – 1865), an industrial pioneer in the Norwegian textile industry^[39]
• Gustav Heiberg (1856 in Nes – 1935), a barrister, politician, and pre-WWI mayor of Hamar
• Adolph M. Christianson (1877 in Brumunddal – 1954), a justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court
• Johannes Bøe (1891 in Ringsaker – 1971), an archaeologist
• Sven Sømme (1904 in Ringsaker – 1961), a zoologist and ichthyologist and WWII XU activist
• Helge Skappel (1907 in Ringsaker – 2001), an aviator, photographer, and cartographer
• Peter A. Munch (1908 in Nes – 1984), a sociologist, academic, author, and US emigrant who twice worked on Tristan da Cunha
• Imre Hercz (1929–2011), a Jewish Hungarian-Norwegian physician and public debater who worked in Brumunddal
• Thor Lillehovde (born 1948 in Ringsaker), a politician and mayor of Ringsaker from 1991 to 2007

The arts

• Lars Pinnerud (1700 in Furnes – 1762), a farmer and woodcarver
• Peder Balke (1804–1887), a painter of romantic and dramatic landscapes who was brought up in Ringsaker
• Ole Rynning (1809 in Ringsaker – 1838), an emigrant pioneer and author^[40]
• Gudmund Stenersen (1863 in Ringsaker – 1934), a painter, illustrator, and dentist
• Tryggve Andersen (1866 in Ringsaker – 1920), a novelist, poet, and storywriter^[41][42]
• Sigrid Undset (1882–1949), an author who was awarded the 1928 Nobel Prize for Literature and was buried at Mesnali^[43]
• Nils Johan Rud (1908 in Ringsaker – 1993), a novelist, writer of short stories, and magazine editor
• Alf Prøysen (1914 in Ringsaker – 1970), an author, poet, playwright, songwriter, and musician^[44]
• Jon Balke (born 1955 in Furnes), a jazz pianist who leads the Magnetic North Orchestra
• Helge Lien (born 1975 in Moelv), a jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and photographer
• Julia Schacht (born 1982 on Helgøya), an actress^[45]
• Gaute Ormåsen (born 1983 in Brumunddal), a singer

Sport

• Olivius Skymoen (1857 in Grefsheim – 1909), a sports shooter who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
• Kolbjørn Kvam (1865 in Nes – 1933), a sports shooter who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics
• Ansten Samuelstuen (1929 in Brøttum – 2012), a Norwegian-American ski jumper who competed in the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics
• Ole Ellefsæter (born 1939 in Furnes), a retired cross-country skier who won two gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics
• Mia Svele (born 2001 in Ringsaker), a handball player