PORSGRUNN

town, Telemark fylke (county), southern Norway, at the mouth of the Skienselva (river) on Frierfjorden. Established as a customs post in 1652 with the name Porsgrund, it received its town charter in 1842. An export and industrial centre, it contains the huge Norsk Hydro chemical factories, a factory that produces Norway's finest porcelain, shipyards, metalworks, and lumber mills. Tourist sites include the stre Porsgrunn (1760) and the Vestre Porsgrunn (1758) churches, both of which exemplify the Rococo style in their interior design. Pop. (1983 est.) mun., 31,247.