Aars

Sister cities

• Ljusnarsberg Municipality

History

The name Aars first appears in 1345. The site name researcher Svend Aakjær's statement was that it originates from the Old Norse / Old English word árr or ármadr (Ar in old English). Which in Danish means the king's ombudsman or earl. Another explanation is that it comes from the man name Aar / Ar. At the church in Aars there is a rune stone with the following inscription: (front) Asser put this stone after his lord Valtoke, (backside) The stone proclaims that it will stand here for a long time, it should mention Valtoke's varie. Valtoke full name was Valtoke Gormsson but he was also called Toke Gormsson, and he was son of Gorm the old (Danish: Gorm den gamle). He died in the Battle of Fýrisvellir and the stone was raised near Aars because he was Earl of Vendsyssel which is not too far from Aars, but how it ended up in Aars is not known. The rune stone was rediscovered in Aars in 1654. It is believed to have originally stood north-east of the church, probably as part of a memorial assemblage comparable to the Jelling stones. In 1875, there were 782 residents in Aars parish. In a description from around that time of the city is said "Aars with Church, Clergy house, School and Inn with Grocery Store, Bakery and Meltyard". In 1880 there was another grocery store. The end of the 18th century was there a post office. In 1893, the city received a state railway station on the Himmerlandsbaner from Hobro / Viborg via Aalestrup to Løgstør. In 1899, Aars became Himmerland's railroad junction. The private railway Aars-Nibe-Svenstrup (-Aalborg) got a terminal here and was extended in 1910 from Aars to Hvalpsund. The Great Rail Act of 1918 even opened the possibility that there should also be a Himmelland crossroads Aars-Arden-Bælum-Øster Hurup, but this course was never…