Hofsós

---

title: "Hofsós" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-northwestern-region-(iceland)", "skagafjörður"] topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-northwestern-region-iceland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofsós" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name
official_name	Hofsós
native_name
settlement_type	Village
total_type
image_skyline	Hofsós (0874).jpg
image_map	Skagafjordur map.png
map_caption	Location of the Municipality of Skagafjörður
dot_x
pushpin_map	Iceland
pushpin_label_position
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Iceland
subdivision_type1	Constituency
subdivision_name1	Northwest Constituency
subdivision_type2	Region
subdivision_name2	Northwestern Region
subdivision_type3	Municipality
subdivision_name3	Skagafjörður
parts_style
parts
p2
leader_title1
established_title
unit_pref
area_total_km2
area_land_km2
elevation_footnotes
population_as_of	January 2011
population_total	190
population_density_km2
coor_type
coordinates
postal_code_type	Póstnúmer
::

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|elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = |population_as_of = January 2011 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 190 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coor_type = |coordinates = |postal_code_type = Póstnúmer |postal_code = |website = |footnotes = ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Hofsof_skagafjordur_iceland_hiticeland.jpg" caption="Hofsós is one of the oldest trading places in Iceland"] ::

Hofsós () is one of the oldest trading ports in northern Iceland dating back to the 16th century. The tiny village Hofsós in the Northern Region in Iceland was a rather busy trading post in the 17th and 18th century, but despite the merchant activities this small village did not develop into a larger village or a town in the 20th century. Hofsós had all the historical prerequisites to become a large town. It was a trading post for the Danish Trade Monopoly, it was not far away from the fishing grounds, it was central in the region, and it had a relatively good landing spot for boats. The Drangey Exhibition is in Pakkhús, the Hofsós warehouse built in 1777, during the time of the trading monopoly. Massacre hill farm (Mannskaðaholl) at the south end of Lake Höfðavatn, is named for the massacre of English marauders, which took place there in 1431.

Other services offered are accommodation in guesthouses, a restaurant, coffee-house, and a camping site. There are also pleasant walks along the shore with good examples of hexagonal basalt columns. Thorðarhöfði headland rises like an island some distance from the main shore. It is connected to land by low sandpits impounding a considerable lake with rich bird life and good trout fishing.

Overview

Hofsós, with a population of about 200 individuals, is located 37 km east from Sauðárkrókur. The economy has been based mainly on the fishing industry as well as services to the neighboring farms. This was largely due to its natural harbor. In recent years Hofsós has built itself up as a tourist attraction and has The Icelandic Emigration Center (Vesturfarasetrið á Hofsósi), dedicated to the westward migration to North America of Icelanders that reached its peak at the start of the 20th century.

References

References

2. [http://hiticeland.com/towns_and_villages_in_iceland/hofs%C3%B3s "Hit Iceland information page about Iceland" ]
3. link. (2011-07-22)
4. "''Mannskaðahóll'' (Historical Places in Northwest Iceland)".
5. "''Hofsós'' (Historical Places in Northwest Iceland)".

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