Eidsvoll Verk was opened to smelt iron ore by Christian IV of Denmark in 1624, relying on the excellent water power from the Andelva river. In 1688 it was owned by the director of the Kongsberg silver mine, Schlanbusch, and remained in his family until 1781. Carsten Anker came into possession of works in 1794, at which time it was in decay since many of the surrounding forests required for charcoal had been depleted. He restored it and set up the production of stoves and similar iron goods. He also took residence in Eidsvoll in 1811, rebuilding the house which is now the Eidsvollbygningen.
Until recently, the main industry of Eidsvoll was agriculture, though the soil is rich in clay.
Eidsvoll was the site where the constitutional assembly met to draft and sign the Norwegian Constitution on May 17 1814. The building (Eidsvollbygningen) in which the meetings were held is today a famous museum.
In 1854, Eidsvoll became the end point for the first train line in Norway from Oslo. This became the transit point for travel with the steamship Skibladner to Hamar, Gjøvik, and Lillehammer.
Henrik Wergeland was the eldest son of Professor Nikolai Wergeland (1780–1848), who had been a member of the constitutional assembly and was pastor of Eidsvold. Although not born there, the poet and his sister Camilla Collett were brought up in the rectory there.
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