The borough contains the Ammerud, Grorud, Kalbakken, Rødtvet, Nordtvet and Romsås areas.

Granite from Grorud is seen in many buildings in downtown Oslo - with the lion sculptures in front of Stortinget, the Norwegian Parliament being the most famous example.

Textile industries were also a part of the urbanization of Grorud, with the river Alna and its waterfalls as power supply.

Some of the old farms are still present in the Grorud landscape, although apartment buildings now are a more dominant part of the scenery.

Traditionally a borough inhabited by the working class, Grorud has in the last few decades had a great influx of immigrants.