Some of the notable villages in the municipality include Åfoss, Hoppestad, Klovholt, Luksefjell, Melum, Kilebygda, Skotfoss, Sneltvedt, and Valebø.

It was also one of Norway's most internationally oriented cities, with extensive contact with its export markets in the Low Countries, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.

It retained its position as Eastern Norway's leading commercial city until the 19th century, when it gradually started to lose importance to the emerging capital of Christiania following the Napoleonic Wars.

[7] The city was the birthplace of playwright Henrik Ibsen, and many of his famous dramas are set in places reminiscent of early 19th-century Skien.

On 1 January 1856, an area of Gjerpen Municipality (population: 1,286) was annexed by the growing town of Skien.

The name is the plural genitive case of the word skið which means "ski", likely referring to the straight path of the river.

The blazon is "Gules, two crossed ski-poles with central star between two skis addorsed between two flower plants issuant from a terrace in base Or".

This means the arms have a red field (background) and the charge is a two ski poles forming a cross with a star at the crosspoint located in between two skis which in turn are between two tall flower plants growing out of a flat ground at the bottom of the shield.

The charge has a tincture of Or which means it is commonly colored yellow, but if it is made out of metal, then gold is used.

The skis are a semi-canting element (based on the meaning of the town's name) and the cross is a religious symbol.

The municipal flag is white with a small image of coat of arms next to the name "Skien kommune".

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Skien is made up of 55 representatives that are elected to four-year terms.

Another main route used by most buses coming from Oslo is Norwegian county road 32 which goes through Siljan and on to the northeast.

In Europe, canals were commonly built in the pre-railroad period to transport goods, timber, and passengers.

Skien was the birthplace of the author and playwright Henrik Ibsen, probably the most important writer to emerge from Norway.

Skien kunstforening has a department in Ibsenhuset, and the local culture school and library are also located in the building.

In the summer of 2009 Elton John held a concert at the new Skagerak Arena, the soccer pitch for the local footfall team Odd.

Next to Skagerak Arena is Stevneplassen, where car shows, concerts, flea markets and the annual "Handelsstevnet" – a trade fair with entertainment and a small amusement park – are held.

In Skotfoss, a small suburb of Skien further up the Telemark Canal, concerts are held at Løveid Sluser.

There are plans to hold cultural events and concerts at Klosterøya (a downtown graffiti park).

It is not known when the church went out of use, but Bratsberg farm burned down in 1156. in 1576, Peder Claussøn Friis reviewed it as a ruin.

Because the E18 highway lies outside of the metropolitan area of Grenland, Skien has lost many important companies to the cities in Vestfold.