During summer, the population increases to around 30,000-40,000 people, due to camping sites and cottages around the town centre as well as boats visiting the harbour.

[8] From the mid-1750s until 1864, Stavern was home to the nation's main naval base located in a shipyard in Fredriksvern.

A gunpowder tower and commandant's house remain on Citadel Island, a current refuge for artists.

Stavern in the 17th and 18th century was an important port for civil ship traffic from Norway to Denmark and Sweden.

[citation needed] The harbour was a major port and naval base for Staverns Fortress (until 1930 named Fredriksvern).

As this was one of Norway's most important naval facilities, it was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

[11] The municipality (originally the harbour area) is named after the old Staværn farm (Old Norse: Staferni) since the Fredriksvern naval base and shipyard was built there.

The first element is stafr which means "staff" or "stick" (the reason for this is unknown, but see Stavanger#Name).

The prefix was added in honor of the King of Denmark-Norway, Fredrik V. In 1930, the old name Stavern was brought back into use.