It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Holmestrand, Horten, Åsgårdstrand, Tønsberg, Sandefjord, Larvik and Stavern; these towns run from Oslo in an almost constant belt of urban areas along the coast, ending in Grenland in neighbouring county Telemark.

Sandefjord was formerly a headquarters for the Norwegian whaling fleet, and Horten used to be Norway's main naval port.

Vestfold was until 2019 the only county in which all municipalities had declared Bokmål to be their sole official written form of the Norwegian language.

Vestfold merged with neighboring Telemark County on 1 January 2020 as part of a nationwide municipal reform.

[22] Bjørn Brandlien says that "To the degree that Harald Hårfagre gathered a kingdom after the Battle of Hafrsfjord at the end of the 9th century - that especially is connected to Avaldsnes - it does not seem to have made such a great impression on Ottar".

The farm Haugar (from Old Norse haugr meaning hill or mound) became the seat for Haugating, the Thing for Vestfold and one of Norway's most important place for the proclamation of kings.

[36][37] Sandefjord Harbor is now home to Southern Actor, the only whale-catcher from the Modern Whaling Epoch still to be in its original order.

The Ice Age left large parts of Vestfold below sea level, and the most cultivated soil can be found on the marine terraces.

[53] It is one of two marine national parks in Norway, and is made up of coast, skerries, islands and sea bed.

[54] Mølen in Larvik is home to Norway's largest stone beach[55] and is an ancient burial site consisting of 230 cairns, some exceeding 35 metres (115 ft) in diameter.

It is home to over a hundred species of rock, including Norway's national stone, Larvikite, which is named from the area.

Results from parliamentary elections in Vestfold County since 1973:[62][63] Bold letters represent the alliances (Leftwing Ap+SV.

For over 50 years in the 19th century, Sandefjord and partially Tønsberg functioned as the world centre for the whaling industry.

Information technology is currently a growing industry, and the county is home to large web shops such as Komplett, MPX.no and netshop.no.

[74] Summer tourism is an important industry in Vestfold, particularly in coastal communities such as Sandefjord, Tjøme and Stavern.

[111] Torp offers direct routes to over 30 international and domestic destinations,[112] including daily flights to European cities such as London and Amsterdam.

Archaeological excavations made in 1959-61 uncovered remains of bones, bear claws, pottery shards, a brooch, and more.

[135] At Haugen farm on the Sandefjord side is Vestfold County's largest collection of petroglyphs.

It is mentioned in the poem Ynglingatal as the burial site of one of two kings belonging to the royal dynasty of the Ynglingas.

[143] Gulli, outside Tønsberg, was the site of an archaeological excavation during the period from 2003 to 2004, prior to asphalt being laid for constructing the new E18 (road).

[145] [146] 19th century archeologists were struck by the many burial mounds and artifacts discovered at Fevang near Torp Airport in Sandefjord.

The 23.8 metres (78 ft) ship was buried along with numerous gifts, including weapons, jewels, a gaming board, fish-hooks, 64 shields, six beds, three smaller boats and kitchen utensils.

[152][153] Interpretive signs have been put up at the mound and Gaia, an exact replica of the Gokstad Ship, can be seen on Museum's Wharf at Sandefjord Harbor.

The last Ice Age pushed large amounts of gravel and stones ahead of it, and deposited it as a moraine through all of Vestfold, known as Vestfoldraet.

Its encounter with the Skagerrak ocean waves has uncovered and polished the huge round stone floor for centuries.

[156] At least 238 kilometers of coastal hiking trails can be found in Vestfold County, from Larvik in the south to Svelvik in the north.

[157] Hiking trails are found throughout the county, including at World's End in Færder National Park.

Tønsberg Barrel, an old beacon dated to Sverris saga in the Middle Ages,[158] sits at Yxnøy on Sandefjord's East Island.

[178] Besides being an UNESCO Global Geopark, Mølen in Larvik is a habitat for a variety of rare bird species.

Hemskilen Wildlife Preserve lies on the Larvik-Sandefjord border and is an important habitat for shorebirds, geese, and Passerines.