In modern times, Grenland refers to the areas of the municipalities of Skien, Porsgrunn, Bamble, and Siljan.
The region encompasses 1,794 square kilometres (693 sq mi) and has 122,978 inhabitants (2004), which translates as 12% of the area and 64% of the population of Telemark.
[1] It is mentioned as a Gothic nation by Jordanes in his work Getica from about 551 AD: "Sunt quamquam et horum positura Granii, Agadii, Eunixi, Thelae, Rugi, Harothi, Ranii."
The municipalities had been closely integrated since the establishment of the Hydro factory at Herøya, and conurbation between the settlements was also significant.
Unlike the first proposal, this was met by protests from Gjerpen - to no avail, as the case went to the Norwegian Parliament.