Kirkenær
# Kirkenær

Kirkenær is the administrative centre of Grue Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern shore of the river Glomma. The village of Namnå lies about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north and the village of Grinder lies about 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) to the south.

Grue Church is located on the south side of the village. The Norwegian National Road 2 and the Solørbanen railway line both run through the village.

The 1.92-square-kilometre (470-acre) village has a population (2021) of 1,231 and a population density of 640 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,700/sq mi).

## History

The place is named after the Kirkenær farm and is located in the middle of Solør.

In 1822, the Grue Church fire occurred at Grue Church which was located a little to the northwest of Kirkenær. It was a major fire catastrophe where at least 113 people perished in addition to destroying the church. Afterwards, the church was rebuilt about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the south, closer to the village.

When the Solørbanen railway was completed to Kirkenær in 1893, the village rapidly grew up around the railway station.

