Greenland was divided into two inspectorates in 1782 –
North Greenland, with its capital at Godhavn (now called
Qeqertarsuaq), and
South Greenland, with its capital at Godthaab (now
Nuuk). These were directed by
inspectors until 1924, then by
governors. The two divisions were amalgamated in 1950 and the administration centralized at Godthaab.
Divisions and national park For statistical and some regulatory purposes the country was divided into three divisions (
landsdele) in 1951: West Greenland, North Greenland and East Greenland. The large
Northeast Greenland National Park was established in 1974, encompassing the northern part of East Greenland, and amended with the eastern part of North Greenland in 1988. With the advent of home rule in 1979, the names were Greenlandicized to
Kitaa,
Tunu, and
Avannaa. By 2008, Kitaa had 15 municipalities, Tunu had 2, and Avannaa 1.
Municipalities In 1908 Greenland was divided into 63 municipalities with elected municipal councils. After the modernization phase started in the 1950s these were consolidated, and by 1979 there were 18 municipalities. The structural reform on 1 January 2009 created four enlarged municipalities. Of these,
Qaasuitsup Kommunia, the largest, was partitioned on 1 January 2018 to form the new municipalities of
Avannaata and
Qeqertalik.
Kitaa (West Greenland) Southern part: •
Nanortalik Municipality •
Qaqortoq Municipality •
Narsaq Municipality •
Ivittuut Municipality •
Paamiut Municipality Central part: •
Nuuk Municipality •
Maniitsoq Municipality •
Sisimiut Municipality • Kangaatsiaq Municipality • Aasiaat Municipality • Qasigiannguit Municipality • Ilulissat Municipality • Qeqertarsuaq Municipality Northern part: • Uummannaq Municipality •
Upernavik Municipality Tunu (East Greenland) •
Ammassalik Municipality •
Ittoqqortoormiit Municipality •
Northeast Greenland National Park (southern part) (
unincorporated)
Avannaa (North Greenland) •
Qaanaaq Municipality •
Pituffik Space Base (
Pituffik) (
unincorporated) ==See also==