Stavanger, city and port in southwestern Norway, on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the seat of Rogaland County. Stavanger is the hub of Norway's petroleum industry; it is also the site of a large fish-canning industry and shipyards. Textiles and tobacco products are manufactured as well. The city is served by several railroads and airlines, and by transatlantic ships. It has a well-preserved 12th-century stone church, a canning school, and a canning museum. Founded in the 8th century, the city was chartered in 1425. Population (2005 estimate) 114,936.