Qassimiut

Qassimiut (old spellings: Qagssimiut and Kagsimiut) is a settlement in the Kujalleq municipality in southern Greenland. The settlement was founded in 1835 as a trading station. With a population of 20 in 2020, it is the smallest organized, permanent settlement in Greenland.[1]

Qassimiut
View of Qassimiut
Qassimiut
Location within Greenland
Coordinates: 60°46′53″N 47°09′35″W
State Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country Greenland
Municipality Kujalleq
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20
Time zoneUTC-03
Postal code
3920 Qaqortoq

Until January, 2009, the settlement—along Eqalugaarsuit and Saarloq, as well as 13 sheep farms—belonged to the Qaqortoq municipality. On January 1, 2009, the settlement became part of the Kujalleq municipality, when the Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik municipalities ceased to exist. The settlements are presently governed by a joint settlement council,[2] although Qassimiut has no direct representation in the council.

Healthcare and infrastructure

The healthcare services for the settlement are provided by the Napparsimavik Hospital in Qaqortoq. The hospital boat regularly visits the settlement, and an emergency helicopter is available if needed.

KNI subsidiary Pilersuisoq operates a local, all-purpose general store in the settlement.[3]

Settlement school

The settlement school--Atuarfik Qassimiut, Greenlandic for "school of Qassimiut" is part of the Qaqortoq education district. The two-classroom school building was moved to Qassimiut in 1965. The most recent refurbishing and renovation of the school was in the late 1980s.

Transport and communications
Main article: Qassimiut Heliport

The settlement has its own heliport, Qassimiut Heliport, which is operated by Mittarfeqarfiit. All other transportation is by boat only. The settlement has gravel roads, but there are no cars.

Internet and phone communications are provided by Greenland Home Rule.

Famous people from Qassimiut

Population

Most towns and settlements in southern Greenland exhibit negative growth patterns over the last two decades, with many settlements rapidly depopulating. Qassimiut has been rapidly losing population over the last two decades. Its population has decreased by more than two thirds relative to the 1990 levels.[4]

Qassimiut population growth dynamics in the last two decades. Source: Statistics Greenland[4]

References
  1. "Population by Localities". Statistical Greenland. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. "Kujalleq Municipality" (in Danish). Kujalleq Municipality. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  3. "Medlemmar ag GA" (in Danish). Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  4. Statistics Greenland Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Danish)
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