The first issue of Aarhus Amtstidende was published on 1 October 1866.[1][2] Its founders were Lars Bjørnbak, a leftist figure, and JCN Wistoft, a merchant.[3][4] The reason for the establishment of the paper was Lars Bjørnbak's opposition to the constitutional revision carried out in the same year.[4] Bertel Jensen was the editor of the paper.[4] During its early years the paper was a leftist and polemical publication and defended the interests of the masses.[3][4] Therefore, it gained popularity among rural people.[4] Its rival was the conservative newspaper Århus Stiftstidende.[4] In the 1890s, Aarhus Amtstidende became more versatile, but it again adopted its polemical style in the 1920s.[3] This polemical stance led to a decrease in its circulation.[3]
Later the paper became affiliated with Venstre party and had a classical liberal political stance.[1] Its long term editor-in-chief was Jakob Peder Martin who held the post from 1928 to its closure in 1965.[5]
Aarhus Amtstidende sold 11,171 copies in 1961.[1] The paper folded on 11 November 1965 when it merged with Grenaa Folketidende.[2][3]
