Alingsås

Alingsås
Alingsås
	Drottninggatan in Alingsås
	; Alingsås
	Coordinates: 57°56′N 12°32′E / 57.933°N 12.533°ECoordinates: 57°56′N 12°32′E / 57.933°N 12.533°E
Country	Sweden
Province	Västergötland
County	Västra Götaland County
Municipality	Alingsås Municipality
	Area
- Total	11.68 km2 (4.5 sq mi)
	Population (2005-12-31)
- Total	22,919
- Density	1,962/km2 (5,081.6/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

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Alingsås is a locality and the seat of Alingsås Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 22,919 inhabitants in 2005.^[1]

[edit] Geography

Geographically the city is situated by the outlet of the small rivulet Säveån into lake Mjörn. Communications is provided by the western main line railroad (Västra stambanan) between Stockholm and Gothenburg, and by motorway through the European route E20. Next to Alingsås you can also find a small village called Sollebrunn.

[edit] History

Alingsås was founded as inhabitants from the city Nya Lödöse were made homeless as Danish troops burnt it down. Gustavus Adolphus granted Alingsås its Royal Charter in 1619, which makes it older than Västra Götaland's largest city—Gothenburg which was granted its charter in 1621.

Among its historical inhabitants is Jonas Alströmer, who was born in Alingsås in 1685. Alströmer is credited for introducing the potato plant to Sweden. He also established a large scale draper's industry there, which before long became Sweden's largest. However, some too-optimistic calculations, devastating fires and political setbacks finally forced its closure in 1779.

Alingsås is known for its cafes, 29 in total (in 2008).