Västerås

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Västerås
Nickname(s): Mälarstaden,
Gurkstaden (Cucumber City)
Västerås is located in Sweden
Västerås
Coordinates: 59°37′N 16°32′E / 59.617°N 16.533°E / 59.617; 16.533Coordinates: 59°37′N 16°32′E / 59.617°N 16.533°E / 59.617; 16.533
Country Sweden
Province Västmanland
County Västmanland County
Municipality Västerås Municipality
Area[1]
 • Total 52.94 km2 (20.4 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)[1]
 • Total 110,877
 • Density 2,094/km2 (5,423.4/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Website vasteras.se

Västerås [vɛstərˈoːs] (English exonym: West Aros) is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm. The city has a population of 110,877 inhabitants in 2010,[1] out of the municipal total of 137,207 (2010).

Västerås is the seat of Västerås Municipality, the capital of Västmanland County and an episcopal see.

Contents

[edit] History

Västerås circa 1700, in Suecia antiqua et hodierna.

Västerås is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and Northern Europe. The name originates from Västra Aros, which refers to the river mouth of Svartån. The area has been populated since the Nordic Viking Age, before 1000 AD. In the beginning of the 11th century it was the second largest city in Sweden, and by the 12th century had become the seat of the bishop.

Anundshög is located just outside the City of Västerås. Anundshög is Sweden's largest burial mound. "Hög" is derived from the Old Norse word haugr meaning mound or barrow. It was built about 500 AD and is over 74 yards wide and is almost 10 yards high.

In the ensuing centuries a cathedral and a monastery were built. The first City Arms date from the end of the 13th century.

Gustav I of Sweden in Västerås, 1527 (watercolor reproduction of a lost painting made later in this king's reign.)

King Gustav I of Sweden called together the riksdag in Västerås. During the riksdag assembly the decision was made to convert Sweden into a Protestant state and to remove the power of the Catholic Church.

Rudbeckianska Gymnasiet, the oldest gymnasium (secondary school) in Sweden, was built in Västerås by Johannes Rudbeckius in 1623.

In the 18th and 19th centuries the growing of cucumber became popular, and Västerås received the nickname Gurkstaden (the Cucumber City), which it still retains today.

[edit] Today

Västerås is predominantly known as an industrial city, but also a retailing and logistics city. The city wants to distinguish itself as Västerås - Mälarstaden, meaning "Västerås -- the city by Lake Mälaren", in order to attract tourists and new inhabitants, as well as students to the local university college, Mälardalen University (approximately 16,000 enrolled students in Västerås and in the nearby Eskilstuna). To this effect, the city has started using a designed logo as branding in some official contexts, partially replacing the coat of arms, as well as rebuilding several old harbor areas to make them more attractive to live in. Västerås has the largest lakeside commercial and recreational port in Scandinavia on Lake Mälaren. The city also has a skyscraper cordially nicknamed "Skrapan" (English: The Scraper) which has Sweden's highest-located cocktail bar, called Sky Bar, on the 24th floor of the building. Västerås hosts Power Big Meet, an annual event where owners of high-powered American cars can meet.

[edit] Industry

In 1891, the Turbine House, a small hydroelectric dam was built on Svartån, in central Västerås. This early electrification encouraged ASEA, a large electricity equipment manufacturer, to concentrate its operations in Västerås, shifting focus away from Arboga. Later, after a merger with Brown, Boveri & Cie, ASEA became ABB. As a result, Västerås was home to its Swedish headquarters. There, it is situated mainly at the Mimer Complex in the city centre with production facilities in Finnslätten and Saltängen.

Other major industries include transportation like Bombardier with several distribution centres, coppersmiths Outokumpu Copper and IT.

[edit] Retailing and trade

One of the historical reasons that made Västerås a city is its trading-friendly location by the river Svartån and lake Mälaren. The city remains one of the main logistical centers in Sweden due to its central location in the densely populated region Mälardalen and favourable infrastructure connections with railways, waterways and highways. Amongst others, ICA AB has one of its main distribution centres located in Västerås.

Västerås is the birth place of multinational clothing retailer H&M, their first store was opened in the town centre in 1947.

[edit] Sports

  • De grönvita (The Green and White), Västerås SK - Founded on January 29, 1904, "The Green and White" is the most successful bandy team in Sweden, with 18 Swedish Championships won. They have the largest indoor arena for bandy in Sweden, ABB Arena Syd. The Bandy World Championships have been played in Västerås several times.
  • VIK Västerås HK, known as VIK Västerås Hockey Klubb. The club had its greatest moment in 1992/1993 when the club won the regular series in the Swedish Elitleague (VIK reached quarter finals in the playoff). In 2000 the club was degregaded from the league and faced a financial crisis. The club was declared bancrupt. During the fall of 2000 the club restarted in the lowest division which the team won. Today (2010) they are playing in Hockeyallsvenskan. Among hockeyplayers from Västerås you find: Nicklas Lidström, Tommy Salo, Patrik Berglund, Mikael Backlund and many more.
  • Västerås SK, currently plays in the second tier of Swedish football, Superettan, after winning the Swedish Division North 1 in 2009/2010 season . Having mostly been playing in the higher divisions of Swedish football. The last time the club was in the premier division was in 1997.
  • IFK Västerås FK, football club in Division 5 Västmanland
  • IK Franke, football club in Division 3 Västra Svealand
  • Juventus IF, football club in Division 3
  • Skiljebo SK, football club in Division 2 Norra Svealand
  • Västerås IK, football club in Division 2 Norra Svealand
  • In Women's Football Västerås is mostly known for the team Gideonsbergs IF Dam, currently playing in the second division (Norrettan). The team won the Swedish Championships in 1992 and the Nordic Championships in 1993.
  • Västerås Roedeers - an American football team, founded 1989
  • IVH Västerås, Handball team. Lady team plays in the Elit League (Elitserien) and the men in Division 1.
  • Rönnby IBK Tigers, Floorball team. Won the Swedish lady championschip in 2006/07 and 2009/10.
  • Västerås Friidrottsklubb, Track and field club in Västerås, hosting the 2008 Swedish Championships.[citation needed]

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] Travel

[edit] See also

[edit] International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Sweden

[edit] Twin towns — Sister cities

Västerås is twinned with:

[edit] References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. http://www.scb.se/Statistik/MI/MI0810/2010A01/Tatorternami0810tab1_4.xls. Retrieved 10 January 2012. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Västerås
Murkrona.svg Västerås is one of 133 places with the historical city status in Sweden.
Localities:
Barkarö  · Dingtuna  · Enhagen-Ekbacken  · Hökåsen  · Irsta  · Kärsta och Bredsdal (part of)  · Kvicksund (part of)  · Munga  · Örtagården  · Skultuna  · Tidö-Lindö  · Tillberga  · Tortuna  · Västerås (seat)
Municipalities
Coat of arms of Västmanland County
Municipal seats
Administrative seats of Swedish counties (län)
Swedish arms
Swedish flag
as of 2005, according to Statistics Sweden [1]
1. Stockholm 1,252,000
2. Gothenburg 510,500
3. Malmö 258,000
4. Uppsala 144,839
5. Västerås 107,000
6. Örebro 98,200
7. Linköping 97,400
8. Helsingborg 91,500
9. Jönköping 84,400
10. Norrköping 83,600
11. Lund 76,200
12. Umeå 75,600
13. Gävle 68,700
14. Borås 63,400
15. Södertälje 60,300
16. Eskilstuna 60,200
17. Täby 58,600
18. Karlstad 58,500
19. Halmstad 55,700
20. Växjö 55,600
21. Sundsvall 49,300
22. Luleå 45,500
23. Trollhättan 44,500
24. Östersund 43,800
25. Borlänge 39,400
26. Falun 36,400
27. Upplands Väsby 36,000
28. Tumba 35,300
29. Kalmar 35,200
30. Skövde 33,100
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