Sollefteå
Sollefteå | |
|---|---|
 Storgatan in Sollefteå | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Ångermanland |
| County | Västernorrland County |
| Municipality | Sollefteå Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.40 km2 (3.63 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 8,562 |
| • Density | 911/km2 (2,360/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Sollefteå is a locality and the seat of Sollefteå Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 8,562 inhabitants in 2010.[1]
The earliest written account on Sollefteå is found in a script dating back to 1270. During this time the name of the village was given as De Solatum - a name that can be interpreted as a composition of Sol (sun) and at (property) i.e. literally The sunlit region.
With Sollefteå being located at the lowest rapids of the Ångermanälven thereby making it the last outpost to which it was possible to sail- The village developed into a municipality. The town changed from a commercial town into a town dominated by the military when the two regiments T 3 (Logistics) and I 21 (Infantry) were located there in 1898 and 1911 respectively.
In 1902 Sollefteå obtained the status of market town or köping before finally being granted a town charter in 1917 thereby making it a city.
It is now the seat of the much larger Sollefteå Municipality. Sollefteå is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city.
Notable Buildings
The Pharmacy
The Pharmacy building was erected in 1889. It is a brick house, two and a half storeys high. The style of the building is influenced by the late 19th century architectural style and is dominated by the neo-Gothic style. The house was designed by the architect Niclas Wahrgren.
The many various architectural styles represented in the building is seen in the medieval inspired crenellated corner tower, Norman arches, North German gothic styles, blind windows with pointed arches, as well as in the gates portico supported by columns. There are also renaissance elements in the design manifested for instance in the staircase's orientalic/antique and geometric mosaics with meanders. The overall style of the building attaches itself to the palace-like buildings erected on Strandvägen in Stockholm and in the Stenstaden i Sundsvall at the same time.
In 1984, the building was declared a historic building and thereby protected from demolition or major alterations. It is today the home of the local library as well as the city's museum.
Hotel Appelbergs
The hotel is a classical hotel located in the centre of Sollefteå, along the pedestrian district. It is also the oldest hotel in the city, built in 1882 by timberman and innkeeper Erik Appelberg.
The hotel became a hub for timber-merchants as well as local potentates. Notable guests include Crown Princess Stéphanie of Austria, King Oscar II & Gustav V of Sweden and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The hotel also provided accommodation for King Chulalongkorn of Siam and four of his princes during their tour of Ångermanland in the early 20th century. Their journey is remembered in the hotel with a plaque, and in the village of Utanede with a royal pavilion.
The building is a good representative for the early architecture of Sollefteå, composed as it is of wood.
A facility for FM-/TV-broadcasting with a 288 metres tall mast.
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Sollefteå:
- Sollefteå GIF
- Sollefteå Hockey official website (Swedish)
Notable people from Sollefteå
- Helena Jonsson, Biathlon
- Emma Johansson, 1983-, cyclist. Won the first Swedish medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Pelle Svensson, 1943-, lawyer and distinguished wrestler
- Ulf Eriksson, 1942-association football referee
- Mona Sahlin, 1957-, former chairman of Swedish Social Democratic Party and Member of Parliament
- Urban Bäckström, 1955-, former Governor of the Bank of Sweden, president of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
- Ingrid Thulin, 1926-2004, actress
- Marie-Helene Östlund, 1966-, skier
- Per Svartvadet, 1975-, ice-hockey player
- Mattias Timander, 1974-, ice-hockey player
- Therese Sjölander, 1981-, ice-hockey player
- Helen Svedin, 1976, supermodel, wife of Luís Figo
Gallery
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Northern entrance to Sollefteå, crossing Ångermanälven
References
- ^ 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. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
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Municipalities and seats of Västernorrland County | ||
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| Municipalities |  | |
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