Västernorrland County

Västernorrland County Västernorrlands län
County of Sweden
Flag Coat of arms
Västernorrland County in Sweden
Location map of Västernorrland County in Sweden
Country	Sweden
Founded	1634
Capital	Härnösand
Municipalities	7 Ånge Härnösand Kramfors Örnsköldsvik Sollefteå Sundsvall Timrå
Government
• Governor	Bo Källstrand
• Council	Landstinget Västernorrland
Area
• Total	21,683.8 km2 (8,372.2 sq mi)
Population  (30 September 2017)
• Total	246,082
• Density	11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 code	SE-Y
GDP/ Nominal	SEK 61,540 million (2004)
GDP per capita	SEK 251,000
NUTS Region	SE321
Website	www.y.lst.se

Västernorrland County (Swedish: Västernorrlands län) is a county (län) in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.

The name Västernorrland means "Western Norrland", as it was in the western part of the original Norrland (northern Sweden and northern Finland).

Province

For History, Geography and Culture, see: Ångermanland or Medelpad

Västernorrland County covers approximately the historical provinces of Ångermanland (Angermannia) and Medelpad.

Administration

The main aim of the county administrative board – a government agency headed by a governor – is to fulfil the goals set out in national politics by the Riksdag and the government, to coordinate the interests of the county, to promote the development of the county, to establish regional goals and safeguard the due process of law in the handling of each case. See List of Västernorrland governors.

Politics

The county council of Västernorrland is the Landstinget i Västernorrland.

Municipalities

Municipal location map

In Medelpad Province:

• Sundsvall
• Timrå
• Ånge

In Ångermanland Province:

• Härnösand
• Kramfors
• Sollefteå
• Örnsköldsvik

History

Västernorrland County was formed in 1634, when counties were introduced, replacing the older provinces. Västernorrland then included parts of Sweden north of the city of Gävle, except Jämtland and Härjedalen – which belonged to Norway – and except Finland.

The county grew and shrank significantly since its creation. The boundary adjustments:

• Västerbotten County was separated in 1637.
• Jämtland and Härjedalen joined in 1657, but they both separated as Jämtland County in 1810.
• Gävleborg County separated in 1762.
• Other minor changes have taken place.

Västernorrland was in the west of Norrland

Even though the name Västernorrland literally means "Western Norrland", it is today situated on the eastern coast of Swedish Norrland. The "west" in its name (väster) arose due to the fact that, at the time, Norrland was a much larger region, including northern Finland as well. Västernorrland was therefore in the western "arm" of Norrland in its broadest sense.

Heraldry

The arms for the County of Västernorrland are a combination of those of Ångermanland and Medelpad. When it is shown with a royal crown, it represents the county administrative board. Blazon: "Parted per pale, the arms of Angermannia and the arms of Medelpad."

Miscellaneous topics

Local public transport in the county is provided by Din Tur.

See also

• Duke of Ångermanland, a title for members of the royal family (see Duchies in Sweden). The title has been newly created for Prince Nicolas, Duke of Ångermanland, son of Princess Madeleine

• Rutberget, a 342m high mountain

External links

• Västernorrland County Administrative Board
• Västernorrland County Council
• Regional Association of Local Authorities in Västernorrland