Västerås
| Västerås | |
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| Nickname(s): Mälarstaden, Gurkstaden (Cucumber City) |
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  Västerås
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Västmanland |
| County | Västmanland County |
| Municipality | Västerås Municipality |
| Area[1] | |
| - Total | 51.73 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Population (2005-12-31)[1] | |
| - Total | 107,005 |
| - Density | 2,068/km2 (5,356.1/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 107,005 inhabitants (2005) out of the municipal total of 135,936 (2009).
Västerås is the seat of Västerås Municipality, the capital of Västmanland County and an episcopal see.
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History
Västerås is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and Northern Europe. The name originates from Västra Aros, which refers to the estuary of the river 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.
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.
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.
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 became its de facto Swedish capital. 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 centers, coppersmiths Outokumpu Copper and IT.
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.
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.
- In Women's Football Västerås is mostly known for the team Gideonsbergs IF Dam, currently playing in the third division (Div 2 Västra Svealand). The team won the Swedish Championships in 1992 and the Nordic Championships in 1993.
- 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. Among hockeyplayers from Västerås you find: Nicklas Lidström, Tommy Salo, Patrick Juhlin, Peter Popovic and many more.
- Västerås SK currently plays in the Swedish Division 1 North. Have mostly been playing in the higher divisions of Swedish soccer team. The last time the club was in the premier division was in 1997.
- Västerås Friidrottsklubb , Track and field club in Västerås, hosting the 2008 Swedish Championships.
- Dansklubben Marionetterna, members of the Swedish Dancesport Federation. Founded in 1985. Several Swedish- European- Nordic- and World Champions come from the club.
Västerås Roedeers - an American football team, founded 1989
Image gallery
 The Vasa park |
 The City Hotel |
 The Turbine House |
 Winter silhouette of Västerås |
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 The Västerås skyscraper, seen from below |
 ABB Arena Syd, the biggest indoor arena for bandy in Sweden |
Notable natives
- H. Peter Anvin, Linux developer
- Mikael Backlund, ice hockey player
- Patrik Berglund, ice hockey player
- Maria Bonnevie, actress
- Asa Carlsson, tennis player
- Embee, hip hop deejay and producer
- Fronda, rapper
- Patrik Isaksson, swimmer
- Fredrik Johansson, Musician
- Pontus Kåmark, football player
- Nicklas Lidström, Ice hockey player
- Pandora, singer
- Stefan Pettersson, football player
- Promoe, rapper (member of Looptroop)
- Psychopunch, Rockband
- Pugh Rogefeldt, musician
- Linda Rosing, singer, politician, model
- Jonny Rödlund, football player
- Tommy Salo, icehockey player
- Bobo Stenson, jazz pianist
- Gary Sundgren, football player
- Esbjörn Svensson, jazz pianist
- Tomas Tranströmer, poet
- Mai Zetterling, actress
- Mattias Andréasson, Singer and member in E.M.D
- Lars Ekborg, Comedian
Travel
- Stockholm-Västerås Airport
See also
- Power Big Meet
- Bandy World Championship 2009
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Västerås is twinned with:
Lahti, Finland 1940
Randers, Denmark 1947
Ålesund, Norway 1947
Akureyri, Iceland 1953
České Budějovice, Czech Republic 1964
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1969
Kassel, Germany 1972
Phenix City, USA
References
- Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005" (in Swedish) (xls). Statistics Sweden. http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%c3%a4torternami0810tab1.xls. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
External links
- Västerås Official website
- Local portal for Västerås, articles, pictures etc
- Westeraas, Ancient See of - Article in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Pictures from Anundshög, Västerås, Sweden; www.remains.se
- Bäckby-Skälby.se
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Västerås is one of 133 places with the historical city status in Sweden. |
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