Öregrund
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| Öregrund | |
  Öregrund
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Sweden |
| Municipality | Östhammar Municipality |
| County | Uppsala County |
| Province | Uppland |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 2.43 km² (0.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2005-12-31)[1] | |
| - Total | 1,552 |
| - Density | 638/km² (1,652.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Öregrund is a town (pop. 1,500) in Östhammar Municipality, Uppsala County in eastern Sweden. It is situated in Uppland, by the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Öregrund is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants a cities.
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[edit] History
The town was granted a royal charter in 1491, by request from citizens from nearby city of Östhammar. Östhammar had once been a coastal town, but due to land elevation its harbour had become useless. The royal council granted the request to construct a city at the end of the archipelago where the sea opened. It further proclaimed "the city shall forever by known as Öregrund". The small but expanding city soon became a point of conflict. In 1520 Christian II of Denmark conquered Stockholm. A young Gustav Eriksson tried to gather an army, and Öregrund became the port whereto ships with men and weapons were transported. As a countermeasure, the Danish King had the city burnt in the winter of 1520. And so, the citizens of Öregrund had to move back to Östhammar.
Not until 1555, when Gustav Eriksson had become King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa) and stabilized the nation, where the citizens granted to recontstruct the city.
Uppland underwent an industrial revolution in the 17th century, with the Swedish iron industry becoming the foundation of Sweden's status as a Great Power. Bar iron was exported through Öregrund. In England the best quality wrought iron was known as Oregrounds iron.
Fishing was basically the only industry through the centuries. The industrialization of the 19th century never got a stronghold of Öregrund; instead establishing themselves in the near Östhammar.
In the late 19th century a new industry prospered: the spas. People from outside bought up summer houses and made Öregrund their summerresidence. During this era several fine villas and gardens were built.
However, the summer residents led to decreased tax incomes for the city with economical troubles. In 1968 it was merged with the then city of Östhammar. Since the municipal reform of 1971 Öregrund is in Östhammar Municipality.
[edit] Modern times
The nave of Öregrund is still the harbour. In modern times it is mainly used for small boats. In the summer if flourishes due to small sailboats and other pleasure boat. Boats also arrive from Stockholm, taking a trip from the Stockholm Archipelago.
[edit] Sights
Öregrund is one of Uppland's best kept wooden cities and attracts many visitors. Apart for the wooden houses, there is also a noteworthy stone church in the town center, and a town hall from the midth 19th century.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005 (xls) (Swedish). Statistics Sweden. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
[edit] External links
- (Swedish) Allt om Öregrund (in swedish)
- (Swedish) article Öregrund from Nordisk familjebok (1922)
- (Swedish) Öregrund historia private webpage / Stig Sandelin (Summary in English: [1])
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Öregrund is one of 134 towns with the historical City status in Sweden. |
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