Överkalix Municipality

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Överkalix kommun
County Norrbotten County
Province Norrbotten
Seat Överkalix
Area
 • Total area
 • Land area		 32nd of 290
2,791 km²
Population
 • Total
 283rd of 290
3,933 inhabitants
Density
 • Total
1.4 inhabitants/km²
Website
Population as of 2005

Överkalix Municipality (Överkalix kommun) is a municipality in Norrbotten County, northern Sweden. Its seat is in Överkalix.

In 1870 a part of "old" Överkalix was detached from it, forming a municipality called Korpilombolo (now in Pajala Municipality). The municipality was not affected by the two subdivision reforms of the 20th century.

Contents

[edit] Localities

Populated places with poulation figures 2005

  • Svartbyn 281
  • Tallvik 444
  • Vännåsberget 207
  • Övekalix (seat) 946

[edit] Language

Due to its proximity to Finland, Finnish is a recognized official minority language in the municipality and most names have a Finn counterpart.

The local Swedish dialect is known as the Överkalixmål, the Överkalix language. [1].

[edit] Geography

Överkalix is situated along the south-going Kalix River. The unmodified scenic nature along the river attracts tourists and sport fishers every year. Within municipal borders one also finds two of the river's most powerful waterfalls: Jockfall (9 meters fall) and Linafall (16 meters fall).

The area otherwise contains much coniferous forests.

Continuing north along the Kalix River further up in Sweden one finds the iron ore mines. Travelling south towards the coast one finds larger towns, with Luleå and its with 45,000 inhabitants being the closest, located 100 kilometers south. Transportation is reliable thanks to the E10 highway. [2]

The coat of arms was designed in 1944 and based on the arms of the parish. Its exact meaning of the bear is not known, but many northern arms feature bears, reindeer or other animals. [3]

[edit] Industry

The municipality is the largest employer with around 430 employees. Thereafter follows Isolamin AB, a company making wall-, ceiling and floor elements, with 110. Other sectors:

  • Service companies total of 150 employees
  • Forest and land companies have a total of 45 employees
  • Truckers and bus companies a total of 35 employees
  • Manufacturing companies 20 employees

Traditionally the industry was dominated by forest industries, but this has decreased since the 1960s. It is estimated that the service sector will continue to expand and be the dominating sector some day. Many of those companies are in the field of computers and telecommunication. [4]

Villages include: Alsån, Boheden, Gyljen, Hedensbyn, Jockfall, Lansjärv, Lomträsk, Norra Tallvik and Nybyn. [5] [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ ullahansson.com: Överkalixmålet (in Swedish)
  2. ^ Official home page of Överkalix (in Swedish)
  3. ^ Project Runeberg/Nordisk Familjebok: Öfverkalix (in Swedish)
  4. ^ Isolamin AB
  5. ^ [http://www.regionfakta.com/dynamiskPresentation.aspx?id=3524 regionfakta.com: Tätorter i kommunen 1995-2005] (in Swedish)
  6. ^ sw.wikipedia: Överkalix kommun

[edit] External links

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Municipalities of Norrbotten County
Älvsbyn · Arjeplog · Arvidsjaur · Boden · Gällivare · Haparanda · Jokkmokk · Kalix · Kiruna · Luleå · Överkalix · Övertorneå · Pajala · Piteå
Counties of Sweden · Sweden
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Localities in Överkalix Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden
Localities:
Svartbyn  · Tallvik  · Vännäsberget  · Överkalix (seat)