Majorna (district)

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Majorna is a residential area in Gothenburg, Sweden. It is a part of the borough of the same name. It is located west of the city centre at the southern shore of Göta älv.

Majorna is an old area, originating from the times of Älvsborg castle before the foundation of Gothenburg in 1621 (see Älvsborg Fortress). After the foundation of the city of Gothenburg, Majorna housed wharfs and other harbour-related business. It became a part of the city in 1868.

The buildings significant of Majorna is the three stories high buildings where the first store is in stone and the topmost two are built of wood (in Swedish "Landshövdingehus"). Almost all of Majorna had this kind of building in the first half of the 20th century. It was the homes of the fast growing working class population in the industrial city of Gothenburg. A large number of the buildings still stands but in some areas they have been replaced by others. The tops of the hills were not built until the mid 20th century with exception for some shacks, there are mostly buildings from the 1960s and 1970s, some of them in a rather brutalistic style.

Majorna is one of the gentrifying areas of Gothenburg just outside the city center.

[edit] Renowned Majorna residents

• Jeff Campbell - Canadian software QA pioneer.