Stockholm County

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Stockholm
Stockholms län
County of Sweden

Coat of arms

 
Coordinates: 59°20′N 18°10′E / 59.333°N 18.167°E / 59.333; 18.167Coordinates: 59°20′N 18°10′E / 59.333°N 18.167°E / 59.333; 18.167
Country Sweden
Formed 1714
Capital Stockholm
Government
  Governor Chris Heister
  Council Stockholm County Council
Area
  Total 6,519.3 km2 (2,517.1 sq mi)
Population (March 31, 2011)[1]
  Total 2,084,526
  Density 320/km2 (830/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code SE-AB
GDP/ Nominal SEK 669,900 million (2004)
GDP per capita SEK 482,500 (2010)
NUTS Region SE110
Website www.lansstyrelsen.se

Stockholm County (Stockholms län) is a county or län (in Swedish) on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland (Roslagen) and Södermanland (Södertörn). More than one fifth of the Swedish population lives in the county. Stockholm County is also one of the statistical riksområden (national areas) according to NUTS:SE, Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics within the EU. With more than two million inhabitants, Stockholm is the most densely populated county of Sweden.

History

For History, Geography and Culture see also: Uppland, Södermanland, Roslagen, Södertörn, and Metropolitan Stockholm

The Stockholm County was established in 1714. The City of Stockholm constituted its own administrative entity under the Over-Governor of Stockholm, and was not a part of Stockholm County. The City of Stockholm, yet outside the Stockholm County, was the seat of the last mentioned county.

On 1 January 1968, the Stockholm County was united with the City of Stockholm. At the same time, the borders were redrawn in other directions too; Upplands-Bro Municipality was transferred from Uppsala County and a large part of the modern day Östhammar Municipality was transferred to Uppsala County.

Heraldry

Arms granted in 1968. The arms for the County of Stockholm is a combination of the arms of Uppland, Södermanland and the City of Stockholm. When it is shown with a royal crown it represents the County Administrative Board.

Municipalities

Localities by population (2010)

Pos Locality Population
1 Stockholm 1,372,565
2 Södertälje 64,619
3 Täby 61,272
4 Tumba 37,852
5 Upplands-Väsby 37,594
6 Vallentuna 29,519
7 Åkersberga 28,033
8 Märsta 24,068
9 Boo 24,052
10 Norrtälje 17,275
11 Västerhaninge 15,134
12 Nynäshamn 13,510
13 Gustavsberg 11,333
14 Ekerö 10,907
15 Jordbro 10,291
16 Älta 9,989

[2]

County Administrative Board

Prior to 1968 the County of Stockholm did not include the City of Stockholm. The City was instead under the Over-Governor's Office, and the County included the surrounding countryside. The County had its separate Governor of Stockholm County.

The main aim of the County Administrative Board is to fulfil the goals set 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. The County Administrative Board is a Government Agency headed by a Governor.

See List of Stockholm Governors.

County officials
Governor Chris Heister 1 February 2012
Deputy Governor Bo Hansson 1 January 2002
Commissioner of Finance Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd 12 February 2008
Police Commissioner Carin Götblad 5 May 2003
President of the County Council Inger Linge 7 November 2006

County Council

Stockholm county council (Stockholms läns landsting) is the County Council of Stockholm County in Sweden. Its main responsibilities are for the public healthcare system and public transport.

The County Council has 149 members elected by proportional representation through elections held in conjunction with the general elections every four years. The County Council itself elects the county's executive committee.

The president of the committee also holds the title Commissioner of Finance. The current commissioner is Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd, of the Moderate Party. The members of the executive committee (landstingsstyrelsen) represent both the political majority and the opposition, with responsibility for implementing policies approved by the County Council.

Elections

Stockholm County contains two multi-seat constituencies for county council elections, the Stockholm Municipality makes up the first constituency while the second makes up the rest of the county.

The council election results for 2010:

Party Seats
Moderate Party 57
Liberal Party 15
Christian Democratic Party 7
Centre Party 6
Social Democrats 39
Leftist Party 10
Environmental Party 15
Total 149

Election results for 2006:

Party Seats
Moderate Party 55
Liberal Party 16
Christian Democratic Party 9
Centre Party 6
Social Democrats 43
Leftist Party 10
Environmental Party 10
Total 149

Election results for 2002:

Party Seats
Social Democrats 54
Moderate Party 37
Liberal Party 26
Christian Democratic Party 11
Leftist Party 14
Environmental Party 7
Total 149

Hospitals

The county council operates most of the hospitals in the county, some of the major facilities are:

Public transport

The county council is responsible for the public transport in Stockholm. The main organizer of the transportation system is two corporations owned by the county. Storstockholms Lokaltrafik, SL, handles the bus, tram and train services while the boat traffic is handled by Waxholmsbolaget. The operation and maintenance of the public transport systems is delegated by the companies to several contractors.

The county is also responsible for paratransit services and Närtrafiken, a number of share taxi routes.

Culture and education

The county council operates, besides the health and transportation services, the Stockholm County Museum, and two education institutions; Berga and Säbyholm Agricultural High Schools.

Law enforcement

Stockholm County constitutes the area of jurisdiction to the Stockholm County Police Department(Polismyndigheten i Stockholms Län), which is a division of the Swedish Police Service. The police department is headed by a County Police Commissioner.

The principal agency for the police department is the Stockholm County Police Authority (Polisstyrelsen i Stockholms Län), a government-appointed body consisting of local councillors from the county, and the Commissioner.

References and notes

See also

External links

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