Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna

Aerial photo of Eskilstuna in 2004.
Eskilstuna
Eskilstuna
Coordinates: 59°21′59″N 16°30′30″E / 59.36639°N 16.50833°E / 59.36639; 16.50833Coordinates: 59°21′59″N 16°30′30″E / 59.36639°N 16.50833°E / 59.36639; 16.50833
Country  Sweden
Province Södermanland
County Södermanland County
Municipality Eskilstuna Municipality
Founded 1659
Area[1]
 • Total 31.05 km2 (11.99 sq mi)
Elevation 26 m (85 ft)
Population (2015)[1]
 • Total 67 359
 • Density 2,083/km2 (5,390/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 630 03 to 638 21
Area code(s) (+46) 16
Website Official website

Eskilstuna (Swedish pronunciation: [²ɛskɪlsˌtʉːna]) is a city and the seat of Eskilstuna Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden. The city of Eskilstuna had 67 359 inhabitants in 2015, with a total municipal population of 100,092 inhabitants in Eskilstuna municipality (2014).[1] Eskilstuna has a large Sweden Finn population.[2] The town is located on the River Eskilstunaån, which connects Lake Hjälmaren and Lake Mälaren.

History

Klosters church of Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna's history dates back to medieval times when English monk Saint Eskil made "Tuna" his base and diocese of the South coast of Lake Mälaren. Saint Eskil was stoned to death by the pagan vikings of neighbouring town Strängnäs, 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Eskilstuna, trying to convert them to Christianity. Saint Eskil was buried in his monastery church in Tuna. Later the pagan city of Strängnäs was Christianised and was given the privilege of becoming diocese of South Lake Mälaren. Later "Eskil" was added in to the word "Tuna". However, the town of Eskilstuna did not receive municipal privileges due to its proximity to the medieval city of Torshälla. The monastery of Saint Eskil was completely destroyed by Swedish king Gustav Vasa during the Protestant Reformation and was replaced with the royal castle of Eskilstuna House.

The city's first city privileges were granted in 1659, and its boundaries included Tunafors and the newly founded town of Karl Gustavs Stad ("City of Karl Gustav"), located on the west side of the river. Karl Gustavs Stad was built around the iron forges of master smith Reinhold Rademacher, encouraged by King Karl X Gustav. The first products of the forges were small arms and artillery.

Rademachersmedjorna

Karl Gustavs Stad was a free town from 1771, where manufacturers and craftsmen were allowed to establish tax-free workshops and factories. The town was merged with the rest of Eskilstuna in 1879.

The city grew enormously during the Industrial Revolution and became one of the most important industrial cities of Sweden, earning the nickname "Stålstaden" ("The City of Steel"). Aside from firearms, the city also produced cutlery, scissors, keys, machine tools and precision instruments. As a tribute to the steel industry, the figure of a steel worker is included in the city's coat of arms. Eskilstuna is sometimes called The Sheffield of Sweden, Sheffield being a (much larger) industrial city famous for the quality (and quantity) of the steel produced there. Both cities at their peak were home to numerous different companies involved in steel production.

Economy

Eskilstuna remains an important industrial city with internationally known companies such as Volvo Wheel loaders, main site for the heavy construction equipment division of Volvo, Assa (locks, keys), and Stainless steel manufacturer Outokumpu, Thin Strip Nyby in Torshälla.

Mälardalen University (Mälardalens högskola), founded in cooperation with the neighboring city of Västerås, has a campus in the city. The city also has a combined zoo and amusement park - Parken Zoo. Parken Zoo, owned and operated by the municipality, has been heavily criticized for its poor animal welfare.

The hospital, Mälarsjukhuset is one of the largest in the region, employing around 3000 people.

Climate

Climate data for Eskilstuna
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 19
(66)		 23
(73)		 27
(81)		 32
(90)		 35
(95)		 33
(91)		 27
(81)		 21
(70)		 15
(59)		 10
(50)		 35
(95)
Average high °C (°F) −2
(28)		 −1
(30)		 2
(36)		 10
(50)		 15
(59)		 20
(68)		 22
(72)		 19
(66)		 14
(57)		 8
(46)		 4
(39)		 −1
(30)		 10
(50)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4
(25)		 −3
(27)		 −1
(30)		 6
(43)		 10
(50)		 14
(57)		 18
(64)		 16
(61)		 11
(52)		 5
(41)		 2
(36)		 −3
(27)		 6
(43)
Average low °C (°F) −6
(21)		 −7
(19)		 −3
(27)		 3
(37)		 6
(43)		 10
(50)		 15
(59)		 13
(55)		 8
(46)		 3
(37)		 0
(32)		 −5
(23)		 4
(39)
Record low °C (°F) −37
(−35)		 −27
(−17)		 −20
(−4)		 −12
(10)		 −6
(21)		 −1
(30)		 5
(41)		 3
(37)		 −1
(30)		 −13
(9)		 −23
(−9)		 −30
(−22)		 −37
(−35)
Source #1: SMHI
Source #2: Swedish Wikipedia

Sport

The successful handball club GUIF remains in the top division. Eskilstuna is also home to EFK (Eskilstuna Flygklubb), Sweden's largest glider Flying Club which hosted the World Gliding Championships in 2006.

In eSports, Eskilstuna is home to CS:GO player Maikelele.

The stadium Tunavallen was a venue for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, hosting one match between Paraguay and Yugoslavia. It has also been used for several practice games for the Swedish National Youth Teams. Sports clubs using Tunavallen include Eskilstuna City FK and IFK Eskilstuna. Eskilstuna Södra FF are based at Skogsängens IP and BK Sport is based at Ekängen.

The 1988 World Armwrestling Federation World Championships were held in Eskilstuna during 10–11 December 1988.[3][4]

Transport

Eskilstuna is served by the Svealandsbanan railway line between Stockholm and Hallsberg. European route E20 passes the city. The city has an airport, 13 km (8 mi) east of the centre.

European Cooperation

Eskilstuna is a member city of Eurotowns network[5]

Other notable natives

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.rskl.se/Ruotsinsuomalaiset.html
  3. ↑ "1988 WAWF World Championships". Canadian Arm Wrestling Federation. December 1988. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "1988 WAWF World Championships". The Armwrestling Archives. December 1988. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Eurotowns".
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