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Counties of Sweden

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Template:ForTemplate:ForTemplate:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox subdivision type Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists Template:Sidebar The counties of Sweden (Template:Langx) are the first-level administrative subdivisions of Sweden. There are twenty-one counties; however, the number of counties has varied over time, due to territorial changes and to divisions or mergers of existing counties.

They are not regarded as geographical areas by Swedes as they are not connected to dialects or identity, which is a role fulfilled by the historical provinces of Sweden (Template:Langx). This level of administrative unit was first established in the 1634 Instrument of Government on Lord Chancellor Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, and superseded the landskap, in order to introduce a more efficient administration of the realm. At that time, they were what the translation of län into English literally means: fiefdoms. The county borders often follow the provincial borders, but the Crown often chose to make slight relocations to suit its purposes.

In every county there is a county administrative board (länsstyrelse) headed by a governor (landshövding), appointed by the government, as well as a separate regional council (region). In the county of Gotland however, the county's only municipality has adopted regional responsibilities. The aims of the county administrative board are to supervise local state administration (that is not otherwise assigned to other government agencies), and to coordinate political goals with the central government. The regional council is the elected regional political assembly that oversees the municipal affairs of the county, primarily in regard to public healthcare, public transport, and culture.

Beginning in the 2000s, many major government agencies have reorganised from a county-based subdivisional structure into larger geographical or functional areas. This include the Swedish Tax Agency (1 January 2004), the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (1 January 2005), the Swedish Public Employment Service (1 January 2008), and the Swedish Police Authority (1 January 2015).

List of countiesEdit

ISO NUTS CoA County (Län) Administrative centre Governor Area Population
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Density
km2 sq mi per km2 per sq mi
SE-AB url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Stockholm län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Stockholm Stockholm Claes Lindgren (acting) Template:Convert 2,415,139 Template:Convert
SE-C url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Uppland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Uppsala Uppsala Stefan Attefall Template:Convert 395,026 Template:Convert
SE-D url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Södermanland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Södermanland Nyköping Beatrice Ask Template:Convert 301,801 Template:Convert
SE-E url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Östergötland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Östergötland Linköping Template:Interlanguage link Template:Convert 469,704 Template:Convert
SE-F url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Jönköping län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Jönköping Jönköping Brittis Benzler Template:Convert 367,064 Template:Convert
SE-G url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Kronoberg vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Kronoberg Växjö Maria Arnholm Template:Convert 203,340 Template:Convert
SE-H url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Kalmar län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Kalmar Kalmar Allan Widman Template:Convert 247,175 Template:Convert
SE-I url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Gotland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Gotland Visby Anders Flanking Template:Convert 61,001 Template:Convert
SE-K url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Blekinge vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Blekinge Karlskrona Ulrica Messing Template:Convert 158,937 Template:Convert
SE-M url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Skåne län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Skåne Malmö, Kristianstad Anneli Hulthén Template:Convert 1,402,425 Template:Convert
SE-N url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Halland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Halland Halmstad Anders Thornberg Template:Convert 340,243 Template:Convert
SE-O url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Västra Götaland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Västra Götaland Gothenburg, Vänersborg Sten Tolgfors Template:Convert 1,744,859 Template:Convert
SE-S url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Värmland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Värmland Karlstad Template:Ill Template:Convert 283,196 Template:Convert
SE-T url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Örebro län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Örebro Örebro Lena Rådström Baastad Template:Convert 306,792 Template:Convert
SE-U url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Västmanland vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Västmanland Västerås Template:Interlanguage link Template:Convert 278,967 Template:Convert
SE-W url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Dalarna vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Dalarna Falun Helena Höij Template:Convert 288,387 Template:Convert
SE-X url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Gävleborg län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Gävleborg Gävle Veronica Lauritzsen (acting) Template:Convert 287,767 Template:Convert
SE-Y url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Västernorrland län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Västernorrland Härnösand Carin Jämtin Template:Convert 244,193 Template:Convert
SE-Z url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Jämtland län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Jämtland Östersund Template:Interlanguage link Template:Convert 132,054 Template:Convert
SE-AC url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Västerbotten län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Västerbotten Umeå Helene Hellmark Knutsson Template:Convert 274,563 Template:Convert
SE-BD url}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:URL with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y | 1 | 2 }} File:Norrbotten län vapen.svg Template:Flagicon image Norrbotten Luleå Template:Interlanguage link Template:Convert 249,693 Template:Convert

MapEdit

With county codes, which were official until 1974. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

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File:SverigesLän2007mKod.svg
Counties of Sweden

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File:Sweden provinces and counties overlayed.svg
Comparison with the provinces of Sweden
Bold lines represent county borders, colors represent provinces.

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Each county region contains a number of municipalities ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), the existence of which is partly at the discretion of the central government. Since 2004 their number has been 290, thus an average of 13.8 municipalities per county.

Until 1968, the City of Stockholm had its own "county code" A, which is still used interchangeably with AB in some contexts, and County of Stockholm had county code B. L was for Kristianstad County and M was for Malmöhus County but since they were merged to form Skåne County, M is usually used. O used to stand for Gothenburg and Bohus County but has been used for Västra Götaland County since it was merged with Skaraborg County (R) and Älvsborg County (P).

HistoryEdit

Older subdivisionsEdit

Sweden's provinces, or landskap, and the "lands", or landsdelar, lack political importance today but are common denominations culturally and historically. The provinces had their own laws and justice systems and could have large cultural and religious differences. The province of Småland (literally small land) historically was several provinces with its own laws. Here burial tradition in the era before the Viking Age could differ significantly from province to province. The province of Norrbotten is a relatively recent creation; it was part of Västerbotten which extended all the way to Österbotten in today's Finland before 1809. Finnish and Swedish Lapland formed a single province until 1809.

Historically, the provinces were grouped in three lands: Götaland, being southern and western Sweden; Svealand being eastern and south-eastern, and Norrland being the entire northern half. The names of the first two refer to ancient tribes, and the third is a geographical reference. They are still commonly used as geographical references. The boundaries have changed over time, with the most significant in 1658 (the cession of provinces from Denmark-Norway to Sweden) and 1812 (due to the loss of Finland to Russia in 1809). In 1812, some provinces were moved from Götaland to Svealand.

FinlandEdit

After the Finnish War, Sweden was forced to cede the counties in Finland to Russia following the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in (1809). However, the counties were upheld in Finland until a reform in 1997. They are still in use in Sweden, 370 years later.

The counties in Finland established in 1634 were: Turku and Pori County, Nyland and Tavastehus County, Viborg and Nyslott County, Ostrobothnia County and Kexholm County. Over time the number of subdivisions in Finland increased to twelve, until a reorganization in 1997 reduced their number to six provinces, while keeping the administrative model intact. The counties in Finland were abolished in 2010.

Abolished countiesEdit

Abolished counties in current-day Sweden proper were:

Counties in Swedish-ruled Finland were:

Proposed regionsEdit

File:SWE-Regioner.svg
Six or nine new administrative regions.

Under the aegis of the Swedish government, Ansvarskommittén has been investigating the possibilities of merging the current 21 counties into 6 to 9 larger regions. These proposals are from their final report, delivered in 2007:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

  1. Norra Sverige: Norrbotten County + Västerbotten County + Jämtland County + Västernorrland County + Nordanstig and Hudiksvall
  2. Bergslagen: the rest of Gävleborg County + Dalarna County + Örebro County + Värmland County
  3. Mälardalen: Stockholm County + Uppsala County + Södermanland County + Västmanland County + Gotland County
  4. Västra Götaland: Västra Götaland County + Halland County
  5. Östra Götaland: Östergötland County + Jönköping County + Kronoberg County + Kalmar County
  6. Södra Götaland: Skåne County + Blekinge County

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  1. Norra Sverige: Norrbotten County + Västerbotten County + Örnsköldsvik
  2. Mellannorrland: Jämtland County + Västernorrland County (except Örnsköldsvik) + Nordanstig and Hudiksvall
  3. Dalarna-Gävleborg: Dalarna County + Gävleborg County (except Nordanstig and Hudiksvall)
  4. Västra Svealand: Värmland County + Örebro County
  5. Mälardalen: Stockholm County + Uppsala County + Södermanland County + Västmanland County + Gotland County
  6. Västra Götaland: Västra Götaland County + Halland County
  7. Östergötland: Östergötland County + Västervik
  8. Småland: Jönköping County + Kronoberg County + Kalmar County (except Västervik)
  9. Södra Götaland: Skåne County + Blekinge County

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A model for this comes from the merger of some counties into Skåne County and Västra Götaland County in 1997 and 1998, respectively, which is now considered a success.

The counties are discussing the proposal. An obstacle is that Stockholm County does not want to merge with any other county, while its neighbours want to merge with Stockholm. After this discussion the following proposal has in 2016 emerged:

  1. Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland county
  2. Dalarna, Gävleborgs, Södermanlands, Uppsala, Västmanland and Örebro county
  3. Östergötland, Jönköping, Kalmar and Kronoberg county
  4. Gotland and Stockholm county
  5. Halland, Värmland and Västra Götaland county
  6. Blekinge and Skåne county

The main difference is that the proposed Bergslagen is divided to other counties, and Stockholm is on its own (plus the small Gotland which has air connections to Stockholm)

RiksområdenEdit

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File:Sweden nuts2.png
Current statistical regions (riksområden).

The counties in Sweden correspond to the third level of division in the European Union's system of Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics. For the purpose of creating regions corresponding to the second level, counties have been grouped into eight Riksområden, or National Areas: Stockholm, East Middle Sweden, North Middle Sweden, Middle Norrland, Upper Norrland, Småland and the islands, West Sweden and South Sweden.

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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{{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Sweden topics Template:Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries

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