Karlskoga Municipality
Encyclopedia
Karlskoga Municipality is a municipality
in Örebro County
in central Sweden
. Its seat is located in the city of Karlskoga
.
Karlskoga was formed as rural municipality when the first Swedish local government acts came into force in 1863. In 1925 the southern part was detached, forming Degerfors Municipality
. In 1940 the whole municipality, including its non-urban areas, got the title of a city. These titles were abolished in 1971.
.
Such areas have traditionally been financially poor. This led to a significant Swedish emigration to North America from the district in the latter half of the 19th century. Stockholm, Wisconsin
was for instance founded in 1854 by immigrants from Karlskoga.
s for bar iron were established. Most of these were still operating in the 1860s, but the dominating iron works was the one in nearby Bofors
. In 1871, Bofors produced 6,124 metric tons of iron
, more than any other plant in Sweden. In 1882, Karlskoga parish/municipality (socken) had 11,184 inhabitants.
was incorporated in 1873 and has since the 1880s been specializing in the lucrative manufacture of cannon
. Karlskoga has spent most of the 20th century as a growing company town to this cannon manufacturer. Only with the demilitarization in the most recent decades has this started to be a problem for the town. There were 8,500 workers in Bofors in 1980, but the number had decreased to 2,600 in 1998.
has for a long time been the most prominent sports team of the municipality. There is also a football team called KB Karlskoga Fotboll.
with:
Municipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
in Örebro County
Örebro County
Örebro County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders the counties of Västra Götaland, Värmland, Dalarna, Västmanland, Södermanland and Östergötland.- Province :...
in central Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Its seat is located in the city of Karlskoga
Karlskoga
Karlskoga is a locality and the seat of Karlskoga Municipality in Örebro County, Sweden with 27,500 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:It is located at the northern shore of lake Möckeln, and the small settlement was initially called Möckelns bodar...
.
Karlskoga was formed as rural municipality when the first Swedish local government acts came into force in 1863. In 1925 the southern part was detached, forming Degerfors Municipality
Degerfors Municipality
Degerfors Municipality is a municipality in Örebro County in central Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Degerfors....
. In 1940 the whole municipality, including its non-urban areas, got the title of a city. These titles were abolished in 1971.
Geography
Karlskoga is part of a traditionally forest and mountain covered region, in Örebro CountyÖrebro County
Örebro County is a county or län in central Sweden. It borders the counties of Västra Götaland, Värmland, Dalarna, Västmanland, Södermanland and Östergötland.- Province :...
.
Such areas have traditionally been financially poor. This led to a significant Swedish emigration to North America from the district in the latter half of the 19th century. Stockholm, Wisconsin
Stockholm, Wisconsin
Stockholm is a village in Pepin County, Wisconsin, United States, founded in 1854 by immigrants from Karlskoga, Sweden. The population was 97 at the 2000 census...
was for instance founded in 1854 by immigrants from Karlskoga.
History
For centuries, Karlskoga was a small forest and mining community, not a parish of its own. The parish was established in 1586 and a wooden church was built. In the 17th century fourteen small iron works and eight waterdriven hammerTrip hammer
A trip hammer, also known as a helve hammer, is a massive powered hammer used in:* agriculture to facilitate the labor of pounding, decorticating and polishing of grain;...
s for bar iron were established. Most of these were still operating in the 1860s, but the dominating iron works was the one in nearby Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
. In 1871, Bofors produced 6,124 metric tons of iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, more than any other plant in Sweden. In 1882, Karlskoga parish/municipality (socken) had 11,184 inhabitants.
Industry
BoforsBofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
was incorporated in 1873 and has since the 1880s been specializing in the lucrative manufacture of cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
. Karlskoga has spent most of the 20th century as a growing company town to this cannon manufacturer. Only with the demilitarization in the most recent decades has this started to be a problem for the town. There were 8,500 workers in Bofors in 1980, but the number had decreased to 2,600 in 1998.
Sports
The ice hockey team Bofors IKBofors IK
Bofors IK is an ice-hockey club from Karlskoga in Sweden. They are currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. In 1963, the club IFK Bofors was merged with Karlskoga IF and formed KB 63 , which since 1978 is known under the current name Bofors IK.-External links:*...
has for a long time been the most prominent sports team of the municipality. There is also a football team called KB Karlskoga Fotboll.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Karlskoga is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
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External links
- Karlskoga Municipality - Official site
- Bofors
- Nobel Museum