Uddevalla
Encyclopedia
Uddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality
, Västra Götaland County
, Sweden
with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.
It is located at the bay Byfjorden
, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak
. The beaches of Uddevalla are filled with seashells, and Uddevalla has one of the largest shellbanks in the world.
Uddevalla has a small port and once hosted a large shipyard called Uddevallavarvet, which in 1960 was the largest employer in Bohuslän
. But in the 1970s all shipyards in Sweden experienced a recession
which also led to the closure of Uddevallavarvet in 1985.
long before that. Historically Uddevalla was part of Norway
. Because of its location close to Sweden and Denmark
, it was often besieged. In 1612 it was burnt by Swedish troops under the command of Jesper Mattson Krus and in 1644 it was again burnt, by the Swedish commander Harald Stake. In 1658, at the treaty of Roskilde
, it was ceded to Sweden. A year later the Norwegians retook it, but in 1660 it was once again ceded to Sweden in the peace treaty of Copenhagen. Norway later repeatedly reconquered Uddevalla and the nearby fortress on Galleberg, the last time in 1788.
In the 18th and 19th century, Uddevalla's main importance lay in its herring
fishing. But what also marked the city were the great fires which several times damaged the city. Most notably in 1806, when the entire city, four houses spared, was burnt to the ground, and 4,000 people were made homeless.
In the 19th century, Uddevalla had trouble getting out of its recession and struggled with poverty and alcoholism. The reasons were mainly that the herring fishing had decreased, the canal of Trollhättan
opened, together with the after effects of the 1806 fire.
Sometime around 1870-1880, Uddevalla began to attract industries. Much of the development in that century can be attributed to the Scottish
businessman William Thorburn
, who is said to have been amazed by the city's beauty and hence settled there with his wife Jessy Macfie in 1822. He founded a number of industries, mostly textile in the beginning. Another factor contributing to Uddevalla's recovery was the railroad, Bohus Line.
At the time of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Uddevalla was one of twelve swedish cities to host the tournament. The matches were played at the Rimnersvallen stadium.
in Sweden, with 4000 students, divided as follows:
There are also many primary schools in Uddevalla, for example Äsperödskolan, Västerskolan, Fridaskolan, Ramnerödsskolan, Norgårdenskolan, Norrskolan, Sommarhemsskolan.
with: Thisted
, Denmark Skien
, Norway Loimaa
, Finland Mosfellsbær
, Iceland Okazaki
, Japan Irvine
,United Kingdom Jõhvi Parish
, Estonia
Uddevalla Municipality
Uddevalla Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Uddevalla....
, Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
, 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....
with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.
It is located at the bay Byfjorden
Byfjorden
Byfjorden is a fjord in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It separates the island of Askøy from the city of Bergen on the mainland. The western entrance to Byfjorden is between Drotningsvik in Laksevåg, Bergen, and Marikoven on Askøy...
, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
. The beaches of Uddevalla are filled with seashells, and Uddevalla has one of the largest shellbanks in the world.
Uddevalla has a small port and once hosted a large shipyard called Uddevallavarvet, which in 1960 was the largest employer in Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
. But in the 1970s all shipyards in Sweden experienced a recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
which also led to the closure of Uddevallavarvet in 1985.
History
Uddevalla got its city rights in 1498 but was probably a place of tradeTrade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
long before that. Historically Uddevalla was part of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Because of its location close to Sweden and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, it was often besieged. In 1612 it was burnt by Swedish troops under the command of Jesper Mattson Krus and in 1644 it was again burnt, by the Swedish commander Harald Stake. In 1658, at the treaty of Roskilde
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
, it was ceded to Sweden. A year later the Norwegians retook it, but in 1660 it was once again ceded to Sweden in the peace treaty of Copenhagen. Norway later repeatedly reconquered Uddevalla and the nearby fortress on Galleberg, the last time in 1788.
In the 18th and 19th century, Uddevalla's main importance lay in its herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
fishing. But what also marked the city were the great fires which several times damaged the city. Most notably in 1806, when the entire city, four houses spared, was burnt to the ground, and 4,000 people were made homeless.
In the 19th century, Uddevalla had trouble getting out of its recession and struggled with poverty and alcoholism. The reasons were mainly that the herring fishing had decreased, the canal of Trollhättan
Trollhättan
Trollhättan is a city and the seat of Trollhättan Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 44,498 inhabitants in 2005. It is located 75 km north of Sweden's second-largest city, Gothenburg....
opened, together with the after effects of the 1806 fire.
Sometime around 1870-1880, Uddevalla began to attract industries. Much of the development in that century can be attributed to the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
businessman William Thorburn
William Thorburn
Sir William Thorburn K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., F.R.C.S was an English surgeon and pioneer in modern spinal surgery. At the time of his death he was Emeritus Professor of Clinical Surgery at the University of Manchester....
, who is said to have been amazed by the city's beauty and hence settled there with his wife Jessy Macfie in 1822. He founded a number of industries, mostly textile in the beginning. Another factor contributing to Uddevalla's recovery was the railroad, Bohus Line.
At the time of the 1958 FIFA World Cup, Uddevalla was one of twelve swedish cities to host the tournament. The matches were played at the Rimnersvallen stadium.
Today
After the Swedish shipyard crisis in the 1980s, forcing the closure of Uddevallavarvet, Uddevalla suffered economic setback. The population has been steady, slowly increasing, over the last thirty years.Education
All the high schools in Uddevalla have been united under one name Uddevalla Gymnasieskola or High School of Uddevalla, which is now the largest high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Sweden, with 4000 students, divided as follows:
- Agneberg - Social studiesSocial studiesSocial studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
- Sinclair (High school)Sinclair (High School)Sinclair is a high school in the Swedish city of Uddevalla. The school carries four art-based educations; Music, Art, Dance and theatre; as well as a media education...
- ArtArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and Media studiesMedia studiesMedia studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass... - Östrabo 1 - Science studiesScience studiesScience studies is an interdisciplinary research area that seeks to situate scientific expertise in a broad social, historical, and philosophical context. It is concerned with the history of academic disciplines, the interrelationships between science and society, and the alleged covert purposes...
- Östrabo Y - Preparation for work in heavy industry.
- Margretegärde - Social studiesSocial studiesSocial studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
and Science studiesScience studiesScience studies is an interdisciplinary research area that seeks to situate scientific expertise in a broad social, historical, and philosophical context. It is concerned with the history of academic disciplines, the interrelationships between science and society, and the alleged covert purposes...
.
There are also many primary schools in Uddevalla, for example Äsperödskolan, Västerskolan, Fridaskolan, Ramnerödsskolan, Norgårdenskolan, Norrskolan, Sommarhemsskolan.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Uddevalla 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: Thisted
Thisted
Thisted is a town in Thisted municipality of Region Nordjylland, in Denmark. It has a population of 13,005 and is located in Thy, in northwestern Jutland....
, Denmark Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
, Norway Loimaa
Loimaa
Loimaa is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Finland Mosfellsbær
Mosfellsbær
Mosfellsbær is a town in south-west Iceland, situated some east of the country's capital, Reykjavík. It has a total area of and its population as of September, 2011 was 8,886....
, Iceland Okazaki
Okazaki, Aichi
is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
, Japan Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
,United Kingdom Jõhvi Parish
Jõhvi Parish
Jõhvi Parish is an Estonian municipality located in Ida-Viru County. It has a population of 13,174 and an area of 124 km² .-Settlements:Town:JõhviSmall borough:TammikuVillage:...
, Estonia
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Uddevalla:- IK OddevoldIK OddevoldIK Oddevold is a Swedish football club located in Uddevalla, the name "Oddevold" being an older form of Uddevalla. The club, formed on 3 July 1932, currently plays in Sweden's third-flight league, Division 1...
- IFK UddevallaIFK UddevallaIFK Uddevalla is a Swedish football club located in Uddevalla and played two seasons in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan, in 1925–26 and 1926–27.-Background:...
- IFK LaneIFK LaneIFK Lane is a Swedish football club located in Lane-Ryr, Uddevalla. -Background:IFK Lane currently plays in Division 4 Bohuslän/Dalsland which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Lanevallen in Lane-Ryr, Uddevalla....
External links
- article Uddevalla, from NF
- Uddevalla Gymnasieskola Official site for Uddevalla Gymnasieskola
- Official website of Uddevalla