Gothenburg Municipality
Encyclopedia
Gothenburg Municipality (Göteborgs kommun or Göteborgs stad) is a municipality
in Västra Götaland County
in western Sweden
. Its seat is located in the city of Gothenburg
.
The major part of the Gothenburg urban area
(Göteborgs tätort) is situated within the municipality, but there are also some other localities as well as rural areas.
When the first Swedish local government acts were implemented in 1863 the City of Gothenburg, founded and chartered in 1621, became a city municipality with an elected city council
(stadsfullmäktige). Its territory has since then been added through amalgamations
in 1868, 1906, 1922, 1931, 1945, 1948, 1967 and 1974. The local government reform of 1971 made the city a unitary municipality, like all others in the country. The municipality prefers, however, to style itself Göteborgs stad (City of Göteborg), whenever legally possible.
The municipal executive committee (kommunstyrelsen) has 13 members, representing the six parties from the two major political coalitions who have seats in the assembly.
The chairman of the municipal assembly is Rolf Lindén and the chairman of the municipal executive committee (sometimes titled mayor
) is Anneli Hulthén
from the Social Democratic Party.
s, which they really are not. In 2009 the two district boards of Frölunda and Högsbo were joined together. It has been decided that from the start of 2011 many more will be joined together leaving 10 new district boards.
The boards carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure, and cultural services within their respective areas. In the election
of 1998 three boroughs (Askim
, Torslanda
and Älvsborg
) held local referendum
s on forming their own municipalities, but their petitions were rejected by the government of Sweden
.
Boroughs:
} Bergen, Norway
} Turku
, Finland
} Aarhus Municipality
, Denmark
} Shanghai
, China
} Port Elizabeth, South Africa
} Lyon
, France
The cooperation with the South African city of Port Elizabeth (established in 1998) is a partnership fostering development of common fields of interest such as solid waste management, public libraries, sport and tourism.
} Chicago
, United States
(since 1987)
} Kraków
, Poland
} Saint Petersburg
, Russia
} Tallinn
, Estonia
} Rostock
, Germany
} Oslo
, Norway
Municipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
in 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...
in western 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 Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
.
The major part of the Gothenburg urban area
Gothenburg urban area
Gothenburg urban area is the second largest of the 1,940 localities or urban areas in Sweden. As such it has no administrative or political significance, but is a geographical and statistical entity...
(Göteborgs tätort) is situated within the municipality, but there are also some other localities as well as rural areas.
When the first Swedish local government acts were implemented in 1863 the City of Gothenburg, founded and chartered in 1621, became a city municipality with an elected city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
(stadsfullmäktige). Its territory has since then been added through amalgamations
Amalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
in 1868, 1906, 1922, 1931, 1945, 1948, 1967 and 1974. The local government reform of 1971 made the city a unitary municipality, like all others in the country. The municipality prefers, however, to style itself Göteborgs stad (City of Göteborg), whenever legally possible.
Localities
- BilldalBilldalBilldal is a bimunicipal locality situated in Kungsbacka Municipality, Halland County, and Gothenburg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, in Sweden. It had 9,609 inhabitants in 2005. It mainly consists of villas and terraced houses, grouped along a windling coastline with many islands.-...
(part of) - BrännöBrännöBrännö is an island in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 698 inhabitants in 2005...
- DonsöDonsöDonsö is a small island in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,405 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
- GothenburgGothenburg urban areaGothenburg urban area is the second largest of the 1,940 localities or urban areas in Sweden. As such it has no administrative or political significance, but is a geographical and statistical entity...
(seat) - HjuvikHjuvikHjuvik is a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 3,754 inhabitants in 2005....
- NolvikNolvikNolvik is a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 987 inhabitants in 2005....
- OlofstorpOlofstorpOlofstorp is a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 2,783 inhabitants in 2005. There is an annual event held at the local farmyard, this event is called Bergumsdagen . There are currently two schools in Olofstorp; Bergumsskolan and Björsaredsskolan....
- StyrsöStyrsöStyrsö is a small island and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,331 inhabitants in 2005.It lies in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago of Sweden with about 1,400 inhabitants. Regular ferries connect the island to Gothenburg and a bridge links Styrsö...
- SäveSäveSäve is a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 774 inhabitants in 2005.The origin of the name Säve is the Old Swedish word "sjöe" , meaning "lake".-See also:* F 9 Säve military airbase...
- TorslandaTorslandaTorslanda is an urban district and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 10,129 inhabitants in 2005.-The Volvo Torslanda Plant:...
- VrångöVrångöVrångö is the southernmost inhabited island in the Southern Göteborg Archipelago and it is also a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 379 inhabitants in 2005. A ferry to Vrångö can be taken from Saltholmen....
Politics and government
The municipality has a municipal assembly (kommunfullmäktige), consisting of 81 members, elected for four years. There are eight political parties represented in the council elected in 2010:- Socialdemokraterna (Social Democratic PartySwedish Social Democratic PartyThe Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party, , contesting elections as 'the Workers' Party – the Social Democrats' , or sometimes referred to just as 'the Social Democrats' and most commonly as Sossarna ; is the oldest and largest political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1889...
), 25 - Moderaterna (Moderate PartyModerate PartyThe Moderate Party is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1904 as the General Electoral League by a group of conservatives in the Swedish parliament...
), 23 - Miljöpartiet (Green PartyGreen Party (Sweden)-External links:**...
), 9 - Folkpartiet (Liberal People's PartyLiberal People's Party (Sweden)The Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006...
), 7 - Vänsterpariet (Left PartyLeft Party (Sweden)The Left Party is a socialist and feminist political party in Sweden, from 1967 to 1990 known as the Left Party – The Communists .On welfare issues, the party opposes privatizations...
), 7 - Vägvalet, 5
- Sverigedemokraterna (Sweden DemocratsSweden DemocratsThe Sweden Democrats is a political party in Sweden, founded in 1988. SD describes itself as a nationalist movement although others use the term far-right. Since 2005, its party chairman is Jimmie Åkesson, while Björn Söder is the party secretary and parliamentary group leader. An Anemone...
), 3 - Kristdemokraterna (Christian DemocratsChristian Democrats (Sweden)The Christian Democrats ) is a political party in Sweden. The party was founded in 1964 but did not enter parliament until 1985 in an electoral cooperation with the Centre Party and on the Christian Democrats' own accord in 1991. The leader since April 3, 2004 is Göran Hägglund. He succeeded Alf...
), 2
The municipal executive committee (kommunstyrelsen) has 13 members, representing the six parties from the two major political coalitions who have seats in the assembly.
The chairman of the municipal assembly is Rolf Lindén and the chairman of the municipal executive committee (sometimes titled mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
) is Anneli Hulthén
Anneli Hulthén
Anneli Maria Hulthén is a Swedish Social Democratic Party politician. She is currently the chairman of the Gothenburg Municipality executive board....
from the Social Democratic Party.
Boroughs
In 1990 the municipality was subdivided into 21 stadsdelsnämnder (district boards), sometimes translated to boroughBorough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
s, which they really are not. In 2009 the two district boards of Frölunda and Högsbo were joined together. It has been decided that from the start of 2011 many more will be joined together leaving 10 new district boards.
The boards carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure, and cultural services within their respective areas. In the election
Elections in Sweden
Elections in the Kingdom of Sweden are held every four years, and determine the makeup of the legislative bodies on the three levels of administrative division in the country. At the highest level, these elections determine the allocation of seats in the Riksdag, the national legislative body of...
of 1998 three boroughs (Askim
Askim, Sweden
Askim is a district of the Gothenburg Municipality in Sweden, about south of the city centre. To the northwest of Askim is Västra Frölunda, to the east is Mölndal, and the sea is to the west....
, Torslanda
Torslanda
Torslanda is an urban district and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 10,129 inhabitants in 2005.-The Volvo Torslanda Plant:...
and Älvsborg
Älvsborg
Älvsborg is the name of a geographical region in Sweden, which can refer to:*Älvsborg, Gothenburg, one of 21 boroughs of Gothenburg, Sweden.*Älvsborg County, a former county of Sweden*Älvsborg Fortress, a sea fortress at Gothenburg...
) held local referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
s on forming their own municipalities, but their petitions were rejected by the government of Sweden
Government of Sweden
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden is the supreme executive authority of Sweden. It consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. The Government is responsible for their actions to the Riksdag, which is the legislative assembly...
.
Boroughs:
|
|
|
International cooperation
- Twin townTown twinningTwin 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 :...
s:
} Bergen, 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...
} Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
} Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality, also commonly known by its Danish spelling Århus Municipality, is a municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 307.000...
, 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...
- Partner cities:
} Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
} Port Elizabeth, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
} Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
The cooperation with the South African city of Port Elizabeth (established in 1998) is a partnership fostering development of common fields of interest such as solid waste management, public libraries, sport and tourism.
- Sister cities:
} Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(since 1987)
} Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
} Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
} Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
} Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- Regional:
} Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, 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...