Karlshamn
Encyclopedia
Karlshamn is a locality and the seat of Karlshamn Municipality
in Blekinge County
, Sweden with 12,957 inhabitants of the city core and 30 918 in the municipality (2009).
Karlshamn received a Royal Charter
and city privileges in 1664, when King Charles X Gustav, in Swedish Karl, realized the strategic location near the Baltic Sea
. In 1666 the town was named Karlshamn, meaning Karl's Port in honour of the Swedish king.
" was a prosperous salmon fishery.
Sweden gained supremacy over the territory through the accord in Roskilde 1658. The king Charles X Gustav immediately inspected the coast and found here a tremendously beautiful and incomparable harbour. Fortifications designed by Erik Dahlberg
were erected on Boön 1659 and on Friesholmen 1675, called "Kastellet". Troops loyal to the Danish king attacked the town twice in 1676-78. The location attracted foreign merchants and in 1664 royal privileges were issued to establish a town named after the king, meaning "Karl's Port". The settlement expanded rapidly to count 647 citizens in the year 1700. Pestilence reduced the population in 1710. Industries based on agricultural and mineral products were established during the 18th century. A fire 1763 destroyed the northern part of the town, another fire ravaged in 1790. The intercontinental war of 1810 gave Karlshamn a rare possibility to trade goods and the citizens prospered. Punch, tobacco and snuff powder were produced in town. Craftmanship was common until circa 1880, when industrial production took over. The town had 6529 citizens 1883, the town plan covered 63 hectares and on 693 plots were buildings erected. The railway inaugurated 1874 connected Karlshamn to Vislanda
in the northern province. 1890 the coastal railroad was built. 1876 L.O. Smith established production of aquavit
in the town and built a new distillery in 1884 which was effective until 1893, whereafter it was converted to a sugar refinery. In 1912 was established production of vegetable oil in the old refinery, a still continuing operation under the label AAK. Stone cutting in granite quarries was a heavy export industry circa 1850–1940. In Mörrum
a paper mill was built in 1962. The port of Karlshamn has gradually since 1975 transferred its operations to the Stilleryd location west of town. 1965 was a new hospital building in operation.
into Ringamåla. An administrative reform in 1952 reduced the number of municipalities surrounding the town to Hällaryd
(Hällaryds plus Åryds municipalities), Asarum (reunition of Asarum and Ringamåla), Mörrum (municipalities Elleholm plus Mörrum). In 1/1 1967 the town of Karlshamn was united with Asarum, Hällaryd och Mörrum to form the present municipality.
The parishes are six:
Stade
in Germany, Sopot
in Poland and Heinola
in Finland.
In Karlshamn a branch of the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) was established in 2000. It focuses on digital media, digital games and transportion of goods.
Secondary Schools
The upper secondary school (grade 10 to 13) is Väggaskolan in Karlshamn. There are many primary schools (grade 0-9) in the boroughs.
Karlshamn is the port where Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson and their family departed for America in 1850 in the well-known historical novel The Emigrants
by Vilhelm Moberg
.
architects.
At Karlshamn, there is Stärnö Power Station with its three chimneys and the static inverter of HVDC SwePol
, the power cable to Poland.
archipelago and to the wooded hinterland. East of the city centre the famous Eriksbergs Viltpark is located. It is an old farmstead with surrounding land now host to a variety of native animals such as European Bison, Crown Deer, Moose and wild boar amongst others. Tourism peaks in June–August, when there is regular boat connection and accommodation service to islands like Tärnö
.
in Germany, Klaipėda
in Lithuania and S:t Petersburg in Russia.
Karlshamn Municipality
Karlshamn Municipality is a municipality in Blekinge County in southern Sweden. It borders to Olofström Municipality, Sölvesborg Municipality, Ronneby Municipality and Tingsryd Municipality...
in Blekinge County
Blekinge County
Blekinge County is a county or län in the south of Sweden. It borders the Counties of Skåne, Kronoberg, Kalmar and the Baltic Sea. The capital is Karlskrona...
, Sweden with 12,957 inhabitants of the city core and 30 918 in the municipality (2009).
Karlshamn received a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
and city privileges in 1664, when King Charles X Gustav, in Swedish Karl, realized the strategic location near the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. In 1666 the town was named Karlshamn, meaning Karl's Port in honour of the Swedish king.
History
Danish period
At the outlet of the stream "Mieån" was found a harbour and fishing village "Bodekull" and a farm "Bodetorp". In the lower parts of "MörrumsånMörrumsån
Mörrumsån is a river in Blekinge County and Kronoberg County, Sweden. It is roughly 185 km long, with its tributary in the lake Asnen, from which it flows south, into the Baltic Sea.-External links:*...
" was a prosperous salmon fishery.
Sweden gained supremacy over the territory through the accord in Roskilde 1658. The king Charles X Gustav immediately inspected the coast and found here a tremendously beautiful and incomparable harbour. Fortifications designed by Erik Dahlberg
Erik Dahlberg
Count Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh was a Swedish engineer, soldier, and field marshal, called the "Vauban of Sweden".- Life :...
were erected on Boön 1659 and on Friesholmen 1675, called "Kastellet". Troops loyal to the Danish king attacked the town twice in 1676-78. The location attracted foreign merchants and in 1664 royal privileges were issued to establish a town named after the king, meaning "Karl's Port". The settlement expanded rapidly to count 647 citizens in the year 1700. Pestilence reduced the population in 1710. Industries based on agricultural and mineral products were established during the 18th century. A fire 1763 destroyed the northern part of the town, another fire ravaged in 1790. The intercontinental war of 1810 gave Karlshamn a rare possibility to trade goods and the citizens prospered. Punch, tobacco and snuff powder were produced in town. Craftmanship was common until circa 1880, when industrial production took over. The town had 6529 citizens 1883, the town plan covered 63 hectares and on 693 plots were buildings erected. The railway inaugurated 1874 connected Karlshamn to Vislanda
Vislanda
Vislanda is a locality situated in Alvesta Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 1,773 inhabitants in 2005....
in the northern province. 1890 the coastal railroad was built. 1876 L.O. Smith established production of aquavit
Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit is a traditional flavoured spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century....
in the town and built a new distillery in 1884 which was effective until 1893, whereafter it was converted to a sugar refinery. In 1912 was established production of vegetable oil in the old refinery, a still continuing operation under the label AAK. Stone cutting in granite quarries was a heavy export industry circa 1850–1940. In Mörrum
Mörrum
Mörrum is the second largest locality situated in Karlshamn Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 3,655 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
a paper mill was built in 1962. The port of Karlshamn has gradually since 1975 transferred its operations to the Stilleryd location west of town. 1965 was a new hospital building in operation.
Administrative territory
1863 at the time of new municipal legislation in Sweden, the area was divided into the town Karlshamn and five boroughs. 1881 a further subdivision was made by AsarumAsarum
Asarum is a genus of plants in the birthwort family Aristolochiaceae, commonly known as Wild ginger.- Description :...
into Ringamåla. An administrative reform in 1952 reduced the number of municipalities surrounding the town to Hällaryd
Hällaryd
Hällaryd is a locality situated in Karlshamn Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 553 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated between Karlshamn and Ronneby, featuring the archipelago south of Matvik with Tärnö as its far out landmark....
(Hällaryds plus Åryds municipalities), Asarum (reunition of Asarum and Ringamåla), Mörrum (municipalities Elleholm plus Mörrum). In 1/1 1967 the town of Karlshamn was united with Asarum, Hällaryd och Mörrum to form the present municipality.
Demography
The municipality of Karlshamn has 30 959 registered inhabitants (SCB 31/12 2008) placing it 77th of 290 municipalities in Sweden. Population density is 63 inhabitants per km² (land area).Administrative division
Karlshamn municipality is one of five in the county of Blekinge and one of 290 in Sweden.Localities/Boroughs
The larger built-up areas are listed below:| # | Built-up area | Population 31/12 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karlshamn | 18 768 |
| 2 | Mörrum Mörrum Mörrum is the second largest locality situated in Karlshamn Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 3,655 inhabitants in 2005.- References :... |
3 655 |
| 3 | Svängsta | 1 742 |
| 4 | Hällaryd Hällaryd Hällaryd is a locality situated in Karlshamn Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 553 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated between Karlshamn and Ronneby, featuring the archipelago south of Matvik with Tärnö as its far out landmark.... |
553 |
| 5 | Åryd | 362 |
| 6 | Torarp | 273 |
The parishes are six:
- Asarums församling
- Hällaryds församling
- Karlshamns församling
- Mörrum-Elleholms församling
- Ringamåla församling
- Åryds församling
City Council
The city council has 51 seats and is directly elected every fourth year (latest 2010).Politics
The latest election resulted in 20 seats for the Social-democrats, thus being the largest party.Twinning
Karlshamn has three officially twinned towns:Stade
Stade
Stade is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany and part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region . It is the seat of the district named after it...
in Germany, Sopot
Sopot
Sopot is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000....
in Poland and Heinola
Heinola
Heinola is a town and a municipality of inhabitants located in the Province of Southern Finland. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.-History:...
in Finland.
Economy
The municipal tax is deducted as a percentage of individual citizens income. It is 21.89% 2009. The average personal income in the municipality was 158594 SEK year 2009. This is 96% of the national average (SCB). The council also derives income from the municipal harbour, the energy services etc.Education
UniversityIn Karlshamn a branch of the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) was established in 2000. It focuses on digital media, digital games and transportion of goods.
Secondary Schools
The upper secondary school (grade 10 to 13) is Väggaskolan in Karlshamn. There are many primary schools (grade 0-9) in the boroughs.
Performing arts
The theatre association is named "Teatersmedjan" and draws members from all ages, although the youth dominates. They have rehearsal and venues in a converted locomotive workshop called "Lokstallarna". This is also the venue for young musical bands. There are several vocal choirs. The most notable secular choirs are "Karlshamn Chamber Choir" and "ABF-kören". The parishes also have choirs. Classical music is performed by "Karlshamns musiksällskap". "Karlshamns musikkår" is a concert band of wind instruments marching through the city center regularly during the summer season. The jazz association "Munthe" invites musicians to play on restaurant "Gourmet Grön". A musical outdoor fair "Östersjöfestivalen" is held in the town centre the third week of July each summer. There is a municipal music school.Media
"Karlshamns Allehanda" is the name of the daily newspaper founded in the 19th century and since 2003 merged with the regional daily "Blekinge Läns Tidning", owned by "Gota media". The second newspaper covering the region is "Sydöstran". Radio and television has local agencies in the county main town Karlskrona.Karlshamn is the port where Karl Oskar and Kristina Nilsson and their family departed for America in 1850 in the well-known historical novel The Emigrants
The Emigrants
The Emigrants is a 1971 Swedish film directed by Jan Troell. It tells the story of a Swedish group who emigrate from Småland, Sweden to Minnesota, United States in the 19th century. The film follows the hardship of the group in Sweden and on the trip....
by Vilhelm Moberg
Vilhelm Moberg
Karl Artur Vilhelm Moberg was a Swedish author and historian, most commonly associated with his four novels known as The Emigrants Series.-Early life:...
.
Townplan and architecture
The settlement of Bodekull naturally took place on the flat area between the steep rocks east and west of town. The designer of the regular town plan for Karlshamn from 1666 is not known. This first map "Regulierung der Gassen in Bodekulla" shows 24 rectangular blocks of which one is open as a square. The main street "Drottninggatan" is parallel to the river and linear with the navigable inlet to the inner harbour. The grid expanded gradually during the 18th and 19th centuries. Later the town expanded over the meadows and hills to merge with the adjacent Asarum, a rural village north of town. Two old houses remain from the founding time at the square, one is "Asschierska huset" erected as town hall in 1682. The streets of the town was orderly lined with one-two storey buildings, generally a block was subdivided into ten lots on more posh streets and even smaller subdivisions in poorer parts of the town. The church was erected north of the square 1680–1702, the drawing being approved by Erik Dahlbergh. The separate belltower is from 1792. "Skottsbergska gården" is a courtyard shaped by a complete set of merchant buildings from 1766 open to visitors. During the early 19th century the merchants of the town experienced a boom which materialised in added storeys and more decorations on the facades. At the end of this century and the following years some public buildings were erected: the school at the southeast corner of the square inaugurated 1864, the girls school 1879 (now parish's meeting rooms) the navigation school 1863 (demolished), the hospital erected 1883 (now partly police post and music school) the Bodestorp folk school 1909, the "realskola" designed 1912-17 by architect Gunnar Asplund and his 1929 addition in modernist/"functionalist" style. 1900 the town hall eas erected south of the square replacing a wooden building. It was substantially expanded in 1990-95 by a series of additional buildings designed by Nyrénsarchitects.
Buildings and structures
Outside Karlshamn, in the village of Gungvala, you can find Gungvalamasten, a 335 metre tall guyed mast for FM- and TV-transmission. It is together with three other guyed masts, of same height, the tallest structure in Sweden.At Karlshamn, there is Stärnö Power Station with its three chimneys and the static inverter of HVDC SwePol
Swepol
SwePol is a -long monopolar high-voltage direct current submarine cable between the Stärnö peninsula near Karlshamn, Sweden, and Bruskowo Wielkie, near Słupsk, Poland....
, the power cable to Poland.
Tourism
Karlshamn attracts visitors to the salmon fisheries in "Mörrumsån", to the rocky coastline and the HällarydHällaryd
Hällaryd is a locality situated in Karlshamn Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 553 inhabitants in 2005. It is situated between Karlshamn and Ronneby, featuring the archipelago south of Matvik with Tärnö as its far out landmark....
archipelago and to the wooded hinterland. East of the city centre the famous Eriksbergs Viltpark is located. It is an old farmstead with surrounding land now host to a variety of native animals such as European Bison, Crown Deer, Moose and wild boar amongst others. Tourism peaks in June–August, when there is regular boat connection and accommodation service to islands like Tärnö
Tärnö
Tärnö is the largest and southernmost island in Hällaryd archipelago, in Blekinge's Karlshamn municipality.-Geography:The island measures 115.7 ha in surface.The island boasts forty homesteads, now nearly all in use as summer residences....
.
Sports
The following sports clubs are located in Karlshamn:- IFK KarlshamnIFK KarlshamnIFK Karlshamn is a Swedish football club located in Karlshamn. -Background:Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Karlshamn were formed on the 22nd July 1906. In addition to football other sports in the early years included athletics, swimming, rowing, shooting, tennis and gymnastics...
- Högadals ISHögadals ISHögadals IS is a Swedish football club located in Karlshamn.-Background:Högadals IS currently plays in Division 4 Blekinge which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. The club competed in the Allsvenskan for one season in 1962. They play their home matches at the Vägga IP in Karlshamn.The club is...
Transport
The bikepath network of Karlshamn is gradually expanding, connecting the localities Mörrum-Svängsta-Asarum-Karlshamn. The road network is mostly covered by tarmac. The European trunk road E22 transverses the municipality, and the national road 29 connects the port to the province Småland in the north. The railroad "Blekinge kustbana", electrified in 2006, connects the towns of the region with trains every hour. The port in Stilleryd is number six in Sweden as related to tonnes of cargo, is the largest and deepest in southeast Sweden and has a regular ferry service with KielKiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in Germany, Klaipėda
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
in Lithuania and S:t Petersburg in Russia.
Notable people from Karlshamn
- Christopher Schröder 1628–1699, mayor of Karlshamn
- Alice TegnérAlice TegnérAlice Charlotta Tegnér was a Swedish music teacher, poet and composer. She was recognized as a foremost composer of Swedish children's songs during the first half of the 20th century.-Background:...
1864–1943, songwriter - L.O. Smith 1836–1913, Industrialist
- Bengt BergBengt BergBengt Magnus Kristoffer Berg was a Swedish ornithologist, zoologist, wildlife photographer, and writer....
1885–1967, ornithologist, author, photographer - Curt Götlin 1900–1993, portrait photographer
- Git GayGit GayBirgit Carp , better known by her screen name Git Gay, was a Swedish revue director, actress, and singer.Git Gay was born Birgit Agda Holmberg in 1921 in Karlshamn, Sweden. Her parents wanted her to become a concerto pianist and sent her to the Music Conservatory in Malmö...
1921–2007, cabaret performer - Per RagnarPer RagnarPer Ragnar, Per-Erik Ragnar , is a Swedish actor, director and author.-Biography:Per Ragnar trained at Dramatens elevskola in 1962-65...
1941-, Actor - Leif "Leifing" 1942-, Life coach
- Per SvenssonPer SvenssonPer Svensson is a Swedish actor.Svensson studied at NAMA in Stockholm 1991–94. He belongs to the Royal Dramatic Theatre's solid ensemble.-Filmography:*Kenny Begins * 2007 – Ett gott parti...
1965-, actor - Ola LindholmOla LindholmOla Henrik Lindholm is a Swedish television personality from Karlshamn, Blekinge County. He has been the host of several popular television shows in Sweden, including Skrotslaget, Ola 21:30, Söndagsöppet, Riktig talkshow, Myror i brallan, Wild Kids, Glasklart, and Melodifestivalen 2004...
1970-, TV host - Johan PeterssonJohan PeterssonPär Johan Petersson is a Swedish handball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics and in the 2000 Summer Olympics.He was born in Karlshamn....
1973-, handball player - Bingo RimérBingo RimérBingo Rimér, born 23 June 1975 in Hällaryd, Sweden, is a Swedish photographer. He is by a newspaper considered to be Sweden's answer to Hugh Hefner.- Photography :...
1975-, Babe photographer - Emma IgelströmEmma IgelströmEmma Igelström is a former breaststroke swimmer and European record holder from Sweden. She competed in the 2000 Olympics She quit her career because of Bulimia nervosa.-Long course :...
1980-, champion swimmer - Blinded ColonyBlinded ColonyThe Blinded is a melodic death metal band from Karlshamn, Sweden, formerly known as both Stigmata and Blinded Colony. They are currently unsigned and recording the pre-preproduction of their third studio album...
- Metal band established 2000 - Karl Johan Schuster 1985- "ShellbackShellbackShellback may refer to:*Shellback , from Karlshamn, Sweden*Shellback, California, former settlement*Shellback Wilderness, White Pine County, Nevada, U.S., wilderness area*Shellback Island, Victoria, Australia...
", songwriter, music producer and musician - Pilsner Nilsson