Kramfors
Encyclopedia
Kramfors is a locality
and the seat of Kramfors Municipality
in Västernorrland County
, Sweden
with 6,235 inhabitants in 2005.
Geographically the town is situated on the western shore of the Ångerman River
. This river was the reason that Kramfors was founded, because in the 19th century it was a main transportation line for lumber poles, and along it sawmills and pulp mill
s sprung up. Christopher Kramm chose to locate the river's first steam driven saw at this location, and then named it after himself. The locality takes its name from this saw and the word fors ("rapid
").
The municipality of Kramfors has about 20,000 inhabitants and it is situated almost in the middle of Sweden with the most central location of Northern Sweden. Within 100 kilometres from Kramfors you can reach 250,000 people and within 200 kilometres about half a million. It is not possible to reach so many people from any other place in Northern Sweden. Furthermore, the two big Norrland towns Sundsvall
and Umeå
are situated within a commuting distance.
In addition to its beautiful landscape Kramfors is probably best known for providing the name for a popular model of IKEA
couch. Located in the High Coast
area with World Heritage-status, it has a varying landscape which affords many opportunities for a full outdoor life.
This settlement, called Kramfors, was in Gudmundrå municipality, but got in 1889 the status of a so called municipalsamhälle (which was a kind of borough
, still remaining part of the original municipality). In 1947 it was awarded the title of a city, as one of the last in the country. Since the municipal reform, in 1974, it is the seat of Kramfors Municipality. Kramfors is, despite its small population, for historical reasons, however, normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
In the 1960s and 70's, the timber industry went into decline. Today, Kramfors's population is in a steady decline.
One of the tennis
high schools of Sweden is situated in Kramfors.
Kramfors also hosts the Folke Bernadotte Academy, a government agency focused on improving international conflict and crisis management, with a special interest in peace operations. They offer courses in peacekeeping intelligence and information operations that are open to all nations and to non-governmental organizations.
Urban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
and the seat of Kramfors Municipality
Kramfors Municipality
Kramfors Municipality is a municipality in Västernorrland County, northern Sweden. Its seat is located in the town Kramfors....
in Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County
Västernorrland County is a county or län in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.- Province :...
, 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 6,235 inhabitants in 2005.
Geographically the town is situated on the western shore of the Ångerman River
Ångerman River
The Ångerman River is one of Sweden's longest rivers with a total length of 460 kilometers. It also has the largest amount of water running through it....
. This river was the reason that Kramfors was founded, because in the 19th century it was a main transportation line for lumber poles, and along it sawmills and pulp mill
Pulp mill
A pulp mill is a manufacturing facility that converts wood chips or other plant fibre source into a thick fibre board which can be shipped to a paper mill for further processing. Pulp can be manufactured using mechanical, semi-chemical or fully chemical methods...
s sprung up. Christopher Kramm chose to locate the river's first steam driven saw at this location, and then named it after himself. The locality takes its name from this saw and the word fors ("rapid
Rapid
A rapid is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the...
").
The municipality of Kramfors has about 20,000 inhabitants and it is situated almost in the middle of Sweden with the most central location of Northern Sweden. Within 100 kilometres from Kramfors you can reach 250,000 people and within 200 kilometres about half a million. It is not possible to reach so many people from any other place in Northern Sweden. Furthermore, the two big Norrland towns Sundsvall
Sundsvall
-External links:* - Official site from Nordisk Familjebok - Sundsvalls tourist information bureau. - The alternative guide to Sundsvall. - Blog with photos from Sundsvall....
and Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
are situated within a commuting distance.
In addition to its beautiful landscape Kramfors is probably best known for providing the name for a popular model of IKEA
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
couch. Located in the High Coast
The High Coast
The High Coast is a part of the Swedish coast on the Gulf of Bothnia, situated in the municipalities of Kramfors, Härnösand and Örnsköldsvik and notable as a type area for research on post-glacial rebound and eustacy, in which the land rises as the weight of the glaciers melts off of it...
area with World Heritage-status, it has a varying landscape which affords many opportunities for a full outdoor life.
This settlement, called Kramfors, was in Gudmundrå municipality, but got in 1889 the status of a so called municipalsamhälle (which was a kind of borough
Borough
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....
, still remaining part of the original municipality). In 1947 it was awarded the title of a city, as one of the last in the country. Since the municipal reform, in 1974, it is the seat of Kramfors Municipality. Kramfors is, despite its small population, for historical reasons, however, normally still referred to as a city. Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.
In the 1960s and 70's, the timber industry went into decline. Today, Kramfors's population is in a steady decline.
One of the tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
high schools of Sweden is situated in Kramfors.
Kramfors also hosts the Folke Bernadotte Academy, a government agency focused on improving international conflict and crisis management, with a special interest in peace operations. They offer courses in peacekeeping intelligence and information operations that are open to all nations and to non-governmental organizations.