Sotenäs Municipality
Encyclopedia
Sotenäs Municipality is a municipality
in Västra Götaland County
in western Sweden
. Its seat is located in the town of Kungshamn
, with around 3,500 inhabitants.
The present municipality was created in 1974 through the amalgamation of previous units. The name was taken from the old Sotenäs Hundred.
has been inhabited for several thousands of years. The province, Bohuslän
, is among the internationally most known because of its pre-historical remains. The oldest remains in Sotenäs Municipality are from around 6000 BC. From the younger Stone Age are several burial monuments (dolmen
s). From the Bronze Age
and Iron Age
are many rock carvings, which the province also otherwise is noted for (especially the northern Tanum Municipality
).
The name Sotenäs is believed to have originated from around 1000 AD, when also the first steps from the historical hundred
, Sotenäs Hundred (or Härad in Swedish
), can be traced.
With the Christianization of Sweden
several churches were erected, starting in the 11th century. The first ones were the churches in Askum and Tossene.
Later, in the 16th century, the industry became dominated by fishing of herring
. It dominated the industry for centuries; herring was used in large amounts in Bohuslän
- as a basic food but also in the making of oil, wax candles, etc.
In the 19th century the island
Malmön was started as a quarry
. (Note that "Malm" means "rock" in Swedish). The quarry was kept alive and was of industrial significance until the 1930s.
The coat of arms
was granted in 1977 and depicts a halibut
. It is built on the insignia for Sotenäs Hundred and has been used for centuries.
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 town of Kungshamn
Kungshamn
Kungshamn is a locality and the seat of Sotenäs Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 2,871 inhabitants in 2005.The town consists of the former towns of "Gravarne", "Bäckevik" and "Fisketången". Kungshamn is situated on a peninsula just north of the town Lysekil and on the same...
, with around 3,500 inhabitants.
The present municipality was created in 1974 through the amalgamation of previous units. The name was taken from the old Sotenäs Hundred.
Population figures
Approximate inhabitants of the larger population centres in the municipality. Source: Statistics Sweden (2002). They are here ordered after size.- HovenäsetHovenäsetHovenäset is a locality in Sotenäs Municipality in Västra Götaland County and is located about 3 km south of Kungshamn....
200 - Ulebergshamn 300
- Bohus-MalmönBohus-MalmönBohus-Malmön is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden.- References :...
400 - BovallstrandBovallstrandBovallstrand is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 476 inhabitants in 2005....
500 - VäjernVäjernVäjern is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 659 inhabitants in 2005.- References :http://www.swengelsk.se/coast/default.html...
900 - SmögenSmögenSmögen is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,437 inhabitants in 2005. It is one of the liveliest "summer towns" of the Swedish West Coast....
1,400 - HunnebostrandHunnebostrandHunnebostrand is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,801 inhabitants in 2005....
2,000 - KungshamnKungshamnKungshamn is a locality and the seat of Sotenäs Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 2,871 inhabitants in 2005.The town consists of the former towns of "Gravarne", "Bäckevik" and "Fisketången". Kungshamn is situated on a peninsula just north of the town Lysekil and on the same...
3,000 (seat)
History
VästergötlandVästergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
has been inhabited for several thousands of years. The province, 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...
, is among the internationally most known because of its pre-historical remains. The oldest remains in Sotenäs Municipality are from around 6000 BC. From the younger Stone Age are several burial monuments (dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s). From the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
are many rock carvings, which the province also otherwise is noted for (especially the northern Tanum Municipality
Tanum Municipality
Tanum Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Tanumshede, with 1,600 inhabitants....
).
The name Sotenäs is believed to have originated from around 1000 AD, when also the first steps from the historical hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
, Sotenäs Hundred (or Härad in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
), can be traced.
With the Christianization of Sweden
Christianization of Scandinavia
The Christianization of Scandinavia took place between the 8th and the 12th century. The realms of Scandinavia proper, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, established their own Archdioceses, responsible directly to the Pope, in 1104, 1154 and 1164, respectively...
several churches were erected, starting in the 11th century. The first ones were the churches in Askum and Tossene.
Later, in the 16th century, the industry became dominated by fishing of 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...
. It dominated the industry for centuries; herring was used in large amounts 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...
- as a basic food but also in the making of oil, wax candles, etc.
In the 19th century the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
Malmön was started as a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. (Note that "Malm" means "rock" in Swedish). The quarry was kept alive and was of industrial significance until the 1930s.
The coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was granted in 1977 and depicts a halibut
Halibut
Halibut is a flatfish, genus Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye flounders . Other flatfish are also called halibut. The name is derived from haly and butt , for its popularity on Catholic holy days...
. It is built on the insignia for Sotenäs Hundred and has been used for centuries.
External links
- Sotenäs Municipality - Official site