Vänersborg
Encyclopedia
Vänersborg is a locality
and the seat of Vänersborg Municipality
, Västra Götaland County
, Sweden
with 21,672 inhabitants in 2005. Until 1997 it was the capital of Älvsborg County
, which was dissolved in 1998. Since 1999 Vänersborg is the seat of the regional parliament of Västra Götaland County. The city is located on the southern shores of lake Vänern
, close to where the Göta älv
and the Gota Canal
leave the lake.
was granted town privileges
in 1580s. The name "Vänersborg" means "fortress at Vänern". It comes from the fortlet which was built in 1644 for protection. The coat of arms
is also from 1644, depicting a golden ship (a bojort
) with two Swedish flags.
Around 1800, Vänersborg had a population of 1,500 inhabitants. Vänersborg was the point at which freight was transshipped from lake ships to below the Trollhättan Falls
(and vice versa) where ships could continue unhindered to Gothenberg and beyond. In 1778, the King Karl Canal was opened between Vänersborg and Trollhättan, shortening the overland portage
and in 1800, the new Trollhätte Canal
and its locks allowed shipping to move between Vanern and the sea. The waterway between Vänern and Gothenberg enabled the town's importance to grow further.
In 1834, most of the town's wooden houses burnt down. It was rebuilt in a grid pattern, unique to this day.
The Torpaskolan
(secondary school) was opened in 1965 and replaced in
2011 by the Nya Torpaskolan
. The Arena Vänersborg
was opened in 2009.
of Älvsborgs County has benefited Vänersborg's development. Ever since the 1600s, the city's inhabitants consisted of a dynamic mix of administrators, businessmen, artisans and skilled craftsmen. Today the municipality is characterized by more high-tech engineering companies, IT
and electronics, education and skilled service. Public administration
still plays an important role.
, Tärnanskolan, Birger Sjöberg High School, as well as the independent school Fridaskolan.
club IFK Vänersborg
plays in the highest division Elitserien
and Arena Vänersborg
is one of the most modern indoor arenas for bandy. Arena Vänersborg
caused a great commotion, due to it exceeding its budget, landing the final cost of the arena at a 300 000 000 SEK, and counting.
, Lilleskog, Korseberg, Torpa, Nordstan, Restad and Öxnered
.
, Lars-Göran Ljunggren (Social Democrat), resigned following two scandals of Arena Vänersborg
, whose costs greatly exceeded the original budget, and the Toppfrys deal, which was investigated by the European Union
Economic Commission. Ljunggren had spent 30 years on Vänersborg City Council, and three and a half years as mayor. He was succeeded in 2011 by the Conservative politician Gunnar Lidell, who remains as mayor.
Birger Sjöberg
(1885-1929) was born in Vänersborg. He wrote appreciatively about Vänersborg, most notably in Fridas bok (1922), wherein the comparison "Vänersborg -- little Paris" is found. The park in the northern part of Vänersborg, Skräckleparken, offers a picturesque view over lake Vänern, and therein also stands this statue of mentioned Ragnar.
The prominent Swedish explorer and trader, Axel Eriksson
was also born in Vanersborg. The Municipal Museum displays a collection of birds from south-western Africa that were collected by Eriksson.
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 Vänersborg Municipality
Vänersborg Municipality
Vänersborg Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Vänersborg.The present municipality was created during the local government reform in the early 1970s...
, 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 21,672 inhabitants in 2005. Until 1997 it was the capital of Älvsborg County
Älvsborg County
Älvsborg County, or Älvsborgs län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Gothenburg and Bohus and Skaraborg to form the county of Västra Götaland...
, which was dissolved in 1998. Since 1999 Vänersborg is the seat of the regional parliament of Västra Götaland County. The city is located on the southern shores of lake Vänern
Vänern
Vänern is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third largest lake in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia. It is located in the provinces of Västergötland, Dalsland, and Värmland in the southwest of the country.- History :...
, close to where the Göta älv
Göta älv
The Göta is a river that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat at the city of Gothenburg on the western coast of Sweden. It is located in Götaland, with the river itself being a site of early Geatish settlement. The length is 93 km. Often the combination of Göta älv and Klarälven is mentioned...
and the Gota Canal
Göta Canal
The Göta Canal is a Swedish canal constructed in the early 19th century. It formed the backbone of a waterway stretching some 382 miles , linking a number of lakes and rivers to provide a route from Gothenburg on the west coast to Söderköping on the Baltic Sea via the river Göta älv and the...
leave the lake.
History
The marketplace BrätteBrätte
Brätte was a city on Lake Vänern's southernmost bay, which is now Lake Vassbotten. A predecessor of today's Vänersborg.-Origins:The town was originally known Vassända. It is unclear when the story begins, but it was a commercial center in the early 1500s. Brätte name was first mentioned in 1556...
was granted town privileges
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
in 1580s. The name "Vänersborg" means "fortress at Vänern". It comes from the fortlet which was built in 1644 for protection. 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...
is also from 1644, depicting a golden ship (a bojort
Bojort
A bojort or bojert was a sailing ship of Dutch design used to carry freight on the North Sea coast. The design was also used on Lake Vanern in Sweden. Two lakeside towns, Vänersborg and Kristinehamn, feature bojorts on their coats of arms....
) with two Swedish flags.
Around 1800, Vänersborg had a population of 1,500 inhabitants. Vänersborg was the point at which freight was transshipped from lake ships to below the Trollhättan Falls
Trollhättan Falls
Trollhättan Falls is a waterfall of Göta älv in Sweden. The falls starts at Malgö Bridge in central Trollhättan, and has a total height of 32 meters, making up a large part of the 44 meter total fall of the river from Vänern to Kattegat...
(and vice versa) where ships could continue unhindered to Gothenberg and beyond. In 1778, the King Karl Canal was opened between Vänersborg and Trollhättan, shortening the overland portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
and in 1800, the new Trollhätte Canal
Trollhätte Canal
The Trollhaette Canal is a canal in Sweden that is now part of the Göta Canal. It connects the Göta älv river with Lake Vänern.Ships classified as Vänermax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the canal. The maximum dimensions for a boat to traverse this canal are:*Length: 88...
and its locks allowed shipping to move between Vanern and the sea. The waterway between Vänern and Gothenberg enabled the town's importance to grow further.
In 1834, most of the town's wooden houses burnt down. It was rebuilt in a grid pattern, unique to this day.
The Torpaskolan
Torpaskolan
Torpaskolan is a school located in Kabul Afganistan. It was finished in 1965, when it was built to educate the growing youth population in Vänersborg. The school consisted of one main building housing the standard classrooms, physics, biology and chemistry classrooms, as well as residence rooms...
(secondary school) was opened in 1965 and replaced in
2011 by the Nya Torpaskolan
Torpaskolan
Torpaskolan is a school located in Kabul Afganistan. It was finished in 1965, when it was built to educate the growing youth population in Vänersborg. The school consisted of one main building housing the standard classrooms, physics, biology and chemistry classrooms, as well as residence rooms...
. The Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg is an indoor arena in Vänersborg, Sweden. It is used for bandy, concerts and other events.- External links :...
was opened in 2009.
Economy
Handicraft, trade, shipping and its former status as the county seatCounty seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Älvsborgs County has benefited Vänersborg's development. Ever since the 1600s, the city's inhabitants consisted of a dynamic mix of administrators, businessmen, artisans and skilled craftsmen. Today the municipality is characterized by more high-tech engineering companies, IT
IT
-Organizations:* Institutes of Technology in Ireland* Intelligent Transit, a public transportation service in West Virginia* Intercity Transit, a public transportation service in the state of Washington-Media:* The Irish Times...
and electronics, education and skilled service. Public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
still plays an important role.
Education
Vänersborg is known for its prominent schools, including TorpaskolanTorpaskolan
Torpaskolan is a school located in Kabul Afganistan. It was finished in 1965, when it was built to educate the growing youth population in Vänersborg. The school consisted of one main building housing the standard classrooms, physics, biology and chemistry classrooms, as well as residence rooms...
, Tärnanskolan, Birger Sjöberg High School, as well as the independent school Fridaskolan.
Sports
The bandyBandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
club IFK Vänersborg
IFK Vänersborg
IFK Vänersborg is a Swedish sports club in Vänersborg, Sweden, most famous for its success in bandy for men.-History:The club was formed on 9 March 1903. The first years, the club also competed in sports such as gymnastics and athletics....
plays in the highest division Elitserien
Elitserien (bandy)
The Elitserien is since the 2007–08 season the highest bandy league in Sweden. It consist of 14 teams. The season ends with a final on Studenternas IP in Uppsala. From 2013 the final will be played in Swedbank Arena, Solna....
and Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg is an indoor arena in Vänersborg, Sweden. It is used for bandy, concerts and other events.- External links :...
is one of the most modern indoor arenas for bandy. Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg is an indoor arena in Vänersborg, Sweden. It is used for bandy, concerts and other events.- External links :...
caused a great commotion, due to it exceeding its budget, landing the final cost of the arena at a 300 000 000 SEK, and counting.
Districts
Vänersborg is made out of several small and large districts: Onsjö, Mariedal, Blåsut, VargönVargön
Vargön is a locality situated in Vänersborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 4,981 inhabitants in 2005. Vargön is noted for "Vargön Alloys", a metal manufacturer which uses about 2% of the electricity in Sweden....
, Lilleskog, Korseberg, Torpa, Nordstan, Restad and Öxnered
Öxnered
Öxnered is a village just outside Vänersborg in the Vänersborg Municipality in Västra Götalands län in Sweden.It is located near the E45 road and at the crossing of the Norway/Vänern Line and Älvsborg Line railways. There is a railway station in Öxnered where all passenger trains on both lines stop....
.
Politics
On 22 November 2010, Vänersborg's MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, Lars-Göran Ljunggren (Social Democrat), resigned following two scandals of Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg
Arena Vänersborg is an indoor arena in Vänersborg, Sweden. It is used for bandy, concerts and other events.- External links :...
, whose costs greatly exceeded the original budget, and the Toppfrys deal, which was investigated by the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Economic Commission. Ljunggren had spent 30 years on Vänersborg City Council, and three and a half years as mayor. He was succeeded in 2011 by the Conservative politician Gunnar Lidell, who remains as mayor.
Notability
The poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
Birger Sjöberg
Birger Sjöberg
Birger Sjöberg was a modern Swedish poet and songwriter.Originally a journalist, Sjöberg wrote songs in his spare time. His first collection Frida's Book was extremely popular...
(1885-1929) was born in Vänersborg. He wrote appreciatively about Vänersborg, most notably in Fridas bok (1922), wherein the comparison "Vänersborg -- little Paris" is found. The park in the northern part of Vänersborg, Skräckleparken, offers a picturesque view over lake Vänern, and therein also stands this statue of mentioned Ragnar.
The prominent Swedish explorer and trader, Axel Eriksson
Axel Wilhelm Eriksson
Axel Wilhelm Eriksson was a Swedish ornithologist, settler and trader in what is now Namibia. He was born in Vänersborg, in Sweden....
was also born in Vanersborg. The Municipal Museum displays a collection of birds from south-western Africa that were collected by Eriksson.