Køge

Geobox Settlement
name = Køge
native_name =
category = Municipality


image_size = 290px
image_caption =

| flag_size=
symbol = Køges våben 1574.png symbol_size = 75px
country = Denmark | state=
region = Region Sjælland
district = Køge municipality
district_type = Municipality | district_label=
part_type = | part_count =
part = | part1 =
area = 255
area_round = 0
location =
lat_d = 55 | lat_m = 27 | lat_s = 0 | lat_NS= N
long_d= 12 | long_m= 11 | long_s= 0 | long_EW= E
elevation =
population_as_of = 2008
population = 56637 | population_density=
established_type = Municipality
established = since January 2007
established1_type =
mayor =
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST= +2
postal_code = | postal_code_type = Postal codes
area_code = | area_code_type=
free_type = | free=
free1_type = | free1=

map_size=
map_caption = Køge (right center) in Denmark
map_locator =
map_locator_x = 56.6
map_locator_y = 71.8
website =

Køge is a municipality (Danish, "kommune") in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand ("Sjælland") approx. 40 km. south of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² (98 sq. miles), and has a total population of 56,637 (2008). Until January 2007, its mayor was Torben Hansen, a member of the Social Democrats ("Socialdemokraterne") political party, who died while still in office. He was replaced by Marie Stærke, who at age 27 is currently Denmark's youngest mayor. [http://www.koege.dk/297897/]

The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Køge. Other agglomerations in the municipality include Køge Nord (Ølby and Ølsemagle), Lille Skensved, Lellinge, Algestrup, Herfølge and Hastrup.

As a result of "Kommunalreformen" ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), on January 1, 2007, the prior Køge municipality was merged with Skovbo municipality to form the new Køge municipality.

The town of Køge

The town of Køge with a population of 34,792 (January 1, 2008) is located close to Copenhagen, has a well-preserved old town, and is at the end of a line of the Copenhagen S-train system.

The oldest halftimbered house in Denmark can be found in Køge. It was built in 1527 and is now a part of the local library. Pictures can be found in the gallery.

Near the house is Sankt Nicolai Church. A lighthouse is built in the tower of the church and it was the first lighthouse in all of Denmark.

Køge's town hall is the oldest still in use as such: it dates from 1552.

During the local witchhunt, called Køge Huskors (1612), at least 15 persons were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake.

Gallery

See also

* Køge station
* Nearby towns: Greve Strand, Roskilde, Ringsted and Haslev.

References

* Municipal statistics: [http://www2.netborger.dk/Kommunefakta/ NetBorger Kommunefakta] , delivered from [http://www.kmd.dk/ KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)]
* Municipal mergers and neighbors: [http://kommune.eniro.dk/danmarkskort/ Eniro new municipalities map]

External links

* [http://www.koegekom.dk Municipality's official website]
* [http://www.koegeturist.dk/uk/ Køge tourist bureau]