Laholm

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Laholm

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image_caption = Laholm church
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Laholm Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Halland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Halland
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 4.12
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5,835
population_density_km2 = 1416
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=56 |latm=31 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=13 |longm=02 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Laholm is a town in southwestern Sweden and the seat of Laholm Municipality in Halland County. It has a population of 5,835 (2005). Laholm is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a "city". Statistics Sweden, however, only counts localities with more than 10,000 inhabitants as cities.

Geographically the town is located at the estuary of the River Lagan in a bay known as the Laholm Bay.

History

Laholm is one of Sweden's oldest cities, and it is the oldest city in the province of Halland. The first charter was granted in the 13th century, in what was then Danish territory. The church was founded in 1225. During the wars between Sweden and Denmark in the 16th and 17th century, Laholm was burnt down several times. In 1645, when Halland became a part Sweden, the town had 330 inhabitants, growing to about 866 about hundred years later. In the middle of the 19th century the poulation reached the 1,000 mark, doubled in the early 20th century and reaching 3,000 around 1950. The local government reform of 1971 made the town the seat of Laholm Municipality which has over 25,000 inhabitants.

Of interest is still the old street structure, intact from medieval times and the Laholm church.

References