Helsingborg

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Helsingborg


image_caption =


image_shield = Coat of arms of Helsingborg, Sweden.pngpushpin_

mapsize =
map_caption =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Helsingborg Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Skåne County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Scania
established_title3 = Charter
established_date3 = 1085
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 = 37.63
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 91,457
population_density_km2 = 2431
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=56 |latm=03 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=12 |longm=43 |longs= |longEW=E
website = [http://www.helsingborg.se/Main.aspx?id=5/ helsingborg.se]

Helsingborg IPA| ['hɛlsiŋ'bɔrj] (between 1912 and 1971 spelled "Hälsingborg") is a city in Scania in the southernmost part of Sweden, which has a population of 91,457 (2005). It is the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Skåne County which has 124,900 inhabitants (December 2007).

Helsingborg is the centre of a region of about 300,000 inhabitants of north-west Skåne. This arguably makes the Helsingborg area the fourth largest metropolitan area in Sweden.

Helsingborg is Sweden's closest point to Denmark, with the Danish city Elsinore ("Helsingør") clearly visible on the other side of the strait of Öresund about 4 km to the west.

Historic Helsingborg, with its many old houses, is a scenic coastal city. The buildings are a blend of old-style stone-built churches and a medieval fortress (Kärnan) in the city centre, which has stood guard in Helsingborg for over 600 years [http://sosmag.se/the-winter-of-a-bon-vivant/] , and more modern commercial buildings. The streets vary from wide avenues to small alley-ways. "Kullagatan", the main pedestrian shopping street in the city, was the first pedestrian shopping street in Sweden.

Helsingborg has an elite football (soccer) team, Helsingborgs IF. Their home stadium is Olympia. Henrik Larsson is the most famous of the club's players.

Helsingborg is twinned with several cities around the world. One of these Sister Cities is Alexandria, Virginia in the USA.

History

Helsingborg is one of the oldest cities of Sweden. It has probably been the site of permanent settlement since the 10th century. It was mentioned by Adam of Bremen in the 1070s. Helsingborg's geographical position at the narrowest part of The Sound made it very import for Denmark, at that time controlling both sides of that strait. From 1429 the Danes introduced the Sound Duty, a levy on all trading vessels passing through the sound between Elsinore and Helsingborg. This was one of the main incomes for the Danish Crown.

Following the Dano-Swedish War (1657-1658) and the Treaty of Roskilde Denmark had to give up all territory on the southern Scandinavian peninsula, and Helsingborg became a Swedish city. King Charles X Gustav of Sweden landed here on the 5th of March 1658 to take possession of the Scanian lands and was met by a delegation led by the bishop of the Diocese of Lund, Peder Winstrup. At that time the town had a population of barely 1,000 people.

The new situation, being a border town, caused problems for the city. The days of conflict were not over. The Danes made many attempts to regain the lost provinces. The last time was in 1710, when 14,000 invaders landed on the shores near Helsingborg. The Battle of Helsingborg was fought on the 28th of February just outside the city, which was badly affected. It took long time to recover and in 1770 the city had 1321 inhabitants and was just slowly growing.

On the 20th of October 1810 Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Marshal of France and crown prince-elect of Sweden (later king Charles XIV John) took his first step on Swedish soil on his journey from Paris to Stockholm.

From the middle of the 19th century onwards, however, Helsingborg was one of the fastest growing cities of Sweden, increasing its population from 4,000 in 1850 to 20,000 in 1890 and 56,000 in 1930 due to industrialization. From 1892 a train ferry was put in service, connecting Helsingborg with with its Danish sister city Helsingør. A tramway network was inaugurated in 1903 and closed down in 1967.

Industry

Helsingborg is a major regional centre of trade, transport and business. In 2001 Campus Helsingborg, a branch of University of Lund, opened in the former Tretorn rubber factory buildings, originally founded by Henry Dunker.Three ferry companies take people and cargo to and from Denmark around the clock. The route is popular with day-trippers going to Elsinore or Copenhagen, or simply enjoying the views from the ferries.
IKEA, the retailer of furniture and home interiors, has its international corporate headquarters in Helsingborg.
Nicorette the nicotine chewing gum, has a manufacturing plant there. Ramlösa is a mineral water from Ramlösa Brunn, a southern suburb of the city.

Notable natives

*Hans Alfredson, Comedian
*Countess Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg, former fashion model and actress, widow of the late Prince Sigvard Bernadotte, Duke of Uppland
*Dieterich Buxtehude, Composer and organist
*Pontus Farnerud, Footballer
*Karl Ragnar Gierow, Writer and member of the Swedish Academy
*Gustaf Håkansson, famous cyclist
*Karl Kruszelnicki, Dr Karl
*Henrik Larsson, Footballer
*Andreas Lilja, Ice hockey player
*Mats Magnusson, Footballer
*Tina Nordström, TV-chef
*Peps Persson, Musician
*Ruben Rausing, Founder of Tetra Pak
*Kalle Svensson, Footballer
*Östen Warnerbring, Musician
*Johan Wissman, Athlete
*Roland Nilsson, Footballer

*Act strange, Rock band
*Darkane, Metal band
*Soilwork, Metal band
*The Sounds, Rock band

Politics

Subdivisions

The City of Helsingborg is subdivided into 32 districts.

Sights

See also

*Helsingborgs Dagblad
*European route E4
*Sofiero, a nearby castle

References

External links

* [http://www.helsingborg.se/ Helsingborg Municipality] (Swedish)
* [http://www.helsingborg.se/Main.aspx?id=5/ Helsingborg Municipality] (English)