Köping, Sweden

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Köping


image_caption = Malma kyrka in Köping
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Köping Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Västmanland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Västmanland
established_title3 = Charter
established_date3 = January 19, 1474
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 = 11.85
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 17,358
population_density_km2 = 1465
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=59 |latm=31 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=15 |longm=59 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Köping is a town in Västmanland province, Sweden and the seat of Köping Municipality, Västmanland County.

History

"Köping" means merchant place. It was mentioned for the first time in the 13th century. It probably was referred to such a name as it did not yet have a charter. The central location of Köping deems it appropriate for merchancy for people from different parts of the country.

Köping, with central and southern Sweden was Christianised in the 11th century. A church built around the year 1300, the Köping Church, still remains from the early days.

Köping got its charter on January 19, 1474.

In the 17th century Köping municipality produced large amounts of iron that was transported to other countries.

In the 19th century Köping established itself as an industrial city, with a large mechanical workshop and a prosperous harbor. A fire in 1889 destroyed large parts of Köping, whereafter it was rebuilt using stone material under supervision of architect Theodor Dahl.

In the 20th century all kinds of companies have established themselves in Köping. Volvo built a large industry there in the 1920's; the arguably most known bed manufacturer in Sweden, Hästens, in 1924; and a number of gold groceries between 1940-1960.

Notable natives

* Carl Wilhelm Scheele - 18th century Chemist who discovered the functions of oxygen
* Richard Dybeck- One of the writers of the Swedish national anthem

References