Enköping

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Enköping


image_caption = Litslena church
image_shield =


mapsize =
map_caption =
pushpin_

settlement_type =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Enköping Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Uppsala County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Uppland
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
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 = 10.44
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 20,204
population_density_km2 = 1935
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=59 |latm=38 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=17 |longm=05 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Enköping is a town (pop. 20,200) in the traditional Swedish province Uppland and the seat of Enköping Municipality, Uppsala län.

Geography

Enköping is situated near Lake Mälaren, about 78 km west of Stockholm.A comparably large number of Swedish cities are located in the vicinity of Enköping. The municipal slogan is therefore "Sweden's Closest City". This expression was created in 1965 when it was discovered by a local business that within a radius of 120 kilometers, one finds 38 Swedish cities and 1/3 of Sweden's population.

History

Near Enköping, there is some of the best preserved rock art from the Bronze Age present in central Sweden. The city of Enköping itself dates its history back to the 13th century but the city itself did not emerge until about 1250. Enköping was then as now situated by the rich farmlands close to lake Mälaren, leading to a wealthy rural population. The city has also always been a major crossroads for commerce, and excellent communications signify the city even today: The Mälar Railline ("Mälarbanan") and the E18 highway provide ample means of travelling to the nearby major cities of Stockholm and Västerås. The city has several manufacturing industries, a hospital and the Army Signaling Regiment, the Uppland Regiment ("Upplands Regemente", "S1").

References