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Jönköping Municipality ['jœncøːpiŋ] is a Municipality in southern Sweden where the City Jönköping is the seat of residence. Jönköping received its charter on May 18 1284. Geographically the municipality is situated by the southern end of lake Vättern.
| Missing image Jönköping_in_Sweden.png See also:Municipalities of Sweden | Coat of arms Missing image Jönköping.png Coat of Arms | |
| Seat | Jönköping | |
| County | Jönköping County | |
| Province | Smalandia | |
| Area Rank | 1,485.1 km² 64th of 290 | |
| Population Rank | 119,390 (2004) 10th of 290 | |
| Density | 80/km² | |
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History
Jönköping is a very old trading center (Köping), since it was located on a crossroad for the roads following along the rivers Nissan and Lagan, and the road between Ostrogothia and Westrogothia. This was rather natural due to the geographical position of the city at the southern end of lake Vättern, which divided the two counties. The City of Jönköping received its charter on May 18 1284, as one of the first communities in the country, by King Magnus Ladulås, who at that time largely ruled the nation from the biggest island in Vättern, Visingsö.
However, the geographical position of the city also left it vulnerable to foreign attacks, mainly from the Danes, coming from the south with the river roads; at that time, the provinces of what is today southern Sweden — Scania, Hallandia and Blechingia — belonged to Denmark. Consequently, the city was plundered and burned several times, until a fortification was built in the 16th and 17th century.
Jönköping is known for its matchstick industry 1845-1970. Still today it is an important Swedish logistical center, with many companies' central warehouses situated there (like IKEA, Electrolux and Husqvarna).
Geography
The municipality consists of the population centres:
- Jönköping (51,902 inv)
- Huskvarna (20,803)
- Gränna (3,899)
- Visingsö (812)
- Skärstad (4,357)
- Lekeryd (2,583)
- Tenhult (4,694)
- Barnarp (3,215)
- Norrahammar (8,664)
- Månsarp (4,362)
- Bankeryd (8,212)
- Norra Mo (2,039)
- Norra Unnaryd (367)
Notable natives
- John Bauer, illustrator, painter
- Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA
- Dag Hammarskjöld, United Nations Secretary-General
- Nina Persson, The Cardigans
- Viktor Rydberg, author
- Carl Peter Thunberg, botanist
See also
- Swedish National Courts Administration
- Swedish National Board of Agriculture
- University College of Jönköping
Official links
- Jönköping (http://www.jonkoping.se/) - Official site