Västernorrland County

Västernorrland
Västernorrlands län
County of Sweden

Coat of arms
 
Country Sweden
Founded 1654
Capital Härnösand
Government
 • Governor Bo Källstrand
 • Council Landstinget Västernorrland
Area
 • Total 21,683.8 km2 (8,372.2 sq mi)
Population (31 March 2011)[1]
 • Total 242,347
 • Density 11/km2 (29/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
ISO 3166 code SE-Y
GDP/ Nominal SEK 61,540 million (2004)
GDP per capita SEK 251,000
NUTS Region SE321
Website www.y.lst.se

Västernorrland County (Västernorrlands län) is a county (län) in the north of Sweden. It is bordered by the counties of Gävleborg, Jämtland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia.

The name Västernorrland means "Western Norrland", as it was in the western part of the original Norrland (north Sweden and north Finland).

Province

For History, Geography and Culture, see: Ångermanland or Medelpad

Västernorrland County covers approximately the historical provinces of Ångermanland (Angermannia) and Medelpad.

Administration

The main aim of the county administrative board – a government agency headed by a governor – is to fulfil the goals set out in national politics by the Riksdag and the government, to coordinate the interests of the county, to promote the development of the county, to establish regional goals and safeguard the due process of law in the handling of each case. See List of Västernorrland governors.

Politics

The county council of Västernorrland is the Landstinget i Västernorrland.

Municipalities

History

Västernorrland County was formed in 1634, when counties was introduced replacing the older provinces. Västernorrland then included parts of Sweden north of the city of Gävle, except Jämtland and Härjedalen – which belonged to Norway – and except Finland.

The county grew and shrank significantly since its creation. The boundary adjustments:

Västernorrland was in the west of Norrland

Even though the name Västernorrland literally means "Western Norrland", it is today situated on the eastern coast of Swedish Norrland. The "west" in its name (väster) arose due to the fact that, at the time, Norrland was a much larger region, including northern Finland as well. Västernorrland was therefore in the western "arm" of Norrland in its broadest sense.

Heraldry

The arms for the County of Västernorrland are a combination of those of Ångermanland and Medelpad. When it is shown with a royal crown, it represents the county administrative board. Blazon: "Parted per pale, the arms of Angermannia and the arms of Medelpad."

Miscellaneous topics

Local public transport in the county is provided by Din Tur.

See also

References and notes

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Västernorrland County.

Coordinates: 62°44′23″N 16°55′48″E / 62.739633°N 16.929932°E / 62.739633; 16.929932

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