Skellefteå (Swedish: [ɧɛˈlɛ̌ftɛɔ], locally [ʂɛˈlɛ̌ftɛ] (listen)) is a city in Västerbotten County, Sweden. It is the seat of Skellefteå Municipality, which had 73,246 inhabitants in 2021.[2]
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Skellefteå | |
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![]() Skellefteå in images | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Nickname(s): Schtaan, Guldstaden (Goldtown), Skellhell[1] | |
![]() ![]() Skellefteå ![]() ![]() Skellefteå | |
Coordinates: 64°45′N 20°57′E | |
Country | Sweden |
Province | Västerbotten |
County | Västerbotten County |
Municipality | Skellefteå Municipality |
Area | |
• City | 21.74 km2 (8.39 sq mi) |
Population (31 December 2010)[2] | |
• City | 36,395 |
• Density | 1,507/km2 (3,900/sq mi) |
• Urban | 73,246 |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Area code | +46 0910 |
The city is historically industrial, with mining being a large part of that industry, especially for gold, leading to the city being nicknamed Guldstaden ("gold town"). Politically, Skellefteå is a Social Democratic stronghold. The city is a well-known ice hockey town, with its main team Skellefteå AIK playing in the Swedish top division: the SHL, which they have won on several occasions; most recently in 2014.
The city was incorporated in 1845 and grew to its current population size in the 1950s and 1960s, growing only slowly since. It is the second largest city in Västerbotten after Umeå and is located roughly halfway between it and Luleå. The Skellefte River passes through the city and it is located around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Bothnian Bay open sea. Skellefteå is served by Skellefteå Airport, IATA airport code SFT but locally known as Falmark because of the village nearby, also around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city centre to the south.
The name Skellefteå is recorded to having been spelled as Skelepht in 1327. [citation needed] On Carta marina the name is spelt Skellitta. The origin of the name remains unknown, but is assumed to be of Sami origin.
From the 14th century on, attempts were made to Christianize Skellefteå. A parish was formed and a church built. However, for the most part, the entire large Northern Swedish territory of Norrland was not Christianized until several hundred years after the rest of Sweden, and many northern areas such as Skellefteå remained unexplored well past the Middle Ages.
Not before the very end of the 17th century did the indigenous Sami people of Northern Sweden begin turning to Christianity, much due to the efforts by the Northern Swedish superintendent Mathias Steuchius, who worked hard to accomplish this. Several Sami priests were killed for this reason.
Eventually, the reason for the sudden awakened interest towards Skellefteälven and the surrounding areas was the great northern fishing grounds of salmon. The increased demand for fish was sparked by a stricter enforcement of the annual month-long fasting by the Catholic Church, whereby meat was substituted by fish. [citation needed]
The actual city of Skellefteå is one of the youngest cities of Norrland. It was founded in 1845 by the vicar Nils Nordlander.
In the 20th century, Skellefteå evolved to an industrial and mining city and many wooden houses were demolished to make room for brick buildings.[citation needed] Skellefteå is now trying to become a leading city in education with the construction of Floraskolan, a school that mostly focuses on entrepreneurial learning.[3]
It will become the home of a massive battery plant made by Northvolt by circa 2023.[4]
The largest private employer in Skellefteå is the mining company Boliden AB, with about 1,200 employees. The mine's copper ore contains particles of gold, silver and platinum. Skellefteå is still referred to as the "Goldtown".[by whom?]
During the 1990s, the computer industry flourished, subsidiaries of Ericsson and Tieto Enator becoming important employers.
Skellefteå is transitioning from a subarctic climate (Dfc) to continental with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. In the 21st century the climate has more resembled the latter. The climate is somewhat moderated by the Bothnia Bay, although maritime effects are limited, ensuring very warm summer temperatures for a coastal area so far north.
Climate data for Skellefteå Airport (2006–2020 averages, extremes 1970–1992 & 2006–2020 & snow depth from Kusmark) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
10.2 (50.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
21.5 (70.7) |
29.2 (84.6) |
34.0 (93.2) |
32.4 (90.3) |
30.7 (87.3) |
23.3 (73.9) |
20.3 (68.5) |
12.5 (54.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
34.0 (93.2) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
4.8 (40.6) |
8.8 (47.8) |
14.6 (58.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
27.1 (80.8) |
28.0 (82.4) |
26.4 (79.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
5.3 (41.5) |
29.3 (84.7) |
Average high °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
1.6 (34.9) |
7.1 (44.8) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.2 (70.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.6 (34.9) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
8.0 (46.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.8 (18.0) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
2.4 (36.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
16.4 (61.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
10.1 (50.2) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−4.3 (24.3) |
3.8 (38.8) |
Average low °C (°F) | −11.6 (11.1) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
3.2 (37.8) |
8.4 (47.1) |
11.6 (52.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−0.4 (31.2) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | −25.3 (−13.5) |
−25.3 (−13.5) |
−21.0 (−5.8) |
−9.7 (14.5) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
0.8 (33.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−19.3 (−2.7) |
−28.7 (−19.7) |
Record low °C (°F) | −35.3 (−31.5) |
−36.9 (−34.4) |
−32.5 (−26.5) |
−18.4 (−1.1) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−18.1 (−0.6) |
−27.7 (−17.9) |
−37.1 (−34.8) |
−37.1 (−34.8) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 44.3 (1.74) |
34.3 (1.35) |
31.8 (1.25) |
29.4 (1.16) |
44.9 (1.77) |
58.7 (2.31) |
71.2 (2.80) |
62.1 (2.44) |
64.2 (2.53) |
61.6 (2.43) |
52.2 (2.06) |
58.0 (2.28) |
612.7 (24.12) |
Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 47 (19) |
58 (23) |
61 (24) |
45 (18) |
3 (1.2) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
6 (2.4) |
15 (5.9) |
35 (14) |
67 (26) |
Source 1: SMHI Open Data for Skellefteå Airport, precipitation[5] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: SMHI Open Data for Skellefteå Airport, temperature[6] |
Media related to Skellefteå at Wikimedia Commons
Localities in Skellefteå Municipality, Västerbotten County, Sweden | |
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