Västerbotten

Västerbotten
Flag
Country	Sweden
Land	Norrland
County	Västerbotten County
Area
– Total	15,093 km2 (5,827.4 sq mi)
Population (2009)[1]
– Total	210,679
– Density	14/km2 (36.2/sq mi)
Ethnicity
– Language	Norrländska
Culture
– Flower	Moor-king Lousewort
– Animal	Curlew
– Bird	Hen Harrier
– Fish	Lamprey
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal codes

 Västerbotten (help·info), English exonym: West Bothnia,^[2] is a province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders Ångermanland, Lapland, Norrbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is famous for the cheese with the same name as the province.

Administration

The traditional provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are historical and cultural entities. The administrative county, Västerbotten County, consists of the province and the southern part of Swedish Lappland.

Heraldry

On 18 January 1884 all provinces gained the rights to the rank of duchy and the arms can be represented with a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Azure Seme of Mullets Or a Reindeer in full course Argent attired and hoofed Gules."

Geography

Västerbotten was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.

Cities

• Umeå (1622)
• Skellefteå (1845)

Historical jurisdiction

The historical province Västerbotten was divided in court districts.

Burträsk Court District Bygdeå Court District Degerfors Court District Lower Kalix Court District Upper Kalix Court District Korpilombolo Court District Lövånger Court District Lower Luleå Court District Upper Luleå Court District

Norsjö and Malå Court District Nysätra Court District Pajala Court District Piteå Court District Råneå Court District Skellefteå Court District Lower Torneå Court District Upper Torneå Court District Umeå Court District

Facts

• Highest mountain: Åmliden (550 meters)
• Largest lake: Bygdeträsket

History

Västerbotten's old borders which extended into Finland

Up until the Finnish War 1808-1809 and the Treaty of Fredrikshamn the province of Västerbotten also included a small part of today's Finland. This part has later been integrated in Lapland, Finland.

Västerbotten County was in 1810 split in two parts. The northern part got the name Norrbotten County. The locals of Norrbotten then started referring to themselves as Norrbothnians. The county borders thus gradually led to a local provincial identity. Nowadays Norrbotten is considered a separate province.

Västerbotten Regiment was the provincial regiment.

Dukes of Västerbotten

Since the 13th century, Swedish princes in some dynasties have been created dukes of various provinces. Since 1772, these are only nominal titles.

• Prince Gustaf Adolf (1906-1947)

Sports

Football in the province is administered by Västerbottens Fotbollförbund.

References

1. ^ Statistics Sweden
2. ^ Eric Linklater in The Life of Charles XII pp. 53-54 & throughout

External links

• Västerbotten.se
• Västerbotten.net

Coordinates: 65°00′N 17°30′E / 65°N 17.5°E / 65; 17.5