Härnösand (Swedish pronunciation: [hæɳøˈsanːd]) is a locality and the seat of Härnösand Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 25,012 inhabitants in 2023. [1] It is called "the gate to the High Coast" because of the world heritage landscape just a few miles north of Härnösand. Härnösand is the seat of the Diocese of Härnösand, the County Governor residence and Västernorrland County Museum.

Härnösand
Storgatan in Härnösand
Storgatan in Härnösand
Härnösand is located in Västernorrland
Härnösand
Härnösand
Härnösand is located in Sweden
Härnösand
Härnösand
Coordinates: 62°38′10″N 17°56′28″E / 62.63611°N 17.94111°E / 62.63611; 17.94111
CountrySweden
ProvinceÅngermanland
CountyVästernorrland County
MunicipalityHärnösand Municipality
Area
 • City10.89 km2 (4.20 sq mi)
 • Metro
1.064.50 km2 (0.411 sq mi)
Elevation
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (1 January, 2023)[1]
 • City25,012
 • Density1,611/km2 (4,170/sq mi)
 • Metro
24,922
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
871 xx
Area code(+46) 611
ClimateDfb
Websitewww.harnosand.se

History

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Härnösand circa 1700, from Suecia antiqua et hodierna.
 
Härnösand cathedral
 
County Governor residence

On 10 December 1885, Härnösand became the first town in Sweden with electric street lighting, following the Gådeå power station being taken into use.[2]

Education

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Härnösand is the seat of The National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools (Specialpedagogiska skolmyndigheten).[3]

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) operates its training programme Sida Partnership Forum in Härnösand.[4]

Industry

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One of the biggest employers in Härnösand is the cable-TV and Cable internet service provider Com Hem.[citation needed]

Sports

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The women's team of the bandy club Härnösands AIK plays in the highest division and the men's team has done.

Their handballteam plays in division 2 and is called Brännans IF.

The football club IF Älgarna plays in Division 2 Norrland.

Curling has also been a successful sport in the city, Team Anette Norberg is from here. Anette has taken several medals in the sport, including Olympic gold. It is perhaps therefore not surprising that Sweden's only curling high school is located here. The high school started at 1989 and has since contributed several talented curlers to the world.

Härnösand also has an ice hockey team AIK Hockey Härnösand that plays in division 1 in region norr.

Recreation

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Härnösand is a fairly small town and some of the activities young people engage in are Kåken (Ungdomens Hus), a youth centre provided by the municipality. The city also has an extensive selection of outdoor activities in the summer and wintertime. Wintertime people can go skiing (cross country and downhill), ice skating, etc. Summertime activities include climbing, kayaking, trekking, etc. The town also features a summertime beach Smitingen, which occasionally gets some surfable waves. Härnösand is each summer the site of one of the world's largest airsoft events, Berget.[citation needed]

Climate

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Härnösand has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with significant maritime influence, causing mild to warm summers and cold but not severe winters that are milder than areas further north. In the Kvarken area and further north the water is less salty and freezes easier, creating colder winter climate.

Climate data for Härnösand (temperatures 2002–2018; extremes since 1901)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.5
(50.9)
12.5
(54.5)
17.0
(62.6)
22.4
(72.3)
28.4
(83.1)
31.4
(88.5)
32.7
(90.9)
31.5
(88.7)
26.0
(78.8)
20.6
(69.1)
13.9
(57.0)
10.3
(50.5)
32.7
(90.9)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)
6.6
(43.9)
11.0
(51.8)
15.6
(60.1)
21.7
(71.1)
24.7
(76.5)
26.9
(80.4)
25.1
(77.2)
20.4
(68.7)
14.1
(57.4)
9.2
(48.6)
6.7
(44.1)
27.6
(81.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −1.6
(29.1)
−1.1
(30.0)
2.9
(37.2)
7.9
(46.2)
13.4
(56.1)
18.0
(64.4)
21.3
(70.3)
19.6
(67.3)
14.9
(58.8)
8.2
(46.8)
3.3
(37.9)
0.4
(32.7)
8.9
(48.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.9
(23.2)
−4.5
(23.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
3.6
(38.5)
8.9
(48.0)
13.5
(56.3)
17.0
(62.6)
15.5
(59.9)
11.1
(52.0)
5.0
(41.0)
0.7
(33.3)
−2.7
(27.1)
5.2
(41.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −8.1
(17.4)
−7.9
(17.8)
−5.0
(23.0)
−0.7
(30.7)
4.3
(39.7)
8.9
(48.0)
12.6
(54.7)
11.4
(52.5)
7.2
(45.0)
1.7
(35.1)
−2.0
(28.4)
−5.7
(21.7)
1.4
(34.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −20.2
(−4.4)
−19.2
(−2.6)
−15.7
(3.7)
−6.9
(19.6)
−2.0
(28.4)
3.6
(38.5)
7.1
(44.8)
5.7
(42.3)
0.6
(33.1)
−6.4
(20.5)
−10.7
(12.7)
−15.8
(3.6)
−23.4
(−10.1)
Record low °C (°F) −32.5
(−26.5)
−33.2
(−27.8)
−31.0
(−23.8)
−18.0
(−0.4)
−6.5
(20.3)
−2.7
(27.1)
3.0
(37.4)
0.2
(32.4)
−5.8
(21.6)
−16.0
(3.2)
−21.5
(−6.7)
−34.7
(−30.5)
−34.7
(−30.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 69.8
(2.75)
42.4
(1.67)
35.0
(1.38)
33.7
(1.33)
45.3
(1.78)
42.5
(1.67)
69.8
(2.75)
92.5
(3.64)
62.3
(2.45)
77.8
(3.06)
75.8
(2.98)
74.3
(2.93)
721.2
(28.39)
Source 1: SMHI Open Data[5]
Source 2: SMHI climate data 2002–2018[6]


Notable natives

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Panorama of Härnösand, March 2005.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Elens historia i Härnösand" (in Swedish). Härnösand energi och miljö. June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ^ "The Swedish education system, the legal system and financing". National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Practical information about Sida Partnership Forum". Sida. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ "SMHI Öppen Data för Härnösand" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
  6. ^ "SMHI climate data 2002-2018". S MHI. 3 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
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