Avesta, Sweden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with Alvesta in Kronoberg County, Sweden.
| Avesta | |
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  Avesta
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Sweden |
| Municipality | Avesta Municipality |
| County | Dalarna County |
| Province | Dalarna |
| Area [1] | |
| - Total | 13.44 km² (5.2 sq mi) |
| Population (2005-12-31)[1] | |
| - Total | 14,738 |
| - Density | 1,096/km² (2,838.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Avesta is a locality with 15,000 inhabitants in the traditional province Dalarna, Sweden and the seat of Avesta Municipality, Dalarna County.
The name is first found in 1303 as "Aghastadhum". Aghe (pronounced "ave") is of similar origin as the word å, meaning stream, in this case the Avestadfors, a tributary of the Dalecarlia River. Stadhum is of similar origin as stead, or farm.
[edit] History
In the Scandinavian Middle Ages there was a blast furnace at the location. In 1636 the construction of a giant copper mine was initiated near the Avestadfors.
The town Avesta received partial privileges in 1641 as a town under the city of Falun, and in 1644 a copper mint was built. However, the privileges were withdrawn in 1688 due to complaints of competition from its neighbour, mainly Falun. Copper coins were continued to be minted until 1831, and the copper works was in function until 1869.
Full city rights were regranted in 1919. The designated coat of arms depict the signs for copper and iron.
[edit] Geography
The town is located by the Dalecarlia River (Dalälven).
The railhead Krylbo is situated in Avesta.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005 (xls) (Swedish). Statistics Sweden. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
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Avesta, Sweden is one of 134 towns with the historical City status in Sweden. |
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