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Back to [[Portal:Sweden|Sweden Portal Page]]► | Back to [[Portal:Sweden|Sweden Portal Page]]► | ||
Whether you are studying old family group records, looking for original sources to check, or running a search in a database, knowing the county (the Län) and the parish (the Socken) your ancestor lived in is vital to your Swedish family history research. It is also important to understand the difference between a County (Län) and a Province (Landscap) in Sweden. Although the Landscaps’ in Sweden had political authority prior to 1634 they were not known as counties. This article offers a good introduction to the counties of Sweden during different time periods with reference to changes through the years.<br> | Whether you are studying old family group records, looking for original sources to check, or running a search in a database, knowing the county (the Län) and the parish (the Socken) your ancestor lived in is vital to your Swedish family history research. It is also important to understand the difference between a County (Län) and a Province (Landscap) in Sweden. Although the Landscaps’ in Sweden had political authority prior to 1634 they were not known as counties. This article offers a good introduction to the counties of Sweden during different time periods with reference to changes through the years.<br> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The Län is a jurisdiction in Sweden that goes back to medieval times. Birger Jarl and King Magnus Ladulås (who reigned from 1275 to 1290) established the Slottslän at a time when the Ledungen tax (a tax to provide for the military) was revised into a fixed tax.<br> | The Län is a jurisdiction in Sweden that goes back to medieval times. Birger Jarl and King Magnus Ladulås (who reigned from 1275 to 1290) established the Slottslän at a time when the Ledungen tax (a tax to provide for the military) was revised into a fixed tax.<br> | ||
== Län Prior to 1634 == | == Län Prior to 1634 == | ||
*Slottslän – a geographic area that in medieval times provided resources for a castle or manor.<br> | *Slottslän – a geographic area that in medieval times provided resources for a castle or manor.<br> | ||
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== Län After 1634 == | == Län After 1634 == | ||
In compliance with the Constitution in 1634, the kingdom was organized into counties. At this time each province (Landskap) turned over its civil authority to the county (Län) administration. The administrative activities in the counties have basically been in force since 1810. Here is a list of the counties with information regarding when they were created or dissolved:<br> | In compliance with the Constitution in 1634, the kingdom was organized into counties. At this time each province (Landskap) turned over its civil authority to the county (Län) administration. The administrative activities in the counties have basically been in force since 1810. Here is a list of the counties with information regarding when they were created or dissolved:<br> | ||
{| | {| border="1" class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
! County Name | ! County Name | ||
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|} | |} | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== Changes in recent decades === | === Changes in recent decades === | ||
• In 1968 the City (överståthållardömet) and Stockholm County merged into a new department called Stockholm County. <br> | • In 1968 the City (överståthållardömet) and Stockholm County merged into a new department called Stockholm County. <br> | ||
• On January 1, 1997 Kristianstads and Malmöhus Counties merged to a new county called Skåne. Skåne had been the provincial name of that geographic area back into medieval times. <br> | • On January 1, 1997 Kristianstads and Malmöhus Counties merged to a new county called Skåne. Skåne had been the provincial name of that geographic area back into medieval times. <br> | ||
• On January 1, 1998 Göteborg and Bohus County, Älvsborg County and Skaraborg County, with the exception of Habo and Mullsjö municipalities, were merged into one county called Västra Götaland. Habo and Mullsjö municipalities joined the county of Jönköping instead of becoming part of Västra Götaland. <br> | • On January 1, 1998 Göteborg and Bohus County, Älvsborg County and Skaraborg County, with the exception of Habo and Mullsjö municipalities, were merged into one county called Västra Götaland. Habo and Mullsjö municipalities joined the county of Jönköping instead of becoming part of Västra Götaland. <br> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Swedish Wikipedia articles (in Swedish) at: http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Huvudsida <br> | • Swedish Wikipedia articles (in Swedish) at: http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Huvudsida <br> • Län abbreviations (in Swedish; [http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A4nsbokstav Länsbokstäver)]<br> | ||
[[Category:Sweden]] | [[Category:Sweden]] | ||