Skellefteå

Skellefteå (Swedish: [ɧɛˈlɛ̌ftɛɔ], locally [ɧɛˈlɛ̌ftɛ] ⓘ) is a city in Västerbotten County, Sweden. It is the seat of Skellefteå Municipality, which had 74,402 inhabitants in 2022.[2]

For the album by The Wannadies, see Skellefteå (album).
Skellefteå
Skellefteå in images
Skellefteå in images
Coat of arms of Skellefteå
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
Schtaan, Guldstaden (Goldtown), Skellhell[1]
Skellefteå is located in Västerbotten
Skellefteå
Skellefteå
Skellefteå is located in Sweden
Skellefteå
Skellefteå
Coordinates: 64°45′N 20°57′E
CountrySweden
ProvinceVästerbotten
CountyVästerbotten County
MunicipalitySkellefteå Municipality
Area
[2]
 • City21.74 km2 (8.39 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2010)[2]
 • City36,395
 • Density1,507/km2 (3,900/sq mi)
 • Urban
74,402
Time zoneUTC+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.

History
An overview of Skellefteå and City Hall (center) in 1870
A street, Nygatan, Skellefteå, 1927

The name Skellefteå is recorded to having been spelled as Skelepht in 1327. 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.

The actual city of Skellefteå is one of the youngest cities of Norrland. It was founded in 1845 by the vicar Nils Nordlander.

Today

In the 20th century, Skellefteå evolved to an industrial and mining city and many wooden houses were demolished to make room for brick buildings.

It will become the home of a massive battery plant made by Northvolt by circa 2023.[3]

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".

During the 1990s, the computer industry flourished, subsidiaries of Ericsson and Tieto Enator becoming important employers.

Climate

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 (1991-2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −3.8
(25.2)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 1.2
(34.2)		 6.7
(44.1)		 13.2
(55.8)		 18.4
(65.1)		 21.1
(70.0)		 19.3
(66.7)		 13.8
(56.8)		 6.4
(43.5)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −1.8
(28.8)		 7.7
(45.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.2
(19.0)		 −7.4
(18.7)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 2.0
(35.6)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.3
(55.9)		 16.4
(61.5)		 14.8
(58.6)		 9.6
(49.3)		 3.4
(38.1)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 3.6
(38.5)
Average low °C (°F) −11.5
(11.3)		 −11.8
(10.8)		 −7.9
(17.8)		 −2.7
(27.1)		 2.7
(36.9)		 8.4
(47.1)		 11.7
(53.1)		 10.2
(50.4)		 5.6
(42.1)		 0.3
(32.5)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 −8.5
(16.7)		 −0.7
(30.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 44.0
(1.73)		 33.4
(1.31)		 33.7
(1.33)		 30.3
(1.19)		 39.3
(1.55)		 55.9
(2.20)		 72.5
(2.85)		 68.9
(2.71)		 58.7
(2.31)		 63.6
(2.50)		 58.5
(2.30)		 53.4
(2.10)		 612.2
(24.10)
Source: SMHI Timeseries with normals for 1991-2020[4]


Climate data for Skellefteå Airport (2006–2020 averages, extremes 1970–1992 & 2006–2020 & snow depth from Kusmark)
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]

Industry

Transportation

The European route E4 highway provides the main road connection to the city, providing direct connections to cities like Stockholm and Sundsvall going south and Luleå going north. Riksväg 95 also serves the city.

There is a railway branch line running through Skellefteå, although with no passenger traffic, making it the largest city in Sweden without it. The line is still served by Freight traffic. [8] There were plans to start night trains going from Stockholm to Skellefteå, with service being expected to commence in April 2022. Due to a decision from Trafikverket, the planned night trains were cancelled before they started running. [9] [10] The closest train station in use is located in Bastuträsk, from which trains heading to several cities including Stockholm, Umeå and Luleå depart, operated by Norrtåg and Vy. There goes a bus to Skellefteå from Bastuträsk, intended for transfers to and from the trains. [11]

The High-speed rail line Norrbotniabanan is planned to go through the city, providing it with rail service for the first time since 1990. [12] As a part of this, a new station will be constructed close to the city centre. [13] Service is expected to begin in 2030. [14]

Sports

Notable people

Sportspeople

Other

Artists
  • Moon Safari, a symphonic rock band.
  • The Wannadies, an alternative rock band formed in 1988.
  • Vintersorg, a metal band.
  • Amber Oak, a pop-rock band.
  • Black Bonzo (2003-2011) and Gin Lady (2012-present), progressive-rock bands

See also

References
  1. "Skellhell inte så illa som du tror". March 2011. Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  2. "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.
  3. plats, Skellefteå se-Ge idéerna (2018-01-30). "Etablering av batterifabrik". portal.skelleftea.se (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  4. "Timeseries with normals for 1991-2020" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
  5. "Open Data for Skellefteå" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  6. "Open Data for Skellefteå" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  7. Milne, Richard; Hall, Ben (2019-12-02). "Europe First: how Brussels is retooling industrial policy". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  8. "Banguide Basträsk-Skelleftehamn". jarnvag.net. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. Israelsson, Marit (24 June 2021). "Utlovade persontrafiken med tåg till Skellefteå blir inte av nästa år". svt.se. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  10. Assmundsson, Mikael (13 April 2021). "Nattåget börjar köra till Skellefteå". svt.se. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  11. "Tågbussen". skebuss.se. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  12. "Norrbotniabanan i Skellefteå". trafikverket.se. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  13. "Skellefteå Resecentrum". skelleftea.se. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  14. "Tidplan för Norrbotniabanan" (PDF). bransch.trafikverket.se. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  15. Mark Crowther. "The Week In Chess 233". London Chess Center. Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  16. suentus po 147. "Skelleftea World Cup 1989". chessgames.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  17. Invalidname. "Chess (musical)". en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2019-06-18.

Media related to Skellefteå at Wikimedia Commons

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