Västerbotten

This article is about the Swedish historial province. For the modern county, see Västerbotten County.

Västerbotten
Coat of arms of Västerbotten Coat of arms
Country	Sweden
Land	Norrland
County	Västerbotten County
Area
• Total	15,093 km2 (5,827 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	262,362
• Density	17/km2 (45/sq mi)
Ethnicity
• Language	Westrobothnian
Culture
• Flower	Moor-king lousewort
• Animal	Curlew
• Bird	Hen harrier
• Fish	Lamprey
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

<phonos file="sv-Västerbotten.ogg">Västerbotten</phonos>, known in English as West Bothnia or Westrobothnia, is a province (landskap) in the north of Sweden, bordering Ångermanland, Lapland, North Bothnia and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is famous for the cheese named after 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 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
• The famous Swedish author Torgny Lindgren was born here.

History

Västerbotten's old borders which extended into present-day Finland

Up until the Finnish War 1808-1809 and the Treaty of Fredrikshamn the province of Västerbotten also included a small portion of the extreme north of current Finland. This part has later been integrated in Lapland, Finland. The Eastern Botten or Ostrobothnia lay on the Finnish side of the sea and this province name still survives.

Following the Fredrikshamn treaty, which redefined the outlines and orientation of Sweden, in 1810 Västerbotten County was split in two parts. The northern portion became Norrbotten County, and the Swedish-speaking locals of Norrbotten (which in itself is a multi-lingual area) soon began referring to themselves as Norrbothnians. The county borders thus gradually led to a local provincial identity. Nowadays Norrbotten is considered a separate province, even though provinces had ceased to have any administrative or legal significance hundreds of years before 1810.

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)

Geography

Lakes and watercourse

Lakes Bodträsket Burträsket Bygdeträsket Norsjön Nydalasjön Storsävarträsket Stöcksjön Tavelsjön Storkågeträsket

Watercourse Åbyälven Tåmeälven Byskeälven Kågeälven Skellefteälven Bureälven Malån Mångbyån Rickleån (Bygdeälven)

Watercourse Dalkarlsån Sävarån Täfteån Tavelån Umeälven Vindelälven Norrmjöleån Åhedån Sörmjöleån

Sports

Football in the province is administered by Västerbottens Fotbollförbund.

External links

• Västerbotten.se
• Västerbotten.net