Härnösand (Swedish pronunciation: [hæɳøˈsanːd]) is a town and locality in Västernorrland County, Sweden. It is the seat of Härnösand Municipality, with 25,012 inhabitants in 2023. 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.
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History
On 10 December 1885, Härnösand became the first town in Sweden with electric street lighting, following the Gådeå power station being taken into use.
World War II
During World War II, owing to its strategic position as a port, the town was used to help the Nazis transport soldiers and weapons.
Education
Härnösand is the seat of The National Agency for Special Needs Education and Schools (Specialpedagogiska skolmyndigheten).
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) operates its training programme Sida Partnership Forum in Härnösand.
Industry
One of the biggest employers in Härnösand is the cable-TV and Cable internet service provider Com Hem.
Sports
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 is also played in the city and Team Anette Norberg is based there. Anette Norberg won several medals in sport, including an Olympic gold medal. Sweden's only curling high school is located in the city. Established in 1989, the school has trained a number of curlers who later competed at national and international levels.
Härnösand also has an ice hockey team AIK Hockey Härnösand that plays in division 1 in region norr.
Recreation
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.
Climate
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.
Notable people
Alfhild Agrell, writer and playwright
Anders Jonas Ångström, physicist
Albert Atterberg, soil mechanics
Dagmar Beling (1929–2023), painter
Nils Bohlin, inventor
Lena Endre, Actor
Tomas Fischer, book publisher and businessman
Anton Forsberg, ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators
Bo Holmberg, politician
Lasse Lindh, Musician
Johan Lundgren, businessman
Bertil Malmberg, writer
Anette Norberg, women's curling Olympic gold medalist
Carl Gustaf Nordin, statesman
Ulf Sandström, ice hockey player
Monica Sjöö, (December 31, 1938 – August 8, 2005), painter, writer and a radical anarcho/ eco-feminist and an exponent of the Goddess movement.
Frideborg Winblad, educator and administrator