Östergötland
—  County of Sweden  —
Coat of arms
Country	Sweden
Capital	Linköping
Government
• Governor	Elisabeth Nilsson
• Council	Landstinget i Östergötland
Area
• Total	10,562 km2 (4,078 sq mi)
Population (March 31 2011)[1]
• Total	429,852
• Density	41/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
GDP/ Nominal	SEK 97,387 million (2004)
GDP per capita	SEK 236,000
NUTS Region	SE123

Östergötland County (Östergötlands län) is a county or län in southeastern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kalmar to the southeast, Jönköping to the southwest, Västra Götaland to the west, Örebro to the northwest, Södermanland to the northeast, and the Baltic Sea to the east.

Östergötland County has a population of 429 852 (March 31, 2011) and the capital and biggest city is Linköping. Linköping and neighbouring twin city Norrköping together form one of Sweden's biggest metropolitan areas; The Linköping-Norrköping Corridor is therefore often referred to as The Fourth Metropolitan Region of Sweden, the other three being Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Province[link]

For History, Geography and Culture see: Östergötland Östergötland has virtually the same boundaries as the current administrative entity, the Östergötland County.

Administration[link]

The main aim of the County Administrative Board is to fulfil the goals set in national politics by the Parliament and the Government, to coordinate the interests of the county, to promote the development of the county, to establish regional goals and safeguard the due process of law in the handling of each case. The County Administrative Board is a Government Agency headed by a Governor. See List of Östergötland Governors.

Politics[link]

The County Council of Östergötland or Landstinget i Östergötland.

Municipalities[link]

• Boxholm
• Finspång
• Kinda
• Linköping
• Mjölby
• Motala
• Norrköping
• Söderköping
• Vadstena
• Valdemarsvik
• Ydre
• Åtvidaberg
• Ödeshög

Heraldry[link]

Östergötland County inherited its coat of arms from the province of Östergötland. When it is shown with a royal crown it represents the County Administrative Board.

References and notes[link]

External links[link]

• Östergötland County Administrative Board
• Östergötland County Council
• Tourism in Östergötland
• Regional Association of Östergötland

v t e Counties (län) of Sweden Blekinge Dalarna Gävleborg Gotland Halland Jämtland Jönköping Kalmar Kronoberg Norrbotten Örebro Östergötland Scania (Skåne) Södermanland Stockholm Uppsala Värmland Västerbotten Västernorrland Västmanland Västra Götaland

v t e Municipalities and seats of Östergötland County Municipalities Åtvidaberg Boxholm Finspång Kinda Linköping Mjölby Motala Norrköping Ödeshög Söderköping Vadstena Valdemarsvik Ydre Municipal seats Åtvidaberg Boxholm Finspång Kisa Linköping Mjölby Motala Norrköping Ödeshög Österbymo Söderköping Vadstena Valdemarsvik Counties of Sweden Sweden

Coordinates: 58°31′41″N 15°14′17″E / 58.528125°N 15.238037°E / 58.528125; 15.238037

Östergötland
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Sweden
Land	Götaland
Counties	Östergötland County Örebro County
Area
• Total	3,856 km2 (1,489 sq mi)
Population (2009)[1]
• Total	424,333
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Ethnicity
• Languages	Östgötska Götamål
Culture
• Flower	Cornflower
• Animal	—
• Bird	Mute swan
• Fish	Pike
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal codes

Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland,^[2] is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden (landskap in Swedish) in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia. The corresponding administrative county, Östergötland County covers the entire province and parts of neighbouring provinces.

Heraldry[link]

From 1560, Östergötland was represented with two separate coat-of-arms seals until 1884, when the current one was granted. The coat of arms is represented with a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Gules a Griffin with Dragon Wings, Tail and Tongue rampant Or armed, beaked, langued and membered Azure between four Roses Argent."

Geography[link]

Typical Östgöta plains

From west to east, in the middle parts, extends the Östgöta Plain (Östgöta-slätten). It is largely agricultural. In the southern part of the province, the terrain becomes marked by the south-Swedish highlands, with hills and countless lakes. The northern parts are also hilly, and are otherwise dominated by forests.

Outside the eastern shore of Östergötland lies an archipelago, the islands and islets of which cover an area of 118 square kilometres (46 sq mi). The Bråviken bay continues further into the country. Some of the more notable islands are Korsö, Gränsö, Arkö, Djursö, Yxnö, Finnö, Emtö, Fångö and Stora Ålö.

Traditionally, the region is divided into two halves, east and west of the river Stångån (Östanstång and Västanstång respectively), which flows from the south into Lake Roxen at Linköping.

The eastern part of Göta Canal traverses the province from the Baltic Sea at Mem to Lake Vättern at Motala.

• Highest mountain: Stenabohöjden, 327 meters (1,073 ft)
• Largest lake: Vättern (second-largest lake of Sweden)

Towns[link]

The Palace in Finspång

Cities and the year of their now defunct royal charter.

• Linköping (1287)
• Mjölby (1922)
• Motala (1881)
• Norrköping (1384)
• Skänninge (approximately 1200)
• Söderköping (approximately 1200)
• Vadstena (approximately 1400)

Today, the largest city in the province is Linköping, with Norrköping second. Skänninge is one of the oldest areas but small; Vadstena is also small. Additional towns without a royal charter that have emerged in the 20th century are Finspång and Åtvidaberg.

History[link]

The church tower at Bjälbo.

The earliest mention of Östergötland (the Ostrogoths of Scandza) appears in the Getica by the Goth scholar Jordanes.

The traditions of Östergötland date back into the Viking age, the undocumented Iron Age, and earlier, when this region had its own laws and kings (see Geatish kings and Wulfings). It is said that the famous Viking warrior Beowulf may likely have been from what is now the Östergötland region. The region kept its own laws, the Östgötalagen, into the Middle Ages. Östergötland belonged to the Christian heartland of the late Iron Age and early medieval Sweden. The Sverker and Bjälbo dynasties played pivotal roles in the consolidation of Sweden.

The province has about 50,000 ancient remains of different kinds. Some 1,749 are, for instance, grave fields.

Industry was formerly most significant in the cities of Norrköping (industries include Ericsson), Linköping (where SAAB has aircraft factories where the Gripen fighter is produced), Finspång (metal works), and Motala (mechanical industries).

[edit] Dukes and Duchesses of Östergötland

Since the 13th century, Swedish princes and princesses in some dynasties have been created dukes and duchesses of various provinces. Since 1772, these are only nominal titles.

• Sune Sik, Duke of Östergötland 12th century (according to 18th century Swedish historian Magnus Boræn)
• Magnus, created Duke of Östergötland by his father King Gustav I
• Prince John, Duke of Östergötland
• Princess Maria Elizabeth, Duchess of Östergötland as consort and widow of Prince John
• Prince Fredrik Adolph, Duke of Östergötland
• Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland before his accession to the throne as King Oscar II
• Princess Sophia, as the consort of Prince Oscar and before his accession to the throne
• Prince Carl, Duke of Östergötland
• Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland since 24th February 2012

Culture[link]

Local accents[link]

Formerly the östgöta [øɧːøta] or [øɧœːta] dialect spectrum were considered true göta dialects, but is nowadays considered being a transition area between true göta dialects and svea dialects. The dialects are still used in rural areas, but in the cities, the Standard Swedish is spoken with a certain östgöta accent. The accent Östgötska [øɧːøtska] can be distinguished from Standard Swedish just by accent and pronunciation of vowels ad sje- and the- sounds, which makes Östgöta accent an eastern variety of the Götaland accent. In some parts bordering to Södermanland, a variety of the Svealand accent is spoken.

Sights[link]

The Provincial Museum in Linköping

In Östergötland several older churches are still standing and many castles and palaces are open to the public. Ekenäs Castle, one of the best preserved renaissance castles in Sweden, has belonged to the families Sture and Banér. Löfstad Castle has its origin in the early 17th century, having belonged to the von Fersen family. Vadstena Castle, built by the Royal Vasa dynasty 1545–620, is a combined fortress and renaissance castle.

Vreta Abbey was the first convent to be established in Sweden, dating from the early 12th century, while Vadstena Abbey was the dominant convent in Medieval Sweden. Notable is also the ruins of the Alvastra Abbey near mountain Omberg and Lake Tåkern.

The cathedral in Linköping is the second largest church in Sweden and is very well-preserved from the Middle Age.

The Göta Canal crosses the province East-West with several locks and the Kinda Canal connects the lakes in the southern parts of the province with the central plains.

Övralid Manor was the last home of Nobel Prize laureate Verner von Heidenstam 1925–40.

There are several museums in all parts of the province, for example the Swedish Broadcasting Museum, Swedish Air Force Museum, Sancta Birgitta Convent Museum, Museum of Work and the Motala Motor Museum.

The Rök Runestone is one of the most famous runestones, featuring the longest known runic inscription in stone. It can now be seen by the church in Rök (between Mjölby and Ödeshög, close to the E4 and Lake Vättern). It is considered the first piece of written Swedish literature and thus it marks the beginning of the history of Swedish literature.

Winter scene at Ekenäs Castle	Former Industrial landscape in Norrköping	Övralid Manor, with view over  Lake Vättern
The Göta Canal at Söderköping	Tidersrum Church, the oldest wooden church in Sweden	Vadstena Castle in Vadstena

The Cathedral in Linköping

Vreta Abbey from the early 12th century

Hundreds[link]

The Hundreds of Sweden were jurisdictional divisions in effect until the early 20th century.

Sports[link]

Football in the province is administered by Östergötlands Fotbollförbund.

See also[link]

• Roundabout dog

References[link]

1. ^ Statistics Sweden
2. ^ Eric Linklater in The Life of Charles XII pp. 53-54 & throughout

• Nordisk Familjebok, see below

External links[link]

• Östergötland Official Tourism Site In Swedish, English, German
• (Swedish) article Östergötland from Nordisk Familjebok. (In Swedish)
• Ekenäs Castle
• Löfstad Castle

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Östergötland

v t e Provinces (landskap) of Sweden Ångermanland Blekinge Bohuslän Dalarna Dalsland Gästrikland Gotland Halland Hälsingland Härjedalen Jämtland Lappland Medelpad Närke Norrbotten Öland Östergötland Scania (Skåne) Småland Södermanland Uppland Värmland Västerbotten Västergötland Västmanland

Coordinates: 58°25′N 15°45′E / 58.417°N 15.75°E / 58.417; 15.75