Öregrund facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Öregrund
|
|
|---|---|
Öregrund seen from a boat moving between Gräsö and Öregrund
|
|
 Öregrund
Location in Uppsala
Öregrund
Location in Sweden
|
|
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Uppland |
| County | Uppsala County |
| Municipality | Östhammar Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.44 km2 (0.94 sq mi) |
| Population
(31 December 2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,597 |
| • Density | 654.5/km2 (1,695/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Öregrund is a small town located in Sweden, right by the Baltic Sea. Even though it's not very big, with about 1,597 people living there as of 2020, it's still called a "city" because of its long history. It's part of Östhammar Municipality in Uppsala County.
Contents
History of Öregrund
Öregrund received its official town rights, called a royal charter, in 1491. This happened because people from the nearby city of Östhammar asked for it. Östhammar used to be a coastal town, but over time, the land slowly rose. This process, called post-glacial rebound, made its harbor too shallow to use.
So, the king's council allowed a new city to be built where the sea was deeper. They said this new city would "forever be known as Öregrund." This small but growing town soon became important. In 1520, Christian II of Denmark took over Stockholm. A young leader named Gustav Vasa tried to gather an army. Öregrund became a key port for moving soldiers and weapons. To stop this, the Danish King ordered the city to be burned down in the winter of 1520. Because of this, the people of Öregrund had to move back to Östhammar.
It wasn't until 1555 that the citizens could rebuild their city. By then, Gustav Eriksson had become King Gustav I of Sweden and had brought peace to the country.
Öregrund's Role in the Iron Industry
In the 1600s, the Uppland region of Sweden saw a big change called the Industrial Revolution. The Swedish iron industry became very strong. Sweden became a powerful country because of its iron. A type of iron called bar iron was sent out to other countries through Öregrund. In England, the best quality iron was known as Oregrounds iron.
For many centuries, fishing was almost the only business in Öregrund. The big industrial changes of the 1800s didn't really happen in Öregrund. Instead, new factories and businesses grew in nearby Östhammar.
Öregrund as a Spa Town
In the late 1800s, a new type of business became popular: spas. People from other places started building summer homes in Öregrund. They came to enjoy the town as a summer getaway. During this time, many beautiful houses and gardens were built.
However, these summer residents didn't pay much in local taxes. This caused money problems for the town. In 1968, Öregrund joined with the city of Östhammar. Since a big change in local government in 1971, Öregrund has been part of Östhammar Municipality.
In 2017, Öregrund was used as a filming location for a Dutch TV show called Kroongetuige (which means Crown Witness).
Öregrund in Modern Times
The most important part of Öregrund today is still its harbor. Now, it's mainly used for smaller boats. In the summer, the harbor is very busy with sailboats and other pleasure boats. Many boats also arrive from Stockholm, enjoying a trip through the Stockholm Archipelago.
p.jpg)
Sights to See in Öregrund
Öregrund is one of the best-preserved wooden towns in Uppland. Many visitors come to see its charming wooden houses. Besides these, there is also a notable stone church in the town center. You can also see the town hall, which was built in the mid-1800s.
Images for kids
-
Öregrund around the year 1700, from an old book called Suecia antiqua et hodierna.
