Karlstad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karlstad
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Episcopal see and municipal seat
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| Nickname(s):
city of the Sun, Sun city
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 Karlstad
Location in Värmland County
Karlstad
Location in Sweden
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| Country |  Sweden |
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| Province | Värmland | |
| County | Värmland County | |
| Municipality | Karlstad Municipality | |
| Founded by | King Charles IX | |
| Area | ||
| • Episcopal see and municipal seat | 30.31 km2 (11.70 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) | |
| Population
(2020 (city); 2015 (metro))
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| • Episcopal see and municipal seat | 67,122 | |
| • Density | 2,035/km2 (5,270/sq mi) | |
| • Metro | 96,466 | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
65x xx
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| Area code(s) | (+46) 54 | |
Karlstad is a city in Sweden. It is the 20th-largest city in the country. Karlstad is the main city of Karlstad Municipality. It is also the capital of Värmland County. This makes it the biggest city in the Värmland province.
In 2020, about 67,122 people lived in Karlstad itself. The wider area had 97,233 people in 2023. Karlstad is home to a university and a cathedral.
The city has been growing a lot recently. Many new buildings are being built. For example, new apartments have appeared around Orrholmen and Tullholmen. One new apartment building is 17 stories tall!
Karlstad is built where Sweden's longest river, Klarälven, meets Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. It has the second-largest lake port in Sweden. Only Västerås has a bigger one.
People often think of sunshine when they hear about Karlstad. The city's symbol is a smiling sun. Karlstad is known as one of the sunniest towns in Sweden. There's even a statue of a local waitress. She was called "Sola i Karlstad" (the Sun in Karlstad) because she was always so cheerful.
Contents
History of Karlstad
Early Beginnings and Royal Connections
On Karlstad's biggest island, there was once a meeting place called Tingvalla. This place was used for meetings and as a market during the medieval age. It even has roots going back to the Viking Age, before 1000 AD.
Karlstad became an official city on March 5, 1584. This happened when Swedish Duke Charles gave it a "city charter." A city charter is like a special permission that gives a place the rights and rules of a city. This Duke later became King Charles IX of Sweden. The city's name, Karlstad, means Charles' city. The Duke also made Karlstad a government center for the region. He gave the city a lot of land too.
The Duke built his own house in the city. It was called Kungsgården, which means The King's Manor. Karlstad's Cathedral was built on the same spot as Kungsgården. It was built between 1724 and 1730 by Christian Haller.
Major Events in Karlstad's Past
Karlstad has faced four big fires throughout its history. After the last major fire on July 2, 1865, only the cathedral and a few houses were left. The city was then rebuilt with wide, tree-lined streets. This new layout was like a grid pattern.
In 1905, an important agreement was signed in Karlstad. This agreement was about ending the union between Norway and Sweden. This event is known as the dissolution of the union.
People and Education in Karlstad
Languages Spoken in Karlstad
The main language spoken in Karlstad is Swedish. Most people in the city speak it as their first language. However, many people have moved to Karlstad from other countries. This has led to five other important languages being spoken there:
- Arabic
- Somali
- Sorani
- Persian
- Serbo-Croatian; this includes Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. These are often thought of as one language.
Places of Worship and Learning
Karlstad has several Christian churches. The Church of Sweden is one of them. The famous Karlstad Cathedral was built in 1730. In the 1800s, a small Jewish community also lived in Karlstad. They built a synagogue in 1899, but it was taken down in 1961.
Karlstad has many high schools, called gymnasium in Sweden. These schools offer a wide range of subjects. Many students in the Värmland area come to Karlstad for their high school education. For college, Karlstad University offers higher education. It became a university in 1999.
Culture and Fun in Karlstad
Local Media
Karlstad has two main newspapers. They are called Värmlands Folkblad and Nya Wermlands-Tidningen. Both newspapers are based in Karlstad and are read across the whole county.
Sports and Recreation in Karlstad
Winter Sports
Ice hockey is a very popular sport to watch in Karlstad. The most popular team is Färjestad BK. They play in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), which is the top league. Their home arena is Löfbergs Arena. Färjestad BK has won the Swedish Championship many times. They are the most successful ice hockey club in Sweden since the SHL started in 1975. Karlstad also has other ice hockey teams, like Skåre BK. In 2010, Karlstad also hosted the 2010 Men's World Inline Hockey Championships at Löfbergs Arena.
Traditionally, bandy has been the most popular winter sport. Karlstad is home to two very successful bandy clubs: IF Boltic and IF Karlstad-Göta. Boltic reached 10 Swedish finals in a row from 1979 to 1988, winning many of them. In 2000, these two clubs joined to form BS BolticGöta. The team later went back to being called IF Boltic. Their home, Tingvalla Ice Stadium, was built in 1967. It was an outdoor stadium but was changed into an indoor rink in 2022. People from Afghanistan living in Karlstad have also started to enjoy bandy. They even have an Afghanistan national bandy team based in the city!
Karlstad is often a starting or finishing point for the Swedish Rally. This is a big car racing competition that is part of the world championship. It happens every year in Värmland.
Summer Sports
Karlstad has several football (soccer) clubs. QBIK is a women's team founded in 1978. They played in the top women's league, Damallsvenskan, in 2005. Their home field is Tingvalla IP. Two men's teams, Karlstad BK and Carlstad United, joined together to form IF Karlstad Fotboll. They now play in Division 1 Norra. Another club from Karlstad is FBK Karlstad.
Motorcycle speedway races happen at the Kalvholmen Motorbana. The team is called Solkatterna (the Sun Cats). They compete in the Swedish Speedway Team Championship.
American football is also played at Tingvalla IP. The Carlstad Crusaders play in Superserien, the highest league. Since they started in 1990, they have won their first championship in 2010.
Karlstad is also known for track and field sports. The club IF Göta has many international athletes. They host an annual athletics event called Götagalan. There is an outdoor track at Tingvalla IP and an indoor track at Våxnäshallen.
Another important sports club is OK Tyr. It is one of the biggest orienteering clubs in Sweden. Orienteering is a sport where you use a map and compass to find your way.
Public Facilities for Sports
Karlstad has great places for public sports. The Klarälvsbanan is a 90 km (56 mi) long bike path. It follows an old railway line north from Karlstad. It's popular for biking, inline skating, and roller skiing.
There are also many beaches and swimming spots. You can find them by Vänern lake, smaller lakes, and the Klarälven river. The city also has a 25-meter (82 ft) indoor swimming pool.
Around the city, you can find many jogging trails made of wood chips. Some of these trails are lit up at night. In winter, some are used for cross-country skiing.
Economy of Karlstad
In 2023, Karlstad's economy was strong. The value of goods and services produced per person was about 623,000 Swedish crowns. This was about 20% higher than the national average. Karlstad has a strong technology sector. Many IT companies, like CombinedX, Sogeti, CGI Inc., and Tieto, have offices there. Telia Group, a big phone company, also has a global network center in Karlstad.
Climate in Karlstad
Karlstad has a humid continental climate. This means it has big differences between its seasons. The weather is affected by the large Vänern lake nearby. It also gets air from both the ocean and the land. The hottest temperature ever recorded since 1901 was 34.0°C (93.2°F) in July 1933. The coldest was -36.0°C (-32.8°F) in February 1966.
| Climate data for Karlstad Airport (1991-2020 averages; 2008–2018 precipitation for Väse; 2002-2020 average record highs and lows and sunshine hours; extremes 1901–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
20.1 (68.2) |
25.8 (78.4) |
29.0 (84.2) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.0 (93.2) |
32.0 (89.6) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.1 (62.8) |
11.5 (52.7) |
34.0 (93.2) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
12.8 (55.0) |
18.4 (65.1) |
24.6 (76.3) |
26.8 (80.2) |
28.6 (83.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
22.1 (71.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
29.5 (85.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.3 (32.5) |
0.8 (33.4) |
4.7 (40.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
15.9 (60.6) |
19.7 (67.5) |
22.0 (71.6) |
20.7 (69.3) |
16.0 (60.8) |
9.8 (49.6) |
4.6 (40.3) |
1.4 (34.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.7 (27.1) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
0.6 (33.1) |
5.3 (41.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.8 (62.2) |
15.7 (60.3) |
11.5 (52.7) |
6.3 (43.3) |
1.9 (35.4) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.6 (21.9) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
0.1 (32.2) |
4.6 (40.3) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.5 (52.7) |
10.7 (51.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
2.1 (35.7) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | −17.1 (1.2) |
−14.8 (5.4) |
−11.9 (10.6) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
7.7 (45.9) |
4.9 (40.8) |
0.2 (32.4) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−8.5 (16.7) |
−14.4 (6.1) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32.5 (−26.5) |
−36.0 (−32.8) |
−26.9 (−16.4) |
−18.4 (−1.1) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−1.8 (28.8) |
2.0 (35.6) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−19.9 (−3.8) |
−28.0 (−18.4) |
−36.0 (−32.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 50.0 (1.97) |
35.0 (1.38) |
35.0 (1.38) |
50.0 (1.97) |
55.0 (2.17) |
65.0 (2.56) |
60.0 (2.36) |
85.0 (3.35) |
65.0 (2.56) |
75.0 (2.95) |
70.0 (2.76) |
55.0 (2.17) |
700 (27.58) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 47 | 69 | 168 | 219 | 261 | 287 | 271 | 223 | 174 | 108 | 52 | 44 | 1,923 |
Famous People from Karlstad
Many well-known people come from Karlstad, including:
- Adam Alsing, a radio and television host
- Jonas Brodin, an ice hockey player in the National Hockey League
- Niklas Edin, a World Men's Curling Champion from 2013
- Joel Eriksson Ek, an ice hockey player and World Championship winner
- Nils Ferlin, a famous poet
- Jenny Fransson, a wrestler
- Gustaf Fröding, another well-known poet
- Stefan Holm, a high jumper who won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics
- Oscar Klefbom, who plays for the Edmonton Oilers ice hockey team
- Zarah Leander, a famous actress
- Lina Länsberg, a professional mixed martial artist
- Martin Molin, a composer and inventor, known from the band Wintergatan
- Jan Nilsson, a racing car driver
- Thomas Rhodin, an ice hockey player who won the Swedish Championship four times
- Christer Sjögren, a rock and dansband singer
- Ulf Sterner, the first European-trained ice hockey player to play in the National Hockey League
- Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, a racing driver
Sister Cities of Karlstad
Karlstad has "sister city" relationships with several other cities around the world. This means they share cultural and educational ties. Karlstad is twinned with:
Images for kids
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Karlstad Cathedral
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Karlstad from the Klaraborg Bridge
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Statue of Sola i Karlstad, next to Klarälven
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Wooden houses that survived the fire in 1865
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Karlstad Theatre, home of the Wermland Opera
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The East Bridge
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Carlarnas sluss, a lock from the early 19th century
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The Bishops House
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Värmland Museum by night
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The new part of Värmland Museum
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Tingvalla upper secondary school
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Karlstad Town Hall
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See also
In Spanish: Karlstad para niños
