Öregrund

Öregrund
Öregrund seen from a boat moving between Gräsö and Öregrund
Öregrund Show map of Uppsala Öregrund Show map of Sweden
Coordinates: 60°20′N 18°26′E / 60.333°N 18.433°E / 60.333; 18.433Coordinates: 60°20′N 18°26′E / 60.333°N 18.433°E / 60.333; 18.433
Country	Sweden
Province	Uppland
County	Uppsala County
Municipality	Östhammar Municipality
Area
• Total	2.44 km2 (0.94 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)
• Total	1,555
• Density	636/km2 (1,650/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Öregrund is a locality situated in Östhammar Municipality, Uppsala County, Sweden with 1,555 inhabitants in 2010. It is located by the coast of the Baltic Sea. Öregrund is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city.

The town was granted a royal charter in 1491, by request from citizens from nearby city of Östhammar. Östhammar had once been a coastal town, but due to post-glacial rebound its harbour had become useless. The royal council granted the request to construct a city at the end of the archipelago where the sea opened. It further proclaimed "the city shall forever be known as Öregrund". The small but expanding city soon became a point of conflict. In 1520 Christian II of Denmark conquered . A young Gustav Eriksson tried to gather an army, and Öregrund became the port whereto ships with men and weapons were transported. As a countermeasure, the Danish King had the city burnt in the winter of 1520. And so, the citizens of Öregrund had to move back to Östhammar.

Not until 1555, when Gustav Eriksson had become King Gustav I of Sweden (Vasa) and stabilized the nation, were the citizens granted permission to reconstruct the city.

Uppland underwent an industrial revolution in the 17th century, with the Swedish iron industry becoming the foundation of Sweden's status as a Great Power. Bar iron was exported through Öregrund. In England the best quality wrought iron was known as Oregrounds iron.