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Östersund

Östersund, Sweden
Staare
Lakeside view of Östersund
Lakeside view of Östersund
Coat of arms of Östersund, Sweden
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Centre of Sweden
Motto: Vinterstaden
(Winter City)
Östersund is located in Jämtland
Östersund
Östersund
Östersund is located in Sweden
Östersund
Östersund
Coordinates: 63°10′45″N 14°38′09″E / 63.17917°N 14.63583°E / 63.17917; 14.63583Coordinates: 63°10′45″N 14°38′09″E / 63.17917°N 14.63583°E / 63.17917; 14.63583
Country Sweden
Province Jämtland
County Jämtland County
Municipality Östersund Municipality and
Krokom Municipality
Area
 • City 27.28 km2 (10.53 sq mi)
 • Metro 2,220.50 km2 (857.34 sq mi)
Elevation 312 m (1,024 ft)
Population (31 December 2015)
 • City 49,806
 • Density 1,625/km2 (4,210/sq mi)
 • Metro 76,410
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 831 xx
Area code(s) (+46) 63
Demonym Östersundare
Website www.ostersund.se

Östersund (Swedish pronunciation: [œstɛˈʂɵnd]; Southern Sami: Staare) is an urban area (city) in Jämtland in the middle of Sweden. It is the seat of Östersund Municipality and the capital of Jämtland County. Östersund is located at the shores of Sweden's fifth largest lake, Storsjön, opposite the island Frösön, and is the only city in Jämtland. Östersund is the region's cultural and economical centre and by tradition a city of trade and commerce. Östersund had one of the most extensive garrisons in Sweden prior to its closure in the early 21st century. The city is the Mid Sweden University's largest campus site with approximately 7,000 students. With a total population of 44,327 (2010) Östersund is the 24th most populous city in Sweden, the 46th most populous city in Scandinavia, and by far the largest inland city in Northern Sweden.

The city was the only Swedish city founded and chartered in the 18th century. Östersund was founded in order to create a trade monopoly over Jämtland whose inhabitants' lucrative trade annoyed the Swedish crown. The intention was to persuade the local farmers to deliver merchandise to middlemen in Östersund, but the population opposed this economic philosophy, and Östersund long remained small. It took until the end of the 19th century for Östersund to truly become a city, after the arrival of the railroad and the economic liberalization of that time.


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