Stevns Municipality Stevns Kommune |
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Municipality | ||
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Country | Denmark | |
Region | Region Zealand | |
Seat | Store Heddinge | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Mogens Haugaard Nielsen (V) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 249.92 km2 (96.49 sq mi) | |
Population (1 July 2014) | ||
• Total | 21,920 | |
• Density | 88/km2 (230/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
Municipal code | 336 | |
Website | www.stevns.dk |
Stevns is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi), and has a population of 21,920 (1 July 2014). From 1 January 2014, its mayor is Mogens Haugaard Nielsen. He is a member of the Venstre (Liberal Party) political party. The 1st deputy mayor is Varly Jensen. He is from the Danish People's Party. The 2nd deputy mayor is Steen S. Hansen. He is from the Social Democrats. The 19-member municipal council was elected 19 November 2013 for the four-year term of office 2014-17. The municipality covers most of Stevns Peninsula.
The third largest town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Hårlev.
On January 1, 2007 Stevns municipality, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merged with Vallø municipality to form an enlarged Stevns municipality.
The ten largest urban areas in the municipality are:
The town of Store Heddinge came into existence during the 13th century, and Saint Katharina Church (Sct. Katharina kirke) is also from that time. The town received privileged status as a merchant town in 1441. A Latin preparatory school was founded in the town in 1620, but was closed down in 1739.
The area is known for its white chalk cliffs, which are quite rare in Denmark. Stevns Klint (Stevns' Cliffs), a popular tourist attraction, is one of these. The old town church by the small village of Højerup collapsed partially over the cliffs in 1928 due to erosion.