Uddevalla

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Uddevalla

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image_caption = Overlooking the centre of Uddevalla
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Uddevalla Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Västra Götaland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Bohuslän
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 16.92
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 30,513
population_density_km2 = 1804
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=58 |latm=21 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=11 |longm=55 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Uddevalla is a city in Bohuslän in western Sweden. It has a population of about 35,000 and is the seat of Uddevalla Municipality (pop. 50,000) in Västra Götaland County.

It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak. The beaches of Uddevalla are filled with seashells, and Uddevalla has one of the largest shellbanks in the world.

Uddevalla has a small port and once hosted a large shipyard called Uddevallavarvet, which in 1960 was the largest employer in Bohuslän. But in the 1970s all shipyards in Sweden experienced a recession which also led to the closure of Uddevallavarvet in 1985.

History

Uddevalla got its city rights in 1498 but was probably a place of merchancy long before that. Historically Uddevalla was part of Norway. Because of its location close to Sweden and Denmark, it was often besieged. In 1612 it was burnt by Swedish troops under the command of Jesper Mattson Krus and in 1644 it was again burnt, by the Swedish commander Stake. In 1658, at the treaty of Roskilde, it was ceded to Sweden. A year later the Norwegians retook it, but in 1660 it was once again ceded to Sweden in the peace treaty of Copenhagen. Norway later repeatedly reconquered Uddevalla and the nearby fortress on "Galleberg", the last time in 1788.

In the 18th and 19th century, Uddevalla's main importance lay in its herring fishing. But what also marked the city were the great fires which several times damaged the city. Most notably in 1806, when the entire city, four houses spared, was burnt to the ground, and 4,000 people were made homeless.

In the 19th century, Uddevalla had trouble getting out of its recession and struggled with poverty and alcoholism. The reasons were mainly that the herring fishing had decreased, the canal of Trollhättan opened, together with the aftereffects of the 1806 fire.

Sometime around 1870-1880, Uddevalla began to attract industries. Much of the development in that century can be attributed to the Scottish businessman William Thorburn, who is said to have been amazed by the city's beauty and hence settled there with his wife Jessy Macfie in 1822 [http://home.swipnet.se/~w-10723/thormac1.htm Thorburn-Macfie Family Society website (accessed Oct 2007)] ] . He founded a number of industries, mostly textile in the beginning. Another factor contributing to Uddevalla's recovery was the railroad.

Today

After the Swedish shipyard crisis in the 1980s, forcing the closure of Uddevallavarvet, Uddevalla suffered economic setback. The population has been steady over the last thirty years.

Education

All the high schools in Uddevalla have been united under one name Uddevalla Gymnasieskola or High School of Uddevalla, which is now the largest high school in Sweden, with 4000 students, divided as follows:
* Agneberg - Social studies
* Sinclair (High School) - Art and Media studies
* Östrabo 1 - Science studies
* Östrabo Y - Preparation for work in heavy industry.

There are also many primary schools in Uddevalla, for example Äsperödskolan, Västerskolan, Fridasskolan, Ramnerödsskolan, Norgårdenskolan, Sommahemsskolan.

References

*
* Nationalencyklopedin

External links

* [http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0450.html article Uddevalla, from NF]
* [http://www.gymnasiet.uddevalla.se/ Uddevalla Gymnasieskola] Official site for Uddevalla Gymnasieskola [* [http://www.uddevalla.se/]