Karlstad
Karlstad (US: /ˈkɑːrlstɑːd/, Swedish: [ˈkɑ̌ːɭsta(d)] ⓘ) is the 20th-largest city in Sweden, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city proper had 67,122 inhabitants in 2020 with 97,233 inhabitants in the wider municipality in 2023, and is the 21st biggest municipality in Sweden. Karlstad has a university and a cathedral.
Karlstad | |
|---|---|
Episcopal see and municipal seat | |
|
Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): city of the Sun, Sun city | |
Karlstad Karlstad | |
| Coordinates: 59°22′42″N 13°30′15″E | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Värmland |
| County | Värmland County |
| Municipality | Karlstad Municipality |
| Founded by | King Charles IX |
| Government | |
| • Chairman of the Executive Board | Linda Larsson |
| Area | |
| • Episcopal see and municipal seat | 30.31 km2 (11.70 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Population (2020 (city); 2015 (metro)) | |
| • 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 |
| Area code | (+46) 54 |
| Website | www |
During recent years, Karlstad has started seeing big growth with many new buildings, for example the new apartment complexes around Orrholmen/Tullholmen, hosting a brand new Coop store and a 17 story high rise apartment which was finished in late 2022.
Karlstad is built on the river delta where Sweden's longest river, Klarälven, runs into Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. It has the second largest lake port in the country after Västerås.
Karlstad is often associated with sunshine and the symbol for Karlstad is a smiling sun. Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest towns in Sweden and a local waitress, known as "Sola i Karlstad" (the Sun in Karlstad) for her sunny disposition, is also commemorated with a statue.