Köping was a Swedish denomination for a market town since the Middle Ages, derived from the Old Norse word kaupang. The designation was officially abolished with the municipal reform of 1971, when Sweden was subdivided into the Municipalities of Sweden (currently amounting to 290).

As present-day Finland was once a part of Sweden, the Finnish word kauppala has the same meaning. In modern Finnish, the word kaupunki, borrowed from the Old Norse word kaupang, is the main word for town and city. Swedish köping and the English toponym chipping are also cognates as is the Norwegian word kjøpstad and the Danish toponymical suffix -købing.

Sweden

edit

History

edit

In 1863 the first local government acts were implemented in Sweden. There were two acts, one for cities and one for rural areas. Of the around 2,500 municipalities, 89 had city rights and thus had the right to call themselves stad (city). Under the "rural" act there were also eight localities given the status of köping, which positioned them between a rural municipality and a town (see municipalköping). The number of localities designated as köping rose dramatically during the 20th century and reached its peak in 1959, when they were 95. Many new settlements during the industrialization of Sweden, as well as some of the suburbs in the metropolitan areas, first received the title of köping and it was also made part of their name (such as Linköping or Nyköping). [clarification needed] They later grew further and received town privileges, but kept the köping ending of their names.[citation needed] See the list below. It has been found that a vast majority, nearly 70%, of such designated market-towns lie within an area of 200 km2 (77 sq mi) in south-central Sweden, especially in the highly economically productive region immediately west and south of Stockholm, in Södermanland, Örebro, Östergötland, and Jönköping counties.

A large-scale merger of Swedish municipalities in 1971 removed the distinctions between towns, market towns and rural municipalities. Many of the former market towns are now seats of municipalities. In contrast to the term stad, köping is seldom used in everyday speech today.

Toponyms containing the word köping

edit

Köping titles issued 1863–1959

edit
County Köping From To Note
Blekinge County Kristianopel see municipalköping
Olofström 01.01.1941 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Ronneby 1686 30.11.1882 received city privileges
Dalarna County Avesta 01.01.1907 31.03.1919 received city privileges
Borlänge 01.01.1898 31.12.1943 received city privileges
Krylbo 01.01.1919 31.12.1966 merged into Avesta city
Ludvika 01.01.1915 31.12.1918 received city privileges
Mora 01.01.1959 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Morastrand 01.01.1908 31.12.1958 merged into Mora köping)
Smedjebacken 01.01.1918 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Gävleborg County Björkhamre 01.01.1923 31.12.1941 merged into Bollnäs city
Bollnäs 01.01.1906 31.12.1941 received city privileges
Ljusdal 01.01.1914 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Sandviken 01.01.1927 31.12.1942 received city privileges
Storvik 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 merged into Sandviken Municipality
Gotland County Slite 01.01.1936 31.12.1970 merged into Gotland Municipality
Halland County Oskarström 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; today part of Halmstad Municipality
Jämtland County Frösön 01.01.1948 31.12.1970 merged into Östersund Municipality
Sveg 01.01.1937 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; today part of Härjedalen Municipality
Jönköping County Anderstorp 01.01.1953 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; today part of Gislaved Municipality
Bodafors 01.01.1930 31.12.1970 merged into Nässjö Municipality
Gislaved 01.01.1949 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Huskvarna 31.12 1907 31.12.1910 received city privileges; today part of Jönköping Municipality
Mariannelund 01.01.1928 31.12.1970 merged into Eksjö Municipality
Norrahammar 31.12 1943 31.12.1970 merged into Jönköping Municipality
Skillingaryd 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Tranås 01.01.1882 31.12.1918 received city privileges
Vaggeryd 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Vetlanda 01.01.1909 31.12.1919 received city privileges
Värnamo 1620 31.12.1920 received city privileges
Kalmar County Emmaboda 01.01.1930 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Figeholm 01.01.1878 31.12.1951 merged into Misterhult Municipality, today part of Oskarshamn Municipality; municipalköping prior to 1878
Gamleby see municipalköping
Hultsfred 01.01.1927 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Mönsterås 1620 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Mörbylånga 1881 31.12.1951 formed a municipality; municipalköping prior to 1880)
Nybro 25.04.1879 31.12.1931 received city privileges; previously municipalköping from 1865)
Pataholm see municipalköping
Påskallavik see municipalköping
Virserum 01.01.1956 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Kronoberg County Alvesta 01.01.1945 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Hovmantorp 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 split between Lessebo and Växjö Municipalities)
Lenhovda 01.01.1957 31.12.1970 merged into Uppvidinge Municipality
Lessebo 01.01.1939 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Ljungby see municipalköping
Markaryd 01.01.1916 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Ryd (Almundsryd) 01.01.1958 31.12.1970 split between Tingsryd and Älmhult Municipalities)
Tingsryd 01.01.1921 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Traryd 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 merged into Markaryd Municipality
Åseda 01.01.1943 31.12.1970 merged into Uppvidinge Municipality
Älmhult 01.01.1901 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Norrbotten County Älvsbyn 01.01.1948 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Örebro County Degerfors 01.01.1943 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Frövi 01.01.1955 31.12.1970 merged into Lindesberg Municipality
Hallsberg 01.01.1908 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Hällefors 01.01.1950 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Kopparberg 01.01.1908 31.12.1961 merged into Ljusnarsbergs köping)
Laxå 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Ljusnarsberg 01.01.1962 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Östergötland County Boxholm 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Finspång 01.01.1942 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Motala 1820 31.12.1880 received city privileges
Valdemarsvik 01.01.1914 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; prior to 1914 municipalköping; oldest köping charter from 1647)
Åtvidaberg 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Skåne County Bjuv 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Bromölla 01.01.1942 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Båstad 01.01.1937 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; before 1937 municipalköping)
Eslöv 01.01.1875 31.12.1910 received city privileges
Furulund 01.01.1952 31.12.1968 merged into Kävlinge köping)
Hässleholm 01.01.1901 31.12.1913 received city privileges
Hörby 01.01.1900 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Höör 01.01.1939 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Klippan 01.01.1945 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Kävlinge 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Limhamn 01.01.1906 31.12.1914 merged into Malmö city
Lomma 01.01.1951 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Osby 01.01.1937 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Perstorp 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Sjöbo 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Skurup 01.01.1914 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Svedala 01.01.1919 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Tomelilla 01.01.1921 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Trelleborg see municipalköping
Vinslöv 01.01.1934 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Åhus 01.01.1905 31.12.1970 merged into Kristianstad Municipality
Åstorp 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Södermanland County Gnesta 01.01.1955 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Malmköping 1784 31.12.1970 merged into Flen Municipality
Stockholm County Danderyd 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 became municipality
Djursholm 01.01.1901 31.12.1913 received city privileges; today part of Danderyd Municipality
Hässelby Villastad 01.01.1926 01.01.1948 merged into Stockholm City
Lidingö 01.01.1910 31.12.1925 received city privileges
Nynäshamn 01.01.1911 31.12.1945 received city privileges
Saltsjöbaden 01.01.1909 31.12.1970 merged into Nacka Municipality
Sollentuna 01.01.1944 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Stocksund 01.01.1910 31.12.1966 merged into Djursholm city; today part of Danderyd Municipality
Sundbyberg 01.01.1888 31.12.1926 received city privileges
Täby 01.01.1948 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Uppsala County Tierp 01.01.1920 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Värmland County Arvika 1811 31.12 1910 received city privileges
Grums 01.01.1948 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Hammarö 01.01.1950 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Munkfors 01.01.1949 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Storfors 01.01.1950 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Sunne 01.01.1920 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Säffle 01.01.1882 31.12.1950 received city privileges
Årjäng 01.01.1941 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Västerbotten County Holmsund 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality; today part of Umeå Municipality
Lycksele 01.01.1929 31.12.1945 received city privileges
Vilhelmina 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Vännäs 01.01.1928 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Åsele 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Västernorrland County Skön 01.01.1952 31.12.1964 merged into Sundsvall city
Sollefteå 01.01.1902 31.12.1916 received city privileges
Timrå 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Ånge 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Örnsköldsvik 06.12.1842 30.06.1894 received city privileges
Västmanland County Hallstahammar 01.01.1943 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Kungsör 01.01.1907 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Norberg 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Västra Götaland County Bengtsfors 01.01.1926 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Grebbestad 01.01.1929 31.12.1951 merged into Tanum Municipality
Grästorp 01.01.1900 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Götene 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Herrljunga 01.01.1952 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Kinna 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 merged into Mark Municipality
Lilla Edet 01.01.1951 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Mellerud 01.01.1908 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Skene 01.01.1951 31.12.1970 merged into Mark Municipality
Svenljunga 01.01.1946 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Tibro 01.01.1947 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Tidaholm 01.01.1895 31.12.1909 received city privileges
Töreboda 01.01.1909 31.12.1970 formed a municipality
Vara 01.01.1894 31.12.1970 formed a municipality

See also

edit

References

edit