Hälsingland

, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. It borders to Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and to the Gulf of Bothnia. It is part of the land of Norrland.

In English the province is sometimes referred to as Helsinga or similar derivations.

Administration

Provinces serve no administrative purpose in Sweden today – instead this is done by the counties of Sweden. Hälsingland comprises the northern part of Gävleborg County. Minor parts in the west belongs to Jämtland County.

History

The earliest mention of the people of Hälsingland may be in the Old English poem Widsith, from the 9th - 10th century, where a people called the Hælsings are referred to. The first affirmative mention of the people is made by Adam of Bremen around 1070, in reference to the leidang shipping fleet.

In this medieval age, the "Helsings" were the Swedish speaking inhabitants of the entire coastal region north of Uppland, a rather unprecise denomination. In the early provincial law of Uppland, Uppland bordered north to Hälsingland by the Ödmården forest.

The oldest city in Hälsingland is Hudiksvall, chartered in 1582. After that, Söderhamn was chartered in 1620. Not until 1942 was Hälsingland granted its third city, that of Bollnäs. It was to become the last city (in Hälsingland) as City status in Sweden was abolished in 1971.

The town of Hudiksvall, one of the oldest in Norrland, was ransacked by Russian troops in 1721. Helsingia Regiment was the provincial regiment.

Heraldry

The coat of arms were granted in 1560 in the era of King Gustav Vasa. At that time, Hälsingland was known for its large scale goat breeding, and the arms depicted a standing coat facing heraldic right. Blazon: "Sable, a Goat rampant Or attired and hoofed Gules."

Dukes of Hälsingland

Since 1772, Swedish Princes have been created Dukes of various provinces. This is solely a nominal title.
* Princess Madeleine (1982-, also Duchess of Gästrikland)

Geography

The terrain is mostly of the mountaneous rocky, sloping down towards the coast. The highest elevation in its northern parts is 530 meters; and 600 meters in the western parts. Circa 85% of the land area is covered with woods, and the wood industry has historically been the main source of income. Apart from some areas around the river systems, notable around river Ljusnan, the soil is barren. Large areas consist of rocks and bogs, and is additional unsuitable for agriculture.

Part of the coast line on the Gulf of Bothnia, called "High Coast", has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, used for the study of isostasy, i.e. the land elevation. The land still raises at close to 1 cm annually.

Other notable geological features are the Dellen lake system, in fact meteoric impact craters. It is the only location in Sweden of the vulcanic Andesite rock, which has given its name dellenite.

Culture

Tongue

The local dialect is known as Hälsingska but has no official linguistical recognition. The accent as it is spoken today is relatively similar to the accent of the Standard Swedish language. Some notable aberrations are to be found, such as the Delsbo dialect which features some Norwegian characteristics.