Editing Norrbotten County

{{Short description|County (län) of Sweden}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Norrbotten County
| native_name        = <small>{{native name|sv|Norrbottens län}}<br />''Norrbottenin lääni'' ([[Meänkieli]]/[[Finnish language|Finnish]])<br>{{native name|se|Norrbottena leatna}}</small>
| settlement_type    = [[Counties of Sweden|County]]
| image_skyline      = Suorvajaure in stora sjofallet park.jpg
| image_flag         = Norrbottens län vapenflagga.svg
| flag_size          = 100px
| image_shield       = Norrbotten län vapen.svg
| shield_size        = 100px
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = &nbsp;
| blank_emblem_size  = 150px
| image_map          = Norrbottens län in Sweden.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Norrbotten County in Sweden
| image_map1         = Sweden Norrbotten location map.svg
| map_alt1           = 
| map_caption1       = Location map of Norrbotten County in Sweden
| coordinates        = {{coord|67|N|19.7|E}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Sweden
| established_title  = Formed
| established_date   = 1810
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Luleå]]
| parts_type         = [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipalities]]
| parts              = 14
| p1                 = [[Älvsbyn Municipality|Älvsbyn]]
| p2                 = [[Arjeplog Municipality|Arjeplog]]
| p3                 = [[Arvidsjaur Municipality|Arvidsjaur]]
| p4                 = [[Boden Municipality|Boden]]
| p5                 = [[Gällivare Municipality|Gällivare]]
| p6                 = [[Haparanda Municipality|Haparanda]]
| p7                 = [[Jokkmokk Municipality|Jokkmokk]]
| p8                 = [[Kalix Municipality|Kalix]]
| p9                 = [[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]]
| p10                = [[Luleå Municipality|Luleå]]
| p11                = [[Överkalix Municipality|Överkalix]]
| p12                = [[Övertorneå Municipality|Övertorneå]]
| p13                = [[Pajala Municipality|Pajala]]
| p14                = [[Piteå Municipality|Piteå]]
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title      = Council
| leader_name       = [[Region Norrbotten]]
| leader_title1       = Governor
| leader_name1        = {{interlanguage link|Lotta Finstorp|sv}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The King holds audiences with new county governors |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsaudienceswithnewcountygovernors.5.1af28464179eb66991383ae.html |website=Swedish Royal Court |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826130152/https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsaudienceswithnewcountygovernors.5.1af28464179eb66991383ae.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| leader_title2      = Administrative board
| leader_name2      = [[County administrative boards of Sweden|
Länsstyrelsen i Norrbottens län]]
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 98244.8
| population_as_of   = 31 December 2023
| population_footnotes = <ref name="scb_population_and_population_changes_2023">{{cite web | title=Folkmängd i riket, län och kommuner 31 december 2023 och befolkningsförändringar 2023 | publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] | url=https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/pong/tabell-och-diagram/folkmangd-och-befolkningsforandringar---helarsstatistik/folkmangd-i-riket-lan-och-kommuner-31-december-2023-och-befolkningsforandringar-2023/ |date=31 December 2023 | access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref>
| population_total   = 248,480
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>[http://stats.oecd.org/ Regions and Cities > Regional Statistics > Regional Economy > Regional GDP per Capita], OECD.Stats. Accessed on 16 November 2018.</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = SEK 102 billion<br/>€10.887 billion (2015)
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +2
| iso_code           = SE-BD
| blank_name_sec2    = [[First level NUTS of the European Union#Sweden|NUTS Region]]
| blank_info_sec2    = {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE332|SE332}}
| website            = {{URL|http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/norrbotten}}
| name               = 
}}

'''Norrbotten County''' ({{langx|sv|Norrbottens län}}, [[Meänkieli]]/{{langx|fi|Norrbottenin lääni}}, {{langx|se|Norrbottena leatna}}) is the northernmost [[Counties of Sweden|county]] or ''[[län]]'' of [[Sweden]]. It is also the largest county by land area, almost a quarter of Sweden's total area. It shares borders with [[Västerbotten County]] to the southwest, the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the southeast, the counties of [[Nordland]] and [[Troms]] in Norway to the northwest, and [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland Province]] in [[Finland]] to the northeast.

The name "Norrbotten" is also used for a [[Provinces of Sweden|province]] of the same name. [[Norrbotten]] province covers only the eastern part of Norrbotten County &ndash; the inland mostly belongs to the [[Lapland (Sweden)|Swedish Lapland]] province (''Lappland'').

The capital of Norrbotten is [[Luleå]]. Other significant towns include [[Boden, Sweden|Boden]], [[Kiruna]] and [[Piteå Municipality|Piteå]]. The majority of the population lives in the namesake province, whereas the Lapland part of the county is sparsely populated. Norrbotten covers a larger land area than both [[Austria]] and [[Portugal]]. [[List of municipalities of Sweden|The four largest municipalities in Sweden]] by land area are in the county. Sweden's tallest mountain [[Kebnekaise]] and deepest lake [[Hornavan]] are both within the county. The vast mountains are the source of northern Sweden's vast river systems running through Norrbotten.

The northern part of Norrbotten lies within the [[Arctic Circle]].

== Provinces ==

[[Norrbotten]] County consists of the entire province of [[Norrbotten]] and about two thirds of [[Swedish Lapland]].

== Geography ==
Norrbotten County covers almost one quarter of Sweden's land area, but is sparsely inhabited. This is especially true for inland parts of Lapland.

The climate is generally cold, because of its northern location. However, the long summer days allow crops to ripen within two to three months, and agriculture is traditionally important, particularly near the coast and along the lower reaches of the [[Torne (Finnish and Swedish river)|Torne River]]. Grains, particularly [[barley]], [[potato]]es and [[turnip]]s are grown to some extent, but the most important crop is [[hay]] for [[livestock]]. There are around 250,000 [[reindeer]] in the winter herd, a number regulated by the Swedish state. The reindeer are herded by the Indigenous [[Sámi peoples|Sámi]], organised in 15 Sámi Mountain villages, 9 Forest Sámi villages and 8 concession Sámi villages. [[Hunting]] and [[fishing]] are of major importance for the local inhabitants.

Major [[river]]s in Norrbotten County (listed north to south) include the [[Torne (Finnish and Swedish river)|Torne]], the [[Lule River]], [[Kalix River]], and [[Pite River]]. Rivers shared with the [[Västerbotten County]] include the [[Skellefte River]] and [[Ume River]]. Other rivers that flow directly to the sea and that are at least 100 km long are the [[Sangis River]], [[Råne River]], [[Åby River]], and [[Byske River]].

The county includes many islands in the [[Bay of Bothnia]], which make up the [[Norrbotten archipelago]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1378/FULLTEXT01.pdf|publisher=Mid-Sweden University|page=8 |last=Ankre|first=Rosemarie|access-date=2013-10-04|title=A Case Study of the Luleå archipelago, Sweden|year=2005}}</ref>
It is divided into the [[archipelago]]s of [[Piteå archipelago|Piteå]] (550 islands), [[Luleå archipelago|Luleå]] (1,312 islands), [[Kalix archipelago|Kalix]] (792 islands) and [[Haparanda archipelago|Haparanda]] (652 islands).<ref>{{cite web|ref={{harvid|About the Bay ... Bottenvikens skärgård}}|url=http://www.swedishlapland.com/en/Bottenvikens-skargard/info/Information/|title=About the Bay of Bothnia|work=Bottenvikens skärgård|access-date=2013-09-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005023046/http://www.swedishlapland.com/en/Bottenvikens-skargard/info/Information/|archive-date=2013-10-05}}</ref>
The largest island is [[Rånön]] in the Kalix archipelago.<ref>{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Index: bottenviken.se}} |url=http://www.bottenviken.se/index.html|title=Index|work=bottenviken.se|access-date=2013-10-02}}</ref>

== Population ==
The population has increased during the last hundred years. The estimated 2002 population was 250,000. In the 1912 census, the population was 166,641 (4,000 more males than females), of which about 120,000 were in the Norrbotten province part. Twenty years earlier, in 1892, the population was only 110,000.{{Citation needed|date=February 2007}} Since the 1960s, however, most municipalities of the county have experienced a decrease in population, particularly those inland.

== Riksdag elections ==
The table details all [[Riksdag]] election results of Norrbotten County since the [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] era began in [[1970 Swedish general election|1970]]. The blocs denote which party would support the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] or the lead opposition party towards the end of the elected parliament.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! Year
! Turnout
! Votes
! [[Left Party (Sweden)|V]]
! [[Social Democrats (Sweden)|S]]
! [[Green Party (Sweden)|MP]]
! [[Centre Party (Sweden)|C]]
! [[Liberals (Sweden)|L]]
! [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|KD]]
! [[Moderate Party|M]]
! [[Sweden Democrats|SD]]
! [[New Democracy (Sweden)|NyD]]
! Left
! Right
|-
| [[1970 Swedish general election|1970]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1970-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1970|publisher=SCB|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
| 86.4
| 150,316
| 13.7
| 51.7
| 
| 15.8
| 8.4
| 2.3
| 7.5
| 
| 
| 65.4
| 31.7
|-
| [[1973 Swedish general election|1973]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1973-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1973|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 89.6
| 157,383
| 13.5
| 52.1
| 
| 18.5
| 5.1
| 2.1
| 8.1
| 
| 
| 65.5
| 31.6
|-
| [[1976 Swedish general election|1976]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1976-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1976|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 90.3
| 169,641
| 11.2
| 53.7
| 
| 18.2
| 6.0
| 2.0
| 8.1
| 
| 
| 64.9
| 32.4
|-
| [[1979 Swedish general election|1979]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1979-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1979|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 90.3
| 172,587
| 10.3
| 55.4
| 
| 13.8
| 5.9
| 2.0
| 10.3
| 
| 
| 65.6
| 30.0
|-
| [[1982 Swedish general election|1982]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1982-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1982|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 90.6
| 175,156
| 10.4
| 58.8
| 1.0
| 11.6
| 3.1
| 2.2
| 11.8
| 
| 
| 69.2
| 26.5
|-
| [[1985 Swedish general election|1985]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1985-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1985|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 89.1
| 174,171
| 10.3
| 59.0
| 0.8
| 10.3
| 8.1
| 
| 10.9
| 
| 
| 69.3
| 29.3
|-
| [[1988 Swedish general election|1988]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1988-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1988|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 85.1
| 166,243
| 10.2
| 58.1
| 3.6
| 8.6
| 7.5
| 2.4
| 8.5
| 
| 
| 72.0
| 24.6
|-
| [[1991 Swedish general election|1991]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1991-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1991|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 85.3
| 167,424
| 9.1
| 55.5
| 2.4
| 7.3
| 6.9
| 4.6
| 11.0
| 
| 2.8
| 64.5
| 29.8
|-
| [[1994 Swedish general election|1994]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1994-Del-1-Riksdagsvalet.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1994|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 87.4
| 174,045
| 11.4
| 60.6
| 3.5
| 5.4
| 4.7
| 2.6
| 10.3
| 
| 0.3
| 75.5
| 23.1
|-
| [[1998 Swedish general election|1998]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://share.scb.se/ov9993/data/historisk%20statistik/SOS%201911-%2FValstatistiken%2FAllm%C3%A4nna%20valen%20(SOS)%201970-1998%2FValstatistik-Allmanna-valen-1998-Del-1-Riksdagen.pdf|title=Riksdagsvalet 1998|publisher=SCB|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref>
| 82.0
| 160,277
| 22.2
| 47.4
| 3.4
| 4.4
| 3.0
| 6.5
| 11.8
| 
| 
| 72.9
| 25.6
|-
| [[2002 Swedish general election|2002]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val_02/slutresultat/00R/00.html|title=Valresultat Riksdag 2002|publisher=[[Valmyndigheten]]|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=7 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907132650/https://data.val.se/val/val_02/slutresultat/00R/00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 80.7
| 154,978
| 12.7
| 47.9
| 5.2
| 5.1
| 6.5
| 5.3
| 7.2
| 0.3
| 
| 65.9
| 24.1
|-
| [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html|title=Allmänna val 17 september 2006|publisher=[[Valmyndigheten]]|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928124857/https://data.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 81.8
| 156,576
| 10.5
| 51.5
| 4.1
| 6.4
| 4.3
| 4.2
| 13.4
| 1.5
| 
| 66.1
| 28.3
|-
| [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2010|publisher=Valmyndigheten|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=17 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217125738/https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 84.9
| 164,963
| 9.3
| 51.9
| 5.3
| 4.7
| 4.3
| 3.3
| 16.4
| 3.9
| 
| 66.4
| 28.6
|-
| [[2014 Swedish general election|2014]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2014|publisher=Valmyndigheten|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111211028/https://data.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 85.6
| 166,177
| 8.6
| 48.7
| 4.9
| 4.5
| 3.2
| 3.0
| 12.9
| 11.0
| 
| 62.2
| 23.7
|-
| [[2018 Swedish general election|2018]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2018|publisher=[[Valmyndigheten]]|language=sv|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=17 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217125738/https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 86.7
| 166,678
| 10.7
| 41.7
| 2.8
| 7.1
| 3.2
| 4.6
| 12.8
| 15.8
| 
| 62.2
| 36.4
|-
|[[2022 Swedish general election|2022]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valpresentation |url=https://resultat.val.se/val2022/slutlig/RD/riksdagsvalkrets/28 |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=resultat.val.se |language=sv}}</ref>
|84.6
|163,242
|7.0
|41.6
|3.4
|5.3
|2.5
|5.1
|13.6
|20.3
|
|57.3
|41.5
|}

== History ==
During the [[Middle Ages]], Norrbotten was considered to be [[terra nullius]] ("no man's land"). The area was populated by [[Sami people|Sami]], [[Kven people|Kvens]] and different people related to the [[Finns]]. From the [[Middle Ages]] on, the Swedish kings tried to [[colonization|colonise]] and [[Christianise]] the area. However; even today, Tornedalians and Sami people still live in the area and maintain their own culture and customs.

In the first half of the 17th century, several ore deposits were discovered in what is now known as Norrbotten County.<ref name=Hansson2015-13>Hansson 2015, p. 13.</ref> The [[Nasa silver mine|silver of Nasafjäll]] was discovered during the autumn of 1634<ref name=Hansson2015-13/> and subsequently mined from 1635 to 1659 and from the 1770s to 1810.<ref name=Hansson2015-20>Hansson 2015, p. 20.</ref><ref name=Hansson2015-24>Hansson 2015, p. 24.</ref><ref name=Hansson2015-26>Hansson 2015, p. 26.</ref>

Following the [[Finnish War]] in 1809, [[Västerbotten County]] was split between Sweden and Finland, with the larger part remaining within the Swedish borders. In 1810, the county was divided again when ''Norrbotten County'' was created out of the northern part, on the Swedish side. Most people in Norrbotten County still refer to the entire county, including the areas in Swedish Lapland, when they say '[[Norrbotten]]'.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The [[natural resource]]s ([[hydroelectricity]], [[timber]], and [[mining|minerals]], especially [[iron]]) of Norrbotten have played a key role in the [[industrialization of Sweden]]. The 20th century saw strong mobility in and out of the county, with many young people moving south and people from other parts of the country moving in. In the 1970s and 1980s, the drainage of (mostly young) workers due to high unemployment was considerable, and people in the area began to voice feelings of being misunderstood or economically abused by the south and especially the capital [[Stockholm]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}

=== Heraldry ===
The [[coat of arms]] of Norrbotten County combines the arms of the provinces [[Västerbotten]] and [[Lapland, Sweden|Lappland]] and was granted in 1949. Since 1995 the province [[Norrbotten]] has a coat of arms of its own, but the county arms have not been changed accordingly. When it is shown with a royal crown, it represents the County Administrative Board. Blazon: "Quartered, the arms of Västerbotten and the arms of Lappland."

=== Culture ===
{{Tone|section|date=September 2019}}
Many different cultures can be found in Norrbotten County, including [[Sami people|Sami]] culture, [[Tornedalians|Tornedalian/Kven]] culture and the Swedish settler-culture. Many of the old local Swedish and Finnic dialects have survived in the area. The people of Norrbotten County have a saying: "I am not a Swede; I am a Norrbothnian". A local way of speaking, coupled with understated irony, is also sometimes used as a means to exclude southerners. These contrasts are well known throughout Sweden and often appear in TV, films, literature and folklore connected to Norrbotten, for characterizing, satiric or dramatic purposes (e.g. some characters in the books of [[Eyvind Johnson]] or the police detective Einar Rönn in the crime novels of [[Maj Sjöwall]] and [[Per Wahlöö]]).{{cn|date=April 2025}}

The coast has the historical cities of [[Luleå]] and [[Piteå]]. Luleå's [[Gammelstad]] ("Old town"), which is 10&nbsp;km north of the present downtown, has been declared a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].

Apart from the [[Swedish language|Swedish]] language, [[Sami language|Sami]], [[Meänkieli language|Meänkieli]], and [[Finnish language|Finnish]] may be used in dealing with [[Government Agencies in Sweden|government agencies]], [[court]]s, [[Municipalities of Sweden|municipalities]], [[preschool]]s and [[nursing home]]s in parts of Norrbotten County. The Sami languages have official minority language status in [[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]], [[Gällivare Municipality|Gällivare]], [[Jokkmokk Municipality|Jokkmokk]], [[Luleå Municipality|Luleå]], [[Arjeplog Municipality|Arjeplog]] and [[Arvidsjaur Municipality|Arvidsjaur municipalites]]. Meänkieli and Finnish have the same status in Gällivare, [[Haparanda Municipality|Haparanda]], Kiruna, [[Pajala Municipality|Pajala]], and [[Övertorneå Municipality|Övertorneå]], Luleå and [[Kalix Municipality|Kalix municipalities]].<ref name="samiska">{{Cite web |title=Kommuner i förvaltningsområdet för samiska |url=https://www.minoritet.se/kommuner-i-forvaltningsomradet-for-samiska |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Minoritet.se |language=sv}}</ref><ref name="meankieli">{{Cite web |title=Kommuner i förvaltningsområdet för meänkieli |url=https://www.minoritet.se/kommuner-i-forvaltningsomradet-for-meankieli |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Minoritet.se |language=sv}}</ref><ref name="Förval">{{Cite web |title=Förvaltningsområden |url=https://www.minoritet.se/forvaltningsomraden |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Minoritet.se |language=sv}}</ref>

== Administration ==
The main aims of the [[County Administrative Boards of Sweden|County Administrative Board]] are to fulfil the goals set in national politics by the [[Riksdag]] and the [[Government of Sweden|Government]], to promote the development of the county, and to establish regional goals. The County Administrative Board is a [[Government Agencies in Sweden|Government Agency]] headed by a Governor (see [[List of Norrbotten Governors]]).

== Municipalities ==
[[File:Norrbotten County.png|right|280px]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ 
|-
! Municipality !! Population (2020) !! Area (km2) !! Province
|-
| [[Arjeplog Municipality|Arjeplog]] || 2,757 || 14 494,08 || Lapland
|-
| [[Arvidsjaur Municipality|Arvidsjaur]] || 6,194 || 6 126,28 || Lapland
|-
| [[Boden Municipality|Boden]] || 28,021 || 4 290,95 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Gällivare Municipality|Gällivare]] || 17,511 || 16 818,78 || Lapland
|-
| [[Haparanda Municipality|Haparanda]] || 	9,660 || 1 887,66 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Jokkmokk Municipality|Jokkmokk]] || 4,908 || 19 334,08 || Lapland
|-
| [[Kalix Municipality|Kalix]]  || 15,873 || 3 715,65 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]] || 22,841 || 20 553,28 || Lapland
|-
| [[Luleå Municipality|Luleå]] || 78,102 || 4 911,97 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Pajala Municipality|Pajala]]  || 6,056 || 8 050,87 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Piteå Municipality|Piteå]] || 42,247 || 4 640,69 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Älvsbyn Municipality|Älvsbyn]] || 8,084 || 1 795,24 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Överkalix Municipality|Överkalix]] || 3,305 || 2 919,46 || Norrbotten
|-
| [[Övertorneå Municipality|Övertorneå]] || 4,288 || 2 488,29 || Norrbotten
|}

The Sami languages have official minority language status in [[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]], [[Gällivare Municipality|Gällivare]], [[Jokkmokk Municipality|Jokkmokk]], [[Luleå Municipality|Luleå]], [[Arjeplog Municipality|Arjeplog]] and [[Arvidsjaur Municipality|Arvidsjaur municipalites]]. Meänkieli and Finnish have the same status in Gällivare, [[Haparanda Municipality|Haparanda]], Kiruna, [[Pajala Municipality|Pajala]], and [[Övertorneå Municipality|Övertorneå]], Luleå and [[Kalix Municipality|Kalix municipalities]].<ref name="samiska" /><ref name="meankieli" /><ref name="Förval" />

=== Foreign background ===
[[Statistiska Centralbyrån|SCB]] have collected statistics on backgrounds of residents since 2002. These tables consist of all who have two foreign-born parents or are born abroad themselves. A majority of them are of Finnish descent.<ref name=befolkning>{{cite web|url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/sv/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/|language=sv|title=PxWeb - välj variabler och värden|publisher=[[Statistiska Centralbyrån|SCB]]|access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> The chart lists election years and the last year on record alone.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:right
!Location
!2002
!2006
!2010
!2014
!2018
!2019
|-
|align=left|[[Arjeplog Municipality|Arjeplog]]
| 5.8
| 7.1
| 9.5
| 10.9
| 12.0
| 11.8
|-
|align=left|[[Arvidsjaur Municipality|Arvidsjaur]]
| 2.9
| 3.7
| 5.5
| 8.5
| 10.3
| 10.4
|-
|align=left|[[Boden Municipality|Boden]]
| 5.2
| 6.4
| 7.3
| 9.8
| 11.3
| 11.7
|-
|align=left|[[Gällivare Municipality|Gällivare]]
| 5.5
| 6.6
| 7.5
| 8.7
| 10.6
| 11.1
|-
|align=left|[[Haparanda Municipality|Haparanda]]
| 50.2
| 50.3
| 50.3
| 50.5
| 52.0
| 51.8
|-
|align=left|[[Jokkmokk Municipality|Jokkmokk]]
| 5.7
| 6.3
| 8.6
| 11.1
| 13.8
| 13.9
|-
|align=left|[[Kalix Municipality|Kalix]]
| 9.8
| 10.5
| 11.2
| 11.9
| 13.1
| 13.3
|-
|align=left|[[Kiruna Municipality|Kiruna]]
| 9.6
| 10.2
| 10.8
| 12.0
| 14.1
| 14.5
|-
|align=left|[[Luleå Municipality|Luleå]]
| 8.9
| 10.1
| 10.8
| 11.7
| 13.5
| 14.0
|-
|align=left|[[Pajala Municipality|Pajala]]
| 12.2
| 12.3
| 13.1
| 14.2
| 16.3
| 16.8
|-
|align=left|[[Piteå Municipality|Piteå]]
| 4.2
| 4.7
| 5.1
| 5.8
| 7.5
| 7.8
|-
|align=left|[[Älvsbyn Municipality|Älvsbyn]]
| 4.0
| 5.5
| 7.0
| 9.2
| 10.8
| 11.9
|-
|align=left|[[Överkalix Municipality|Överkalix]]
| 4.7
| 6.1
| 8.3
| 10.5
| 12.6
| 13.8
|-
|align=left|[[Övertorneå Municipality|Övertorneå]]
| 23.6
| 25.3
| 27.6
| 29.7
| 31.1
| 30.1
|-
|align=left|'''Total'''
|'''9.2''' 
|'''10.1''' 
|'''10.9''' 
|'''12.0''' 
|'''13.8''' 
|'''14.1''' 
|-
|align=left colspan=7|Source: SCB <ref name=befolkning/>
|}

==Transportation==
The main mode of person travel inside Norrbotten is by car. The distances are long, e.g. 345&nbsp;km between Luleå and Kiruna.
The roads have been given relatively high speed limits compared to southern Sweden, usually 100–110&nbsp;km/h.

Norrbotten has a railway network focused on heavy freight traffic. There are two main railways. [[Stambanan genom övre Norrland]] connects Norrbotten with central and southern Sweden. [[Malmbanan]] connects Luleå with the iron mines in Gällivare and Kiruna and the ice-free port of Narvik. Malmbanan has highest amount of freight traffic in [[Scandinavia]], especially the part between Kiruna and Narvik.

Air travel is the main mode of travel between Norrbotten and southern Sweden. The main airport is [[Luleå Airport]], sixth largest in Sweden. Other airports are 
[[Arvidsjaur Airport]], [[Gällivare Airport]], [[Kiruna Airport]] and [[Pajala Airport]].

==See also==
*[[North Sweden European Office]]

== References and notes ==
{{Reflist}}
* [https://runeberg.org/nfbs/0798.html article ''Norrbottens län''] from [[Nordisk familjebok]] (1912).

===Books and articles===
*{{cite book |last=Hansson |first=Staffan |date=2015 |title=Malmens Land: Gruvnäringen i Norrbotten under 400 år |publisher=Tornedalica |language=sv |isbn=978-91-972358-9-1 }}
*Öhman, May-Britt (2016). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300227056_TechnoVisions_of_a_Sami_Cyborg_Reclaiming_Sami_Body-_Land-_and_Waterscapes_After_a_Century_of_Colonial_Exploitations_in_Sabme TechnoVisions of a Sámi Cyborg: Reclaiming Sámi Body-, Land-, and Waterscapes After a Century of Colonial Exploitations in Sábme], in ''Illdisciplined Gender: Engaging Questions of Nature/Culture and Transgressive Encounters'' / [ed] Bull, Jacob; Fahlgren, Margaretha, Rotterdam: Springer, 63–98. {{ISBN|978-3-319-15271-4}}
*Elenius, Lars, Allard, Christina & Sandström, Camilla (eds.), ''[https://books.google.se/books?id=RiolDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=9781317059684&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi55N7LzIHtAhUIHHcKHXmzDI8Q6AEwAHoECAAQAg#v=onepage&q&f=false Indigenous rights in modern landscapes: Nordic conservation regimes in global context]'', Routledge, New York, NY, 2017, {{ISBN|9781317059684}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.bd.lst.se/ Norrbotten County Administrative Board]
*[http://www.nll.se/ Norrbotten County Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615172828/http://www.nll.se/ |date=2009-06-15 }}
*Norrbotten Regional Association of Local Authorities
*[http://www.samer.se/english Sámi Parliament Information Center]

{{Counties of Sweden}}
{{Norrbotten County}}
{{Landsting}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|67.135829|N|18.500977|E |source:ndswiki_region:SE |format=dms |display=title}}

[[Category:Norrbotten County| ]]
[[Category:Counties of Sweden]]
[[Category:Norrbotten|County]]
[[Category:Lapland (Sweden)]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1810]]
[[Category:1810 establishments in Sweden]]