Ludvika

Ludvika is a city in central Sweden. It is located in the south of Dalarna by the lake Väsman. Ludvika is longer with 14,018 inhabitants, the chief town of Ludvika in the County of Dalarna. A small portion (60 acres ) of the area of the village with 339 inhabitants ( 2010) belongs to the neighboring community Smedjebacken.

History

In 1539 lived estimates only 30 - 50 people in the small town in the mining region of Bergslagen. Around 1550, King Gustav Vasa on the river Ludvika ström create ( with a height of about 17 meters ) an iron work, which started production in 1552 and the first of its kind i was Sweden. In relation to other metallurgical plants in the Bergslagen Ludvika, however, was kronobruk insignificant; but it was long the dominant economic factor in the area. First "competition" was created in 1900 by the company Elektriska Aktiebolaget magnet, which, however, had to struggle with profitability problems and was eventually sold in 1916 to ASEA from Västerås.

1919 received Ludvika now with 3,937 inhabitants, the city rights conferred.

Traffic

Long Ludvika was an important transport hub. 1858 one of the first railway tracks in Sweden was built. She joined Ludvika with Smedjebacken and channel the Strömsholms, who was an important transport axis of goods and travelers between Bergslagen and the lake Mälaren. 1873 and 1900 Frövi route to a connection via Västerås to Stockholm was put into operation. Together with the railway line to the neighboring rooms and a Erzbahn Grängesberg after Oxelösund included at times of trains in four directions.

In the 1970s, the volume of traffic went back and Borlänge took over the function as a railway junction.

Economy

Today, the electronics company ABB ( formerly ASEA ) is the largest employer in the city.

Attractions

In the former mining town you can visit the Mine Museum Ludvika Gammelgård, founded in 1938 and claims to be the first industrial historic open air museum in the world.

Twinning

A twinning is with Bad Honnef in Germany.

Pictures

Ludvika Ulrica kyrka

Hammarbacken

Ludvika city hall, architect Cyrillus Johansson 1937

Ludvika train station, architect Cyrillus Johansson 1939

Ludvikas port

Sculpture "Blitz"