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102

(1904) Author: Gustav Sundbärg
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102

II. TH B SWEDISH PEOPLE.

"Waiving some smaller variations, Sweden is thus divided into five
extensive regions, the first, second, and fourth of the above-mentioned
gradations forming each a connected district, while the third gradation (5—20
inh. per sq. km.) embraces two belts of land lying at a certain distance
from each other: one in Northern Sweden, the other in the southern
part of the country. As lor the highest of the gradations of density of
population here mentioned (over 50 inh. per sq. km.), it is found to any
greater extent only in southern Skåne: in other parts of the country there
are but a few, scattered districts that fall within this category.

The first of the chief districts we have mentioned embraces north-western
Sweden, i. e. the whole of Lappland (cf. map, page 4) and the tracts
running along the Norwegian frontier as far south as upper Dalarne, south of lat. 62°
N. In this great territory, embracing 127,000 sq. km., or no less than 30 % of
the whole country, live but little more than 50,000 people, or less than 1
to every sq. km. Such desolation is unknown in the rest of Europe, if we
exclude Russia and the north of Norway and Finland. But it is within this
district of almost arctic desolation that we once more find the immense ore-fields
met with in Northern Sweden, and where a population has commenced to gather,
which, in a not distant future, may grow to relatively great dimensions.

Farthest north, the whole width of Sweden, the coast-line excepted, is as poorly
populated as we have said, but when we come as far south as Jemtland, the
remark holds good only for the western or mountain district proper. The central
part of the country here forms a district possessing a population of more than 1
but less than 5 persons per sq. km. (On the map marked by light blue colour).
We find here a population of 235,000 to an area of a little more than 90,000
Bq. km., a density which must still be regarded as exceedingly small. It must be
remembered that the little population to be found, is almost entirely grouped in
large villages by the rivers. Between these villages lie scores of miles of expanse
where not a single human habitation is to be seen.

The density of the population is considerably greater along the coast of the
Gulf of Bothnia. This is particularly the case in the tract lying between the
rivers Ångermanelfven and Ljusnan, where, in the large saw-mill centers, we often
find from 50 to 100 persons per sq. km. — a density equal to that in the most
populated districts of South Sweden. Apart from this tract, the coast-district
belongs to that belt of land possessing from ö to 20 inhabitants per sq. km.;
a belt which expands at the southernmost part of the Gulf of Bothnia so as to
embrace the whole width of Sweden.

The last-named degree of density of population characterizes also a
considerable part (more than 30,000 sq. km.) of South Sweden, viz., the so-called
highlands of Småland south of Lake Vettern, and also the island of Gotland, whose
density of population, having regard to the fertility of the soil, is surprisingly small.

The red portions of the map mark that district where the density of
population excccds 20 persons per sq. km., — towns being always excepted. To
this district belong the low-lands of Central Sweden lying around the great lakes,
Sweden south of the highlands of Småland, and, finally, the west coast of the
country as far as the Norwegian boundary.

We find in the län of Malmöbus and in other tracts of south Skåne
a part of Sweden where the density of even the rural districts exceeds 50 per
sq. km. and where, if we include the population of the towns, the density rises
to more than 80 per sq. km., a figure which would be respectable even in Central
Europe. Elsewhere in Sweden, it is only in a few, smaller districts that, as we
see by the map, the population is of equal density.

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