Hälsingland

Hälsingland (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhɛ̌lːsɪŋland] ⓘ), sometimes referred to as Helsingia in English, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden.

The following municipalities have their seats in Hälsingland: The six largest settlements are: The coat of arms were granted in 1560 in the era of King Gustav Vasa.

Approximately 85% of the land area is covered with forest, and the timber industry has historically been the main source of income.

In the medieval age, the "Helsings" were the Swedish speaking inhabitants of the entire coastal region north of Uppland, a rather imprecise denomination.

In the 13th century a large number of people emigrated from Hälsingland to the southern coasts of Finland, then called Österland.

This has especially been the case in the heavily industrialized Söderhamn Municipality where the area around Ljusne regularly recorded nearly 90 % of the vote left of centre.

This meant that the southeast part of the province was the most left-wing in the country until Ljusne got surpassed by Fredriksberg in Ludvika Municipality, Dalarna, in the 1990s.

With the number of residents decreasing while Sweden's population grew simultaneously, the popular vote share of Hälsingland fell from 1.8 % in 1976 to just 1.3 % in 2018.

Two or even three storeys high, the farmhouses are built to show wealth and independence, and much inventiveness has gone into decorating their interiors, which combine aristocratic fashions with traditional materials and techniques.

Unofficial flag of Hälsingland, designed 1992
Svenska Fönster Arena in Edsbyn was the first Swedish indoor bandy venue