Hisingen (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhîːsɪŋɛn])[2] is the fifth-largest island of Sweden (after Gotland, Öland, Södertörn and Orust),[3] with an area of 199 km2 (77 sq mi).

The island is divided between the historical provinces of Västergötland and Bohuslän, but lies entirely within the modern county of Västra Götaland.

For a brief, post-war period Hisingen was home to the largest shipbuilding centre in the world, but all three yards closed in 1979.

The basic meaning of the prefix His- is "to split, cut off" and can be found in the placenames Hisøy and Hisön.

[4][5][6][7] The Tumlehed rock painting and remains of ancient settlements prove that Hisingen was inhabited by the year 9000 BC.

[11] Under the 1658 Treaty of Roskilde, the Norwegian province of Bohuslän was ceded to Sweden, thereby uniting Hisingen under Swedish control, although the old border was preserved in the division between the districts of Västra Hisings härad [sv] (the formerly Norwegian area) and Östra Hisings härad [sv].

[12][13] The island was mostly farmland until the 19th century, when industrialization began and companies like Arendalsvarvet, Eriksberg, Götaverken and Lindholmen started operating there.

Residential areas, university buildings and high tech industry have largely replaced the shipyards.