Lilla Edet is a locality and the seat of Lilla Edet Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 4,862 inhabitants in 2010.[1]

Lilla Edet was the smallest of three settlements that were burnt down in Sweden on 25 June 1888. The wooden towns of Sundsvall and Umeå were almost completely destroyed.[2] The triple fire was widely reported and one collection in California raised $5,000[3] and blankets and tents were sent from New Zealand.[4]

The town Lilla Edet is situated on the eastern side of the Göta älv, a main river on the west coast of Sweden. It became known as a halt there. The area was known locally as Lilla Edet in comparison to Stora Edet, situated north of Lilla Edet and today known as Trollhättan. However, for a long time the official name of Lilla Edet was Bergaström.

Lock system

A canal lock system was built at Lilla Edet as early as 1607, becoming the first of its kind in Sweden.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ Rohland, Eleonora (1 February 2011). "From Wood to Stone: The Risk Management of Swiss Re in The Sundsvall Fire 1888". Environment and History. 17 (1): 153–169. doi:10.3197/096734011X12922359173096. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Sufferers by Fire in Sweden". Daily Alta California. 24 July 1888. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  4. ^ "News". Nelson Evening Mail. 27 August 1888. Retrieved 30 May 2014.