Västra Götaland County or Western Gothland County (Västra Götalands län) is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.

The county is the second largest (in terms of population) of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities (kommuner). Its population of 1,500,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population. The capital and governmental seat of Västra Götaland County is Göteborg.

The county was established as recently as 1998, when Älvsborg County, Gothenburg and Bohus County and Skaraborg County were merged.

Provinces

Sweden's counties are generally of greater importance than its provinces. The counties are the main administrative units for politics, population counts.

It should be noted that, due to its size and young age, the Västra Götaland County has no common inheritance. Of cultural and historical significant are the provinces that Västra Götaland County consists of: Västergötland, Bohuslän and Dalsland. There is also an insignificant part of the province Halland within the county.

In addition, the previous counties that were abolished in 1999 had been in use since the 17th century, and therefore have some cultural and historical significance.

Neighbours

Västra Götaland County borders to the counties of Värmland, Örebro, Östergötland, Jönköping and Halland. It is also bounded by the Norwegian county of Østfold, lakes Vättern and Vänern, as well as the strait of Skagerrak.

Administration

Västra Götaland was created in 1998 by a merger of the three former counties of Gothenburg and Bohus County, Älvsborg County and Skaraborg County. The seat of residence for the Governors or Landshövding is Vänersborg. Most of the governing is administrated i the countys largest city Gothenburg. The Governor is the head of the County Administrative Board or Länsstyrelse.

Politics

The Västra Götaland Regional Council or Västra Götalandsregionen is an evolved County Council that for a trial period has assumed certain tasks from the County Administrative Board. Similar trial councils are applied for Skåne County and Gotland County.

Municipalities

Ale Alingsås Bengtsfors Bollebygd Borås Dals-Ed Essunga Falköping Färgelanda Grästorp Gullspång Götene Gothenburg Herrljunga Hjo Härryda Karlsborg Kungälv Lerum Lidköping Lilla Edet Lysekil Mariestad Mark Mellerud Munkedal

Mölndal Orust Partille Skara Skövde Sotenäs Stenungsund Strömstad Svenljunga Tanum Tibro Tidaholm Tjörn Tranemo Trollhättan Töreboda Uddevalla Ulricehamn Vara Vårgårda Vänersborg Åmål Öckerö

Heraldry

The arms for the County of Västra Götaland was granted in 1999 when the county was formed. It a combination of the provincial arms of Västergötland, Bohuslän and Dalsland with the arms for the city of Gothenburg. When the arms is shown with a royal crown it represents the County Administrative Board, which is the regional presence of (royal) government authority. Blazon: "Quartered, I. the arms of Gothenburg, II. the arms of Bohuslän, III. the arms of Dalsland turned in courtoisie, IV. the arms of Västergötland."

External links

• List of Västra Götaland Governors
• Västra Götaland County Administrative Board
• Gothenburg Regional Association of Local Authorities
• Sjuhärad Regional Association of Local Authorities
• Skaraborg Regional Association of Local Authorities
• Fyrbodals Regional Association of Local Authorities