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{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Uddevalla
|image_skyline          = Centre of Uddevalla.jpg
|image_caption          = Overlooking the centre of Uddevalla
|pushpin_map            = Sweden Västra Götaland#Sweden
|pushpin_label_position = 
|subdivision_type       = [[Country]]
|subdivision_name       = [[Sweden]]
|subdivision_type3      = [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipality]]
|subdivision_name3      = [[Uddevalla Municipality]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Counties of Sweden|County]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Västra Götaland County]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Sweden|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Bohuslän]]
|area_footnotes         = <ref name=uddevalla_mun>{{cite web |url=https://www.uddevalla.se/kommun-och-politik/kommunfakta/befolkning-arbete-byggande.html |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km<sup>2</sup> 2005 och 2010 |date=14 December 2011 |publisher=[[Uddevalla munipalicy]] |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319222644/https://www.uddevalla.se/kommun-och-politik/kommunfakta/befolkning-arbete-byggande.html |archive-date=19 March 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2         = 16.92
|population_as_of       = 31 December 2015
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=uddevalla_mun />
|population_total       = 34 781<!-- This is the official figure from the Uddevalla municipality (Uddevalla kommun). -->
|population_density_km2 = 1845
|timezone               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
|utc_offset             = +1
|timezone_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|utc_offset_DST         = +2
|coordinates            = {{Coord|58|20|57|N|11|56|17|E|region:SE|display=inline,title}}
|website                = 
}}
'''Uddevalla''' is a [[Stad (Sweden)|town]] in [[Västra Götaland County]], [[Sweden]]. It’s the seat of [[Uddevalla Municipality]]. In 2015, it had a population of 34,781, making it the largest town fully in Bohuslän. Uddevalla is located where the river [[Bäveån]] opens up into Byfjorden, a fjord in the south-eastern part of [[Skagerrak]].<ref name=uddevalla_mun /> 

The beaches of Uddevalla are filled with seashells and Uddevalla has one of the largest shell-[[Bank (geography)|banks]] in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Skalbankarna och Skalbanksmuseet |url=https://www.vastsverige.com/uddevalla/produkter/skalbankarna/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=www.vastsverige.com |language=sv}}</ref> Uddevalla also has a port that once was a large shipyard, the ''Uddevallavarvet'' ("Uddevalla wharf"), which was the largest employer in [[Bohuslän]] during the 1960s.<ref name=":2" />

== History ==
[[File:Suecia 3-116 ; Uddevalla.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Uddevalla around 1700, from the [[Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna]]]]
Uddevalla originally belonged to [[Norway]] and received its [[town privileges]] in 1498. It’s probable that the town was founded some time before that, but we have no proof about that. The Norwegians originally named the city “Oddevald”, which later became “Oddevold”.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2016-12-19 |title=Uddevalla {{!}} WestBiz |url=https://westbiz.se/uddevalla/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

Due to the town’s former proximity to [[Denmark]] and Sweden, as well as its strategic position, there were many [[War|wars]] in and around Oddevold. Oddevold has changed nationalities a total of seven times throughout its history. In 1658, Oddevold (and the rest of [[Bohuslän]]) was handed to Sweden as part of the [[Treaty of Roskilde]]. Norway invaded the city a year later before it was handed back as part of the [[Treaty of Copenhagen (1660)|Treaty of Copenhagen]] 1660. That was the last time Oddevold changed nationality and it was soon thereafter renamed to Uddevalla. The old name remains today in the form of [[IK Oddevold]], the local [[Association football|football]] team.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bohuslän blir svenskt 1658 |url=https://www.bohuslansmuseum.se/kunskapsbanken_bohuslans_historia/bohuslan-blir-svenskt-1658/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Bohuslans Museum |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

=== City fires ===
Uddevalla has been burned to the ground a total of six times. The first five times were attempts to claim the city by the different [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian]] nations. After the fifth fire in 1690, the town was rebuilt and became larger than it ever was. Uddevalla was the 5th largest city in Sweden when the sixth great fire started in 1806. The small fire which started in a [[barn]] spread quickly and burnt down the entire city. Only a few houses located in the city outskirts remained intact, and the city had to be rebuilt. It is because of this fire that central Uddevalla has a [[Grid plan|grid-like structure]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Branden i Uddevalla 1806 |url=https://www.bohuslansmuseum.se/kunskapsbanken_bohuslans_historia/branden-i-uddevalla-1806/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Bohuslans Museum |language=sv-SE}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Uddevalla Släktforskare – Uddevalla 1807 – Föreningen Uddevalla Släktforskare bildades 1983 och är en ideell förening som är öppen för alla som är intresserade av släkt- och hembygdsforskning. |url=https://uaslektforskare.se/uddevalla1807/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

=== Industries ===
When the [[Industrial Revolution|industrial revolution]] reached Sweden, Uddevalla had fully recovered from the fire. Uddevalla's first major industry was a [[cotton mill]] named [[Kampenhof AB]]. It was built in 1857 and had 10 000 machines driven by a [[steam engine]]. A few years later in 1875, Adolf P. Zachau built a match factory called Uddevalla Tändsticksfabrik. The match factory, along with their trademark “Svalan” (translated: “The [[Swallow]]”), eventually became successful all over the world. Despite this, it was closed down in 1938. Kampenhof AB remained until 1954, when it too was closed down. The cotton mill however, stood untouched until 1982 when it was [[demolished]]. In its place today is Kampenhof Resecentrum, the main [[bus station]] of Uddevalla.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UDDEVALLA TÄNDSTICKSFABRIK |url=https://thoresmatches.se/tandsticksfabriker/uddevalla_tandsticksfabrik.htm |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=thoresmatches.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kampenhofs bomullsspinneri och väveri |url=https://digitaltmuseum.se/011014290707/kampenhofs-bomullsspinneri-och-vaveri |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=digitaltmuseum.se |language=en}}</ref>

Uddevallavarvet was at its time the biggest employer in all of Bohuslän with approximately 4 000 workers at its peak. It was founded in 1946 by Gustav B. Thordén, who bought two [[Kaiser Shipyards|kaiser shipyards]], one from [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]] and one from [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]], and transported them across the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]]. When Uddevallavarvet was closed down in 1986 they had built 221 [[Oil tanker|supertankers]]. Their biggest ship was the [[T/T Nanny]] which, with a length of 364 meters and a width of 79 meters, is the biggest [[ship]] ever built in Sweden.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Varvet och Vi |url=https://digitaltmuseum.se/021107069772/varvet-och-vi |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=digitaltmuseum.se |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolar |first=Linn |date=2025-03-14 |title="Jätteladyn" – en svensk industriell triumf |url=https://www.dagensps.se/foretag/uddevallavarvet-och-tt-nanny-en-svensk-industriell-triumf/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Dagens PS |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

== Education ==
All the high schools in Uddevalla are administered as one school, the ''Uddevalla Gymnasieskola'' ("Uddevalla High School"), which is now the largest high school in Sweden.{{cn|date=August 2024}} The school has 4,000 students attending the following branches of the high school:
* Agneberg – [[Social studies]]
* Sinclair (High school) – [[The arts]] and [[Media studies]]
* Östrabo 1 – [[Science studies]]
* Östrabo Y – Heavy industry schooling
* Margretegärde – [[Social studies]] and [[Science studies]]

There are also many primary schools in Uddevalla, some of them are:
* Äsperödskolan
* Västerskolan
* Fridaskolan
* Ramnerödsskolan
* Norgårdenskolan
* Norrskolan
* Sommarhemsskolan

== Sports ==

=== Arenas ===
[[Agnebergshallen]] is an indoor sports arena for various sports including [[handball]].

The [[Home (sports)|home ground]] for the [[IK Oddevold]] is the outdoor arena [[Rimnersvallen]]. A large indoor arena, the [[Rimnershallen]], is next to the Rimnersvallen. It is used for [[handball]] and [[floorball]] as well as other sports.

=== Sports clubs ===
The following sports clubs are located in Uddevalla:

==== Football ====
* [[IK Oddevold]]
* [[IFK Uddevalla]]
* [[IFK Lane]]
* Herrestad AIF
* [[IK Rössö]]
* IK Svane
* Rosseröds IK

==== Hockey ====
* [[Uddevalla HC]]

==== Handball ====
* [[GF Kroppskultur(GFK)]]
* [[Uddevalla HK(UHK)]]

==== Floorball ====
* [[Walkesborg 99]]
* Herrestad AIF

==== Futsal ====
* [[IFK Uddevalla Futsal]] Swedish Championship gold season 2016/2017.
* [[IK Oddevold Futsal]]

== Sites of interest ==

* [[Uddevalla Bridge]] is a 1,7 kilometer long [[bridge]] across Byfjorden which was completed in May 2000. It is a part of [[European route E6|European Route E6]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Destinationer |first=Svenska |date=2023-07-04 |title=Uddevallabron - En 1712 meter lång motorvägsbro över Byfjorden |url=https://svenskadestinationer.se/bohuslan/uddevallabron |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Svenska Destinationer |language=sv-SE}}</ref>
* Uddevalla Clock Tower stands at the top of a [[hill]] above the [[town square]]. It was originally built in the [[18th century]], but had some major renovations in [[1830s|the 1830s]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kringla - Uddevalla kyrkas klocktorn |url=https://kringla.nu/kringla/objekt?referens=raa/bbr/21400000579822 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Kringla |language=sv}}</ref>
* The [[Museum of Bohuslän]] is located in central Uddevalla.
* The [[Kuröd Shell Banks]] are the biggest shell banks in the world. [[Fossil|Fossils]] from more than 100 different [[species]] of [[Animal|animals]] have been found here, and some of said fossils are more than 10 000 years old.<ref name=":0" />
* The [[ruins]] of [[Tureborg Castle]] can be found in southern Uddevalla. The [[Middle Ages|medieval]]-style castle was built by [[Ture Malmgren]] and was completed 1912, before it was burnt down in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=Tureborgen - Udda Utflykter |url=https://uddautflykter.se/guide/bohuslan/tureborgen/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |language=sv-SE}}</ref>
* Gustavsberg is one of the oldest seaside resorts in Sweden. It is located on the southern [[coast]] of Byfjorden, a 30-minute walk from the city centre. Most of the [[19th century]] buildings remain today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Badorten Gustafsberg |url=https://www.bohuslansmuseum.se/samlingar-och-historia/gamla-historiska-artiklar/badorten-gustafsberg/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Bohuslans Museum |language=sv-SE}}</ref>

== Transportation ==

=== Highways and major roads ===
The [[European route E6|European Route E6]] passes through [[Torp Köpcentrum]] in west Uddevalla. From there, [[Swedish county road|county road]] 161 goes west towards  [[Lysekil]], while [[Swedish national road|national road]] 44 goes east. The 44 passes through Uddevalla city centre and Kuröd industrial area before continuing to [[Trollhättan]] and [[Götene]]. County road 172 starts in Kuröd, connects with the 44, and continues north through [[Dalsland]].

=== Bus ===
Most [[public transport]] in Uddevalla is operated by [[Västtrafik]] since it is a part of Västra Götaland County. Uddevalla has a network of city buses featuring 50 stops and 6 lines, all of which stop at Kampenhof Resecentrum, one of Uddevalla’s two [[Bus station|bus stations]]. The other bus station is called Torp Terminalen which is located at [[Torp Köpcentrum]]. Most regional buses stop at Torp instead of Kampenhof because of Torp’s proximity to four major roads. Some notable destinations Västtrafik offers bus routes to from Uddevalla are [[Ljungskile]], [[Färgelanda]], [[Bengtsfors]], [[Trollhättan]], [[Munkedal]], [[Kungshamn]], [[Smögen]], [[Tanumshede]], [[Strömstad]], [[Henån]], [[Stenungsund]], [[Lysekil]], [[Kungälv]], and [[Gothenburg]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-01 |title=Västtrafik |url=https://www.vasttrafik.se/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.vasttrafik.se |language=sv}}</ref> Additionally, [[Vy bus4you]] offers [[Intercity bus service|long distance buses]] between [[Copenhagen]] and [[Oslo]], which stop at Torp Terminalen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Populära linjer |url=https://www.bus4you.se/populara-relationer/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.bus4you.se}}</ref>

=== Train ===
Uddevalla has two train stations: Uddevalla Central and Uddevalla Östra (“Uddevalla East”). Both are a part of the [[Bohus Line]], while the Central Station also is a part of the [[Älvsborg Line]]. 

== Nature Reserves ==
Uddevalla municipality has four nature reserves. The Gustafbergs area nature reserve and Korpbergets nature reserve which are both included in the EU-network Natura 2000. While Emaus and Ture dalar are municipal nature reserves.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Sweden}}
Uddevalla is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Vänorter |url=https://www.uddevalla.se/kommun-och-politik/internationellt-arbete/vanorter.html |publisher=Uddevalla kommun |language=sv |access-date=2021-09-27 |archive-date=2020-06-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623074726/https://www.uddevalla.se/kommun-och-politik/internationellt-arbete/vanorter.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagicon|EST}} [[Jõhvi Parish|Jõhvi]], Estonia
* {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Loimaa]], Finland
* {{flagicon|ISL}} [[Mosfellsbær]], Iceland
* {{flagicon|SCO}} [[North Ayrshire]], Scotland, United Kingdom
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Okazaki, Aichi|Okazaki]], Japan
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Skien Municipality|Skien]], Norway
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Thisted Municipality|Thisted]], Denmark
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
*[[Oscar Akermo]] - tattoo artist 
*[[Jenny Alm]] - handballer
*[[Marianne Aminoff]] - actress
*[[Eva Andersson (swimmer)|Eva Andersson]] - swimmer
*[[Håkan Andersson (motorcyclist)|Håkan Andersson]] - motocross racer
*[[Murder of Wilma Andersson|Wilma Andersson]] - murder victim
*[[Eva Andersson-Dubin]] - physician and model
*[[Mikael Appelgren (handballer)|Mikael Appelgren]] - handballer
*[[Johan Arneng]] - footballer
*[[Percy Barnevik]] - business executive
*[[Signe Barth]] - painter 
*[[Lars Bäckström]] - politician
*[[Peter Berggren]] - swimmer
*[[Beata Bergström]] - photographer
*[[Rebecka Blomqvist]] - footballer
*[[Sofie Börjesson]] - handballer 
*[[Johanna Bundsen]] - handballer
*[[Einar Dahl (Esperantist)|Einar Dahl]] - politician and Esperantist
*[[Jonas Dahlberg]] - artist
*[[Martin Dahlin]] - footballer
*[[Robert Dahlqvist]] - musician
*[[Klas Eksell]] - army Major General 
*[[Edvard Evers]] - Lutheran priest
*[[Caroline Farberger]] - business executive 
*[[Lisa Fonssagrives]] - model and photographer
*[[Mathias Fredriksson]] - cross country skier
*[[Knut Fridell]] - wrestler
*[[Joel Gistedt]] - ice hockey player
*[[Berndt Grundevik]] - army Major General 
*[[Liselott Hagberg]] - politician
*[[Hans Håkansson]] - footballer and journalist
*[[Jack Hermansson]] - mixed martial artist 
*[[Linnéa Hillberg]] - actress
*[[Per Johansson (handballer)|Per Johansson]] - handballer
*[[Arnrid Johnston]] - sculptor
*[[Jessica Karlsson]] - golfer 
*[[Karl-Axel Karlsson]] - sports shooter
*[[Kim Kärnfalk]] - singer
*[[Agneta Klingspor]] - author 
*[[Johan Philip Korn]] - painter
*[[Patrik Liljestrand]] - handballer
*[[Carl Linde (football manager)|Carl Linde]] - football manager
*[[Birger Ljungström]] - engineer
*[[Jonas Patrik Ljungström]] - cartographer 
*[[Karla López]] - politician 
*[[Therèse Lundin (swimmer)|Therèse Lundin]], swimmer
*[[Agnes Magnell]] - architect 
*[[Ture Malmgren]] - journalist and politician
*[[Ellen Mattson]] - writer
*[[Jonas Olsson (music producer)|Jonas Olsson]] - Finnish music producer
*[[Anders Osborne]] - American singer/songwriter
*[[Jeanna Oterdahl]] - educator and author
*[[Johan Patriksson]] - footballer
*[[Cristina Husmark Pehrsson]] - politician
*[[Örjan Persson]] - footballer
*[[Angelo Vega Rodriguez]] - futsal player
*[[Ester Roeck-Hansen]] - actress
*[[Lotten Rönquist]]- painter 
*[[Lars Schmidt (producer)|Lars Schmidt]] - director and publisher 
*[[Erik Segerstedt]] - singer
*[[Birger Simonsson]] - painter 
*[[Annica Smedius]] - actress and singer
*[[Peter Spaak]] - Protestant reformer
*[[Thomas Stenström]] - singer/songwriter
*[[Anton Niklas Sundberg]] - Lutheran clergyman
*[[Peter Sunde]] - entrepreneur and politician
*[[Alfred Swahn]] - sports shooter
*[[Thomas Thorburn]] - economist 
*[[Lars Uno Thulin]] - Norwegian engineer and politician
*[[Henning von Krusenstierna]] - Navy admiral 
*[[Jack Vreeswijk]] - singer and composer
*[[Sylvia Vrethammar]] - singer
*[[Martin Wallström]] - actor
*[[Cissi Wallin]] - actress and radio personality 
*[[Bo Wålemark]] - football manager
*[[Axel Wenner-Gren]] - entrepreneur
*[[Marie Wennersten-From]] - golfer
*[[Herman Zetterberg]] - jurist and politician

== See also ==
* [[Fjällhyddan]]
* [[Murder of Wilma Andersson]]
* [[Ture Valleys]]
* [[Eastern Cemetery (Uddevalla)|Eastern Cemetery]]
* [[Uddevalla Suffrage Association]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
* {{Owl}}
* [[Nationalencyklopedin]]

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Uddevalla}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://runeberg.org/nfcj/0450.html Article Uddevalla, from NF]
* [http://www.gymnasiet.uddevalla.se/ Uddevalla Gymnasieskola] Official site for Uddevalla Gymnasieskola
* [http://www.uddevalla.se/ Official website of Uddevalla]

{{Localities in Uddevalla Municipality}}
{{Västra Götaland County}}{{50 most populous urban areas of Sweden}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Uddevalla| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Uddevalla Municipality]]
[[Category:Municipal seats of Västra Götaland County]]
[[Category:Swedish municipal seats]]
[[Category:Coastal cities and towns in Sweden]]
[[Category:Cities in Sweden]]