1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Hernösand

HERNÖSAND, a seaport of Sweden, chief town of the district (län) of Vesternorrland on the Gulf of Bothnia. Pop. (1900) 7890. It stands on the island of Hernö (which is connected with the mainland by bridges) near the mouth of the Ångerman river, 423 m. N. of Stockholm by rail. It is the seat of a bishop and possesses a fine cathedral. There are engine-works, timber-yards and saw-mills. The harbour is good, but generally ice-bound from December to May. Timber, iron and wood-pulp are exported. There are a school of navigation and an institute for pisciculture. Hernösand was founded in 1584, and received its first town-privileges from John III. in 1587. It was the first town in Europe to be lighted by electricity (1885). The poet Franzen (q.v.), Bishop of Hernösand, is buried here.