Jämtland Province, Sweden Genealogy

History
Jämtland Province (Landskap) together with Härjedalen Province make up Jämtland County. Around 700-600 BC (after the last ice age),the first humans migrated west across the Keel to Jämtland. Foskvattnetis, the oldest settlement found is dated back to 6600 BC. There are over 20,000 documented ancient monuments in Jämtland. Over 10,000 trapping or hunting pits have been located along with rock paintings depicting moose and other animals of prey. During the late Roman Iron Age in Storsjobygden, a Jamtish Neolithic culture emerged. During the time Norwegians fled and colonized Icelane, the Vikings fled from Harald Fairhair and Norway taking residence in Jämtland. After the Medieval Warm Period introduced a warmer climate, agriculture flourished and Scandinavian herding was further developed. In religious practice, the Jamts favoured the Norse faith, abandoning the indigenous Germanic tribal religion. In the middle of the 11th century, Jämtland was Christianized. In 1536 Jämtland came to be governed from Copenhagen after Norway was forced into a personal union with Denmark. Jämtland experienced many turbulent times including Nordic Seven Years' War in 1563, the Kalmar War in 1611, and the Hannibal War in 1644. In 1645 Sweden received Jämtland as a part of the Treaty of Brömsebro. Östersund, Jämtland's first city was founded by Gustaf III 1786. The province was struck by social movements in the late 19th century. The population of Jämtland was roughly 152,300 people in 2012.