# Köping

Köping was a Swedish denomination for a market town since the Middle Ages, derived from the Old Norse word kaupang. The designation was officially abolished with the municipal reform of 1971, when Sweden was subdivided into the Municipalities of Sweden (currently amounting to 290).
As present-day Finland was once a part of Sweden, the Finnish word kauppala has the same meaning. In modern Finnish, the word kaupunki, borrowed from the Old Norse word kaupang, is the main word for town and city. Swedish köping and the English toponym chipping are also cognates as is the Norwegian word kjøpstad and the Danish toponymical suffix -købing.

## Sweden
### History

In 1863 the first local government acts were implemented in Sweden. There were two acts, one for cities and one for rural areas. Of the around 2,500 municipalities, 89 had city rights and thus had the right to call themselves stad (city). Under the "rural" act there were also eight localities given the status of köping, which positioned them between a rural municipality and a town (see municipalköping). The number of localities designated as köping rose dramatically during the 20th century and reached its peak in 1959, when they were 95. Many new settlements during the industrialization of Sweden, as well as some of the suburbs in the metropolitan areas, first received the title of köping and it was also made part of their name (such as Linköping or Nyköping). They later grew further and received town privileges, but kept the köping ending of their names. See the list below. It has been found that a vast majority, nearly 70%, of such designated market-towns lie within an area of 200 km$^2$ (77 sq mi) in south-central Sweden, especially in the highly economically productive region immediately west and south of Stockholm, in Södermanland, Örebro, Östergötland, and Jönköping counties.
A large-scale merger of Swedish municipalities in 1971 removed the distinctions between towns, market towns and rural municipalities. Many of the former market towns are now seats of municipalities. In contrast to the term stad, köping is seldom used in everyday speech today.

### Köping titles issued 1863–1959

| County | Köping | From | To | Note |
| Blekinge County | Kristianopel | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Blekinge County | Olofström | 01.01.1941 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Blekinge County | Ronneby | 1686 | 30.11.1882 | received city privileges |
| Dalarna County | Avesta | 01.01.1907 | 31.03.1919 | received city privileges |
| Dalarna County | Borlänge | 01.01.1898 | 31.12.1943 | received city privileges |
| Dalarna County | Krylbo | 01.01.1919 | 31.12.1966 | merged into Avesta city |
| Dalarna County | Ludvika | 01.01.1915 | 31.12.1918 | received city privileges |
| Dalarna County | Mora | 01.01.1959 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Dalarna County | Morastrand | 01.01.1908 | 31.12.1958 | merged into Mora köping) |
| Dalarna County | Smedjebacken | 01.01.1918 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Gävleborg County | Björkhamre | 01.01.1923 | 31.12.1941 | merged into Bollnäs city |
| Gävleborg County | Bollnäs | 01.01.1906 | 31.12.1941 | received city privileges |
| Gävleborg County | Ljusdal | 01.01.1914 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Gävleborg County | Sandviken | 01.01.1927 | 31.12.1942 | received city privileges |
| Gävleborg County | Storvik | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Sandviken Municipality |
| Gotland County | Slite | 01.01.1936 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Gotland Municipality |
| Halland County | Oskarström | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; today part of Halmstad Municipality |
| Jämtland County | Frösön | 01.01.1948 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Östersund Municipality |
| Jämtland County | Sveg | 01.01.1937 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; today part of Härjedalen Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Anderstorp | 01.01.1953 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; today part of Gislaved Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Bodafors | 01.01.1930 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Nässjö Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Gislaved | 01.01.1949 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Jönköping County | Huskvarna | 31.12 1907 | 31.12.1910 | received city privileges; today part of Jönköping Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Mariannelund | 01.01.1928 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Eksjö Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Norrahammar | 31.12 1943 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Jönköping Municipality |
| Jönköping County | Skillingaryd | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Jönköping County | Tranås | 01.01.1882 | 31.12.1918 | received city privileges |
| Jönköping County | Vaggeryd | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Jönköping County | Vetlanda | 01.01.1909 | 31.12.1919 | received city privileges |
| Jönköping County | Värnamo | 1620 | 31.12.1920 | received city privileges |
| Kalmar County | Emmaboda | 01.01.1930 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kalmar County | Figeholm | 01.01.1878 | 31.12.1951 | merged into Misterhult Municipality, today part of Oskarshamn Municipality; municipalköping prior to 1878 |
| Kalmar County | Gamleby | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Kalmar County | Hultsfred | 01.01.1927 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kalmar County | Mönsterås | 1620 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kalmar County | Mörbylånga | 1881 | 31.12.1951 | formed a municipality; municipalköping prior to 1880) |
| Kalmar County | Nybro | 25.04.1879 | 31.12.1931 | received city privileges; previously municipalköping from 1865) |
| Kalmar County | Pataholm | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Kalmar County | Påskallavik | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Kalmar County | Virserum | 01.01.1956 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Alvesta | 01.01.1945 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Hovmantorp | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | split between Lessebo and Växjö Municipalities) |
| Kronoberg County | Lenhovda | 01.01.1957 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Uppvidinge Municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Lessebo | 01.01.1939 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Ljungby | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Kronoberg County | Markaryd | 01.01.1916 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Ryd (Almundsryd) | 01.01.1958 | 31.12.1970 | split between Tingsryd and Älmhult Municipalities) |
| Kronoberg County | Tingsryd | 01.01.1921 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Traryd | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Markaryd Municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Åseda | 01.01.1943 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Uppvidinge Municipality |
| Kronoberg County | Älmhult | 01.01.1901 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Norrbotten County | Älvsbyn | 01.01.1948 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Örebro County | Degerfors | 01.01.1943 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Örebro County | Frövi | 01.01.1955 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Lindesberg Municipality |
| Örebro County | Hallsberg | 01.01.1908 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Örebro County | Hällefors | 01.01.1950 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Örebro County | Kopparberg | 01.01.1908 | 31.12.1961 | merged into Ljusnarsbergs köping) |
| Örebro County | Laxå | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Örebro County | Ljusnarsberg | 01.01.1962 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Östergötland County | Boxholm | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Östergötland County | Finspång | 01.01.1942 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Östergötland County | Motala | 1820 | 31.12.1880 | received city privileges |
| Östergötland County | Valdemarsvik | 01.01.1914 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; prior to 1914 municipalköping; oldest köping charter from 1647) |
| Östergötland County | Åtvidaberg | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Bjuv | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Bromölla | 01.01.1942 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Båstad | 01.01.1937 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; before 1937 municipalköping) |
| Skåne County | Eslöv | 01.01.1875 | 31.12.1910 | received city privileges |
| Skåne County | Furulund | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1968 | merged into Kävlinge köping) |
| Skåne County | Hässleholm | 01.01.1901 | 31.12.1913 | received city privileges |
| Skåne County | Hörby | 01.01.1900 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Höör | 01.01.1939 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Klippan | 01.01.1945 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Kävlinge | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Limhamn | 01.01.1906 | 31.12.1914 | merged into Malmö city |
| Skåne County | Lomma | 01.01.1951 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Osby | 01.01.1937 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Perstorp | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Sjöbo | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Skurup | 01.01.1914 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Svedala | 01.01.1919 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Tomelilla | 01.01.1921 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Trelleborg | see municipalköping | see municipalköping | see municipalköping |
| Skåne County | Vinslöv | 01.01.1934 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Skåne County | Åhus | 01.01.1905 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Kristianstad Municipality |
| Skåne County | Åstorp | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Södermanland County | Gnesta | 01.01.1955 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Södermanland County | Malmköping | 1784 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Flen Municipality |
| Stockholm County | Danderyd | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | became municipality |
| Stockholm County | Djursholm | 01.01.1901 | 31.12.1913 | received city privileges; today part of Danderyd Municipality |
| Stockholm County | Hässelby Villastad | 01.01.1926 | 01.01.1948 | merged into Stockholm City |
| Stockholm County | Lidingö | 01.01.1910 | 31.12.1925 | received city privileges |
| Stockholm County | Nynäshamn | 01.01.1911 | 31.12.1945 | received city privileges |
| Stockholm County | Saltsjöbaden | 01.01.1909 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Nacka Municipality |
| Stockholm County | Sollentuna | 01.01.1944 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Stockholm County | Stocksund | 01.01.1910 | 31.12.1966 | merged into Djursholm city; today part of Danderyd Municipality |
| Stockholm County | Sundbyberg | 01.01.1888 | 31.12.1926 | received city privileges |
| Stockholm County | Täby | 01.01.1948 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Uppsala County | Tierp | 01.01.1920 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Arvika | 1811 | 31.12 1910 | received city privileges |
| Värmland County | Grums | 01.01.1948 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Hammarö | 01.01.1950 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Munkfors | 01.01.1949 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Storfors | 01.01.1950 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Sunne | 01.01.1920 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Värmland County | Säffle | 01.01.1882 | 31.12.1950 | received city privileges |
| Värmland County | Årjäng | 01.01.1941 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västerbotten County | Holmsund | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality; today part of Umeå Municipality |
| Västerbotten County | Lycksele | 01.01.1929 | 31.12.1945 | received city privileges |
| Västerbotten County | Vilhelmina | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västerbotten County | Vännäs | 01.01.1928 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västerbotten County | Åsele | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västernorrland County | Skön | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1964 | merged into Sundsvall city |
| Västernorrland County | Sollefteå | 01.01.1902 | 31.12.1916 | received city privileges |
| Västernorrland County | Timrå | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västernorrland County | Ånge | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västernorrland County | Örnsköldsvik | 06.12.1842 | 30.06.1894 | received city privileges |
| Västmanland County | Hallstahammar | 01.01.1943 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västmanland County | Kungsör | 01.01.1907 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västmanland County | Norberg | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Bengtsfors | 01.01.1926 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Grebbestad | 01.01.1929 | 31.12.1951 | merged into Tanum Municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Grästorp | 01.01.1900 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Götene | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Herrljunga | 01.01.1952 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Kinna | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Mark Municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Lilla Edet | 01.01.1951 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Mellerud | 01.01.1908 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Skene | 01.01.1951 | 31.12.1970 | merged into Mark Municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Svenljunga | 01.01.1946 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Tibro | 01.01.1947 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Tidaholm | 01.01.1895 | 31.12.1909 | received city privileges |
| Västra Götaland County | Töreboda | 01.01.1909 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |
| Västra Götaland County | Vara | 01.01.1894 | 31.12.1970 | formed a municipality |