History of Östersund
Östersund is a Swedish city which is a relatively young city in Scandinavia, being founded as late as 1786 after several Swedish attempts to found and charter a city in Jämtland, a previously Norwegian province. Older history Since the 16th century when Sweden became a sovereign state, its leadership has sought to expand Sweden's influence over Jämtland, which at the time still was a part of Norway, or more precisely Denmark-Norway: first politically, with no substantial result, and later economically. Cities were established along the Norrlandic coast in order to control trade, Jämtland's faring trade included. Härnösand was the first city established in 1585, later followed by Sundsvall in 1621. These cities were tiny and had little success dealing with the deeply rooted resistance towards the state's interest in controlling trade and the connection between Trøndelag and Jämtland. Plans regarding the foundation of a Swedish city or köping (market town, "Chipping") in Jämtland existed amongst governmental officials after the province was ceded from Denmark-Norway in 1645. Queen Christina demanded the establishment of a sconce on Andersön shortly after the province became Swedish; this sconce would together with Frösö sconce secure Swedish control of Jämtland. Christina's intention was to locate the