Jönköping

Jönköping yönˈchöˌpĭng [key], city (1990 pop. 76,280), capital of Jönköping co. (1995 pop. 312,490), S Sweden, at the southern end of Lake Vättern. It is a commercial and industrial center. The safety match was developed there, and the city has large match factories (founded 1844). Other manufactures include machinery, paper, and textiles. Jönköping was chartered in 1284 by Magnus I. Gustavus Adolphus gave (1620) it special privileges after its citizens had burned the city to prevent the Danes from sacking it. Jönköping's modern prosperity began in the 19th cent. with the opening of the Göta Canal and the coming of the railroad.

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