A County Council (in Swedish: “Landsting”) is a political assembly elected by the citizens. An executive board leads and coordinates Council activities, first and foremost in the field of the public health care system. The County Councils exercise a degree of self government provided for in the Constitution of Sweden.

What does the County Council do?

The County Council is responsible for health care, dental care, support and service to the disabled, research, education and regional growth. It is also engaged in questions concerning economy, the European market, environmental issues, communications, tourism and culture.

The County’s most important task is to plan and provide health care to the residents of the county. It cooperates closely with other partners to ensure positive development in health matters as a whole, to tackle inequalities in health, to ensure good health among children and young people, and to support and strengthen initiatives taken to promote well-being and prevent illness.

About Örebro County

Geographically Örebro County is situated in the centre of Sweden, about 200 km from Stockholm and 300 km from Gothenburg. The County consists of the province of Närke, the western half of Västmanland, and minor parts of Värmland and Västergötland.

The county offers a diversity of landscape, historical and cultural traditions. Many homesteads and old smelting-houses bear witness of past centuries when iron was mined in the northern part of the county. The centre part is dominated by large areas of farmland, estates and small industrial communities. Fishing and boating characterize the districts around the lakes Vättern and Hjälmaren.

Örebro –  the 7th town in Sweden

There are also smaller entities in Swedish counties, called "Primary Municipalities" or “Primärkommuner”(or plainly just “Kommuner”). Even though these municipalities are independent of the County Councils, cooperation is a necessity in many fields.

Örebro County consists of 12 such municipalities. Örebro is the chief town with about 134 000 inhabitants. It is the seventh largest town in the country. Örebro University and the University Hospital (USÖ) is situated here, as well as several large business companies.

Örebro offers a rich cultural life. There are theaters, a concert hall, museums and galleries. You will also find good restaurants, pubs and a wide range of sporting and leisure activities.

Some facts about Örebro County

Inhabitants: about 278 000   Municipalities: 12, whereof Örebro is the largest with about 134 000 inhabitants Largest lakes: Vättern and Hjälmaren Highest mountain: Svinhöjden in Kilsbergen, 436 m over the sea Nature reserves: about 170 National parks: Tiveden national park, Garphyttan national park Some places of interest: Örebro Castle, the open-air museum Wadköping, the water tower Svampen (called “the Mushroom”), the ruins of Riseberga convent, the smelting-house Pershyttan, the wooden houses in the town of Nora, the Nordic House of Culinary Arts in Grythyttan, Alfred Nobels manor Björkborn in Karlskoga.