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Tidaholm () is a locality and the seat of Tidaholm Municipality in Västergötland Province within Västra Götaland County, Sweden, consisting of 520 square kilometers, or a little more than 200 square miles. It is located on the Tidan River, the only river in Sweden that flows north. Two islands are included within the municipality's limits: Vulcanön and Turbinhusön, the former was originally Tidaholm's industrial center and the latter historically housed the Turbine. As of 2021, there were 13,000 inhabitants.
Up until the early 19th century, Tidaholm was primarily a farming community but, in 1799, an ironworks factory (Tidaholms bruk) was established on the site of the Holmagården forge, which had roots dating back to the Middle Ages, and merged with several other business to manufacture furniture, wagons and agricultural implements. Nearly a century later, one of the bicycle-making Lindström brothers spent time in the United States, studying the early car industry. Once he returned to Sweden, the Tidaholmsbilen (the Tidaholm car) was the result, with most of the parts made at Tidaholms Bruk, especially once local engine production began in 1914.Sundfeldt 1991, p. 44. Between 1903 and 1934, the factory produced about 6,000 cars, mainly trucks, buses, fire trucks and other heavy vehicles.Sundfeldt 1991, p. 46. Known as "Tidaholmarna," they were seen as far afield as Oslo and St. Petersburg.
In 1868, the Vulcan match factory (Tändsticksfabrik AB Vulcan), was founded on Vulcan Island, one of Tidaholm's islands in the Tidan River. Although it was started with a little over 100 workers, by the early 1900s, it had become the largest manufacturer of matches in the world, and was employing more than 1,000 workers. Nowadays, Vulcan Tidaholm is the only remaining match factory in Sweden, with roughly 200 employees. Although the Lithography Workshop has taken over its former headquarters, it carries on Tidaholm's tradition of the lithographic arts that began with the design of intricate matchbox labels.
Industrial gallery
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The islands
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Vulcanön island
Both Tidaholm Bruk as well as Vulcan Tidaholm were headquartered on Vulcanön island and, nowadays, Tidaholm Museum is located here. Not surprisingly, the museum focuses on the town's industrial history and its two major industries, and it keeps nine Tidaholm Bruk cars on permanent display. Although many buildings were demolished in the area, a lot of historic architecture remains.
Turbinhusön island
There is an art gallery at the former turbine house (Turbinhusön) open in the summer and close to Hellidens folkhögskola you will find Sweden's only Lithographic Museum, as well as cafés and other small shops here.
Sites
Architectural gallery
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Greater Tidaholm
Helliden Castle
Hans Henrik Von Essen was both one of the owners of Tidaholm Bruk and a founder of Vulcan Tidaholm. He first built Helliden, a manor house, colloquially known as Helliden Castle, at the edge of the municipality in 1858. Today, it houses a high school and an adult education center.
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