Didn’t people once call this area Svinaryssland? Let’s explore Norra Sofielund. This Malmö neighborhood holds more than just a curious nickname.
Norra Sofielund is a neighborhood in Malmö. It is situated in the borough of Södra Innerstaden. This is in Skåne County.
In 2021, Norra Sofielund had a population of 4080. The area lies north of Lönngatan. It sits between Nobelvägen and Lantmannagatan.
Many apartment buildings here were built between 1910 and 1938. Norra Sofielund borders Möllevången. Along Lantmannagatan, you’ll find the new Sofielundsskolan. Nobeltorget is in the northernmost part of Norra Sofielund.
But where does the name Sofielund come from? In 1792, Hans Bauert bought property here. He named it Sophielund after his wife, Sophia Charlotta af Trolle. Bauert built structures and a park south of the farm. This is where Sevedsplan is today. He owned the property until his death in 1802.
In the mid-1800s, land from Sofielundsgården was sold. It became privately owned. The main building that Bauert bought stood until 1952. Then, it was torn down.
Sofielund began to develop in 1879. It was outside Malmö’s city limits. It was part of Västra Skrävlinge socken. The Malmö-Ystad railway cut through the area from 1874.
Industries needed workers. Many people moved to Sofielund for jobs. After the municipal reform in 1862, Sofielund became part of Västra Skrävlinge landskommun. In 1896, the Sofielund municipal society was established. It had 1,740 residents.
Now about that nickname. Sofielund was pejoratively called Svinaryssland. People often kept pigs on their property. Also, it was considered far away like Russia.
A new city plan in 1903 proposed a church and market hall. But nothing happened until 1911. That’s when Västra Skrävlinge socken joined Malmö city. The municipal society dissolved. Many street and block names changed.
Industrialization took off. Large areas east of Lantmannagatan became industrial land. Many functionalist houses were built near Nobeltorget. By 1947, Sofielund was mostly built according to the city plan. It became a Malmö district.
The old Sofielundsskolan was designed in 1900. Architect Salomon Sörensen designed it. The school opened in 1902. At the time, it was one of the largest outside the city. The school operated until 1982. In 1995, Sofielunds Folkets Hus took over the building.
Over the years, efforts have increased safety in Sofielund. In 2014, Fastighetsägare Sofielund was formed. It includes property owners. Their goal is to improve the well-being and safety in Sofielund.
In March 2017, Justice Minister Morgan Johansson visited Sofielund. He discussed the BID model with the association.
From Svinaryssland to Norra Sofielund, this neighborhood has transformed. It continues to evolve. Its history is etched into its streets and buildings.