Up to 1970 there were three different types ofmunicipalities of Sweden. Of the 848 municipalities at the end of that year 132 had a formalcity status. On New Year's Day 1971 there were only 464 of them left, and they were all of a unitary type,kommun.
The termstad (city or town) is nowadays often used to describe non-administrative localities or urban areas which constituted the former chartered cities.
A few municipalities (among themStockholm andGothenburg) have decided to use the term in their names whenever possible. This usage has no legal foundation, but is widely accepted.
Only the settlements included on thelist of cities in Sweden belong here. For other towns in Sweden see theCategory:Populated places in Sweden.
