Borås is a city in Västergötland in western Sweden, situated at 57°43′N 12°56′E. It has a population of about 100,000, and is the seat of Borås Municipality. Granted city privileges from King Gustav II Adolf (in Europe known as The Lion from the North) in 1622, it soon became a center of textile industries. Borås is located at the point of two crossing railroads, among them the railway between Gothenburg and Kalmar, and is often considered the Swedish city gaining the most from the nationwide railway system laid between 1870-1910. Borås is the leading textile city of Sweden, starting as a location spot for textile mills. The city arms depicts two sheep-shearing scissors, a tribute to the vast number of smiths in the tow in early history. It currently holds the Swedish record in the number of established mail-order firms. The company Swedac is based in Borås, and Ericsson also has a large manufacturing plant here. Mini-Link microwave radios are manufactured here.
