Kristianstad in prehistoric times At the plateau of Kristianstad, around the Helge stream, piles and cairns tells us that Kristianstad has been inhabited since the Stone Age and that the settlements were increasing during the Bronze Age and the Iron Age.
17th Century In 1614 the Danish king Christian IV founded Kristianstad and soon it was a stronghold against Swedish attacks. When Scania became Swedish, Kristianstad lost much of its importance as a border castle, though it played a big part during the Scanian wars, when the castle during 1676 and 1678 belonged to Denmark. In 1612 the trade town Vä was destroyed in a fire. After that, Vä was replaced by a new town construction, which was to be a strong fortress.
18th Century During the years 1719 and 1720 Scania was split in two counties and Kristianstad was appointed to the resident town in one of them. The trade went well and also the shipping, since Åhus had become a great importance in the Scanian navigation. Furthermore Kristianstad was a big military town. In 1748 there were re-buildings by the fortresses to create southern Sweden’s most important depot fort.
19th Century In the beginning of this century Kristianstad started to lose its importance as a fortress and in 1847 it was decided that Kristianstad no longer was a fortress. The banks were almost completely destroyed and the moats were filled. The canal, which once was separating the town in two, was filled in 1873. In 1861Kristianstad got its first industry; a foundry with an engineering workshop with a big production of among other railway trams, locomotive and steamboats. Directly after that, considerable industries, as the engineering workshop of Hvilan and the Scanian wool fabric, were started. In 1865 Kristianstad was somewhat of a main point in the railway net, with its seven new railroad stretch. During the end of the 19th Century, the railroad station and the town hall were built.
20th Century The settlements in Kristianstad were increasing and therefore created a bigger need of houses, which was solved by expansion of the sealed blocks from the turn of the century. Between 1930 and 1960 the number of inhabitants in Kristianstad was doubled. It gained from approximately 14 000 to 28 000. Several large workplaces were shut down, and this created massive changes. Furthermore the two regiments of Kristianstad also were shut down in 1994. Since the 1980’s it has become more and more important to maintain the nature- and culture environments. Especially important is the protection of the Kristianstads vattenrike, a wet mark environment with unique surroundings.
