Hadsten

Sister cities

• Kungsbacka Municipality

History

Archaeological excavations around the town have shown that people have lived in Lilleådalen as far back as 2,000 BC in the Nordic Stone Age. The excavation at the water mill, which later became known as Hadsten Mølle, have revealed the remains of an even older water mill from around the 1190's in the early High Middle Ages. The present mill originates from the 1400s during the Clausholm Castle era, and later gained its present name of Hadsten Mølle. Hadsten was mentioned for the first time in 1432 as Halstiern suggesting to come from the Old Norse word tjærn which means "little lake", while the neck also in Old Danish refers to the narrowing the small river valley have of Kollerup Gods. The water level this river at that time has stood 2–3 meters higher than it is today - which is why the valley was marked by lakes. The modern town was founded on 3 September 1862, when Den østjyske længdebane (The Eastern Jutland Railway) opened. In 2012, the town celebrated its 150th anniversary, with a visit by Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark and his wife, Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark. The town was at the plant of the East Jutland stretch of railway line, which was officially inaugurated on 3 September 1862. Therefore, this date is seen as the town's founding. In September 2012 celebrated its 150th anniversary with the visit of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. One of the most advanced buildings in Denmark is in Hadsten; it functions as a café, library and auditorium.

Geography

Hadsten’s average elevation above sea level is 44 meters.