# Silkeborg

> city in central Denmark

**Wikidata**: [Q21180](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21180)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkeborg)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/silkeborg

## Summary
Silkeborg is a city in central Denmark with a population of 50,866 as of 2023. It serves as the capital of Silkeborg Municipality and covers an area of 255.28 square kilometers. Founded in 1470, the city is situated on the Gudenå river and is recognized as a large human settlement within the region.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: 1470
- **Population (2023)**: 50,866 (preferred/most recent data)
- **Population (2017)**: 44,333
- **Country**: Denmark
- **Area**: 255.28 square kilometres
- **Coordinates**: 56.166666666667°N, 9.55°E
- **Elevation**: 31 metres above sea level
- **Postal Code**: 8600
- **Local Dialing Code**: 89
- **Timezone**: UTC+01:00 (standard time), UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time)
- **UN/LOCODE**: DKSLB
- **Danish Urban Area Code**: 10667
- **Current Head of Government**: Helle Gade (since January 1, 2022)
- **Previous Head of Government**: Steen Vindum (January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2021)
- **Website**: http://www.silkeborg.dk/
- **Wikidata ID**: Q206855
- **GND ID**: 4362987-8
- **VIAF ID**: 155478124
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n79104319
- **GeoNames ID**: 2614030
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 1ea5922f-0fc3-4583-88cf-c97917703d27

## FAQs

**What is the history of Silkeborg's governance?**
Silkeborg has served as the capital of Silkeborg Municipality in two distinct periods: from April 1, 1970 to December 31, 2006 under the municipality of the same name (1970–2006), and from January 1, 2007 to present within the current Silkeborg Municipality structure. The city's governmental leadership transitioned from Steen Vindum (2014–2021) to Helle Gade on January 1, 2022.

**How has Silkeborg's population changed over time?**
The city has experienced significant population growth from 9,180 residents in 1916 to 50,866 in 2023, with notable increases during the post-World War II era (jumping from 14,378 in 1940 to 20,955 in 1945) and steady growth through the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

**What are the city's international connections?**
Silkeborg maintains twin city relationships with eight municipalities: Kaiserslautern (since 2000), Kalmar Municipality, Arendal, Giżycko, Banja Luka, Sveitarfélagið Árborg, Savonlinna, and Corona.

**What geographic features define Silkeborg?**
The city is located in central Denmark at coordinates 56.166666666667°N, 9.55°E, situated along the Gudenå river. It spans 255.28 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 31 metres above sea level.

**How is Silkeborg documented in reference works?**
The city is described by multiple authoritative sources including Trap Danmark (3rd edition, volume 5, page 97) and Trap Danmark (5th edition, volume 20, page 492), as well as Encyclopædia Britannica Online (place/Silkeborg).

## Why It Matters
Silkeborg represents a significant urban center in central Denmark with over five centuries of documented history since its founding in 1470. The city demonstrates sustained demographic importance, having grown from a modest settlement to a municipality capital serving over 50,000 residents. Its administrative role as the capital of Silkeborg Municipality—spanning both the 1970–2006 and post-2007 municipal structures—underscores its continued governance significance in the Danish administrative framework. The city's extensive international twinning relationships with eight municipalities across Europe and beyond reflect its active engagement in global municipal cooperation. Silkeborg's inclusion in Wikipedia's "WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark" further confirms its national significance.

## Notable For
- **Historical Continuity**: Founded in 1470, representing over 550 years of continuous settlement
- **Demographic Growth**: Population increased more than fivefold from 1916 (9,180) to 2023 (50,866)
- **Administrative Leadership**: Serves as capital of Silkeborg Municipality across two distinct municipal periods
- **International Engagement**: Maintains active sister city relationships with eight international municipalities
- **Geographic Positioning**: Strategically located on the Gudenå, Denmark's longest river
- **Global Documentation**: Recognized across 55+ language versions of Wikipedia and multiple international authority files

## Body

### Geography and Location
Silkeborg occupies a central position in Denmark at coordinates 56.166666666667°N, 9.55°E. The city encompasses a total area of 255.28 square kilometres and sits at an elevation of 31 metres above sea level. The municipality is located in or next to the Gudenå, a significant body of water in the Danish landscape. The city's locator map is available at Map_DK_Silkeborg.PNG.

### Demographics and Population Trends
Silkeborg has experienced sustained population growth throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The complete population timeline includes:

- 1916: 9,180
- 1921: 10,896
- 1925: 11,473
- 1930: 12,078
- 1935: 13,393
- 1940: 14,378
- 1945: 20,955
- 1950: 23,955
- 1955: 24,296
- 1960: 24,465
- 1965: 25,789
- 1989: 34,098
- 2000: 37,088
- 2006: 41,300
- 2008: 41,674
- 2010: 42,396
- 2012: 42,807
- 2014: 43,158
- 2017: 44,333
- 2023: 50,866 (current preferred figure)

The most significant growth period occurred between 1940 and 1950, when the population increased by approximately 66%, reflecting post-war urbanization trends.

### Governance and Administrative History
The city functions as the administrative center of Silkeborg Municipality. The administrative relationship evolved through two distinct periods:
- April 1, 1970 – December 31, 2006: Capital of Silkeborg Municipality (1970–2006)
- January 1, 2007 – present: Capital of the current Silkeborg Municipality

The head of government position (mayor) transitioned from Steen Vindum, who served from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2021, to Helle Gade, who assumed office on January 1, 2022.

### International Twin City Relationships
Silkeborg maintains formal twinning arrangements with eight municipalities:
- Kaiserslautern (twinned since 2000)
- Kalmar Municipality
- Arendal
- Giżycko
- Banja Luka
- Sveitarfélagið Árborg
- Savonlinna
- Corona

### Infrastructure and Services
The city operates with the following service identifiers:
- Postal Code: 8600
- Local Dialing Code: 89
- Danish Urban Area Code: 10667
- UN/LOCODE: DKSLB
- Website: http://www.silkeborg.dk/

Timezone observance follows UTC+01:00 for standard time and UTC+02:00 for daylight saving time.

### Cultural and Historical Documentation
Silkeborg is extensively documented in Danish reference works. The city appears in Trap Danmark (3rd edition, volume 5, page 97) and Trap Danmark (5th edition, volume 20, page 492). The Encyclopædia Britannica Online entry is available at "place/Silkeborg." The city has a designated coat of arms (Coat_of_arms_of_Silkeborg.svg) and a commons gallery category for visual documentation.

### Identifier Systems and Authority Control
The city is catalogued in numerous international authority and identification systems:

**National and Library Authorities:**
- GND ID: 4362987-8
- VIAF ID: 155478124
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n79104319
- Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 13180725p
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007550327205171

**Geographic and Statistical Systems:**
- GeoNames ID: 2614030
- GNS Unique Feature ID: -2750035
- Who's On First ID: 101805653
- WOEID: 556914

**Encyclopedia and Reference Works:**
- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: silkeborg (also former scheme: 0062717)
- Online PWN Encyclopedia ID: 3975215
- Den Digitale Byport ID: 91
- Archinform Location ID: 120

**Arts and Culture:**
- MusicBrainz Area ID: 1ea5922f-0fc3-4583-88cf-c97917703d27
- RKD Thesaurus ID: 44913
- Store ID Google Play: Silkeborg

**Media and Broadcasting:**
- DR Topic ID: silkeborg
- Yle Topic ID: 18-58117, 18-299067
- Postimees Topic ID: 46015
- SNARC ID: 2012

**Academic Resources:**
- Trap Danmark ID: Silkeborg
- WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJdmhBXp8Pj4RBmBq9Vgrq
- Yale LUX ID: place/b5134be0-e6db-4f86-b628-88f616906b45
- NL CR AUT ID: ge307156
- Lex ID: Silkeborg

### Digital Presence and Wikimedia Integration
Silkeborg maintains a substantial presence across Wikimedia projects with 58 sitelinks and availability in 55 language versions including Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Swedish, and Chinese variants. The city is included in Wikipedia's "WikiProject 1000 important articles about Denmark." Visual resources include a page banner (Silkeborg_banner.jpg), locator map, and commons category. Audio pronunciation is available at Da-Silkeborg.ogg. The city has dedicated categories for people born in Silkeborg (Category:Births in Silkeborg), people who died in Silkeborg (Category:Deaths in Silkeborg), and people associated with the city (Category:People from Silkeborg).

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. Czech National Authority Database
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](http://www.statistikbanken.dk/BY1)
7. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
8. GeoNames
9. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/dk.htm)
10. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File