Jönköping, city in southern Sweden, capital of Jönköping County. Throughout the county, oats and rye are grown and cattle are raised. The city is one of the leading industrial centers in Sweden, producing machinery, paper, and textiles; it is also famous for its match industry, founded in 1844. Lake Vättern and the Göta Canal link the city with the Baltic Sea. Points of interest include several 14th- and 17th-century churches and a 17th-century courthouse. Jönköping was chartered in 1284. In the war between Sweden and Denmark in 1612, the city was destroyed by its inhabitants to prevent sacking by Danes; it was rebuilt shortly afterward and, in 1620, granted special privileges by King Gustav II Adolph. Population (1998 estimate) 115,897.
