The first settlement in the Kävlinge area was along the coast and from there the country was colonized along Kävlingeån (Kävlinge stream). Finds from the late Stone Age shows that settlements were to be found in this area already 5000 years ago. Kävlingeån, being the largest stream in southern Sweden, was called "Lodd älv" (Lodda river) during the Viking Age. The stream had an abundant flow at that time and was one of the most important ways for transportation from the sea into the country.Both Kävlinge and Löddeköpinge have arisen by passage across the stream. During the Viking Age there was an important trading place in Löddeköpinge with distant contacts. At extensive excavations a great number of pithouses have been found on the old marketplace. In Löddeköpinge, an archeological experimental village "VikingTimes
" is under development.
The name Kävlinge
One of the oldest written sources where Kävlinge is mentioned is in a church document from 1120 A. D. At this time the name was written Kyflingi. According to philologists the name probably originates from the word "kuv" which means round peak, hump. The name is said to have in view the hogback that from the south shoots north like an arrow towards the village on the opposite side of the stream. The ending "inge" have no meaning in itself, but it shows that the village is old since the ending descends from the early Iron Age and the time of Völkerwanderung. Another older theory about the name Kävlinge is that it alludes to a so called "kavlebro", a bridge that was to be found at the passage across the stream.The passage across the stream meant a lot to Kävlinge. The north-south going country road running through here is ancient and Kävlinge early received a permanent junction across the stream. The location of Kävlinge by a bridge that connected the old route between Lund and Landskrona lead to the establishment of an inn with carriage station in the village. Facing the inn a courthouse was built in 1728.
Communications important
In the year 1886 the railway between Malmö and Billesholm was completed. The railway passed through Kävlinge that in time came to be an important railway-junction. Society developed with the building of railways and Kävlinge became a municipal society in1902.Next to Kävlinge village an area by the railway station-house grew and the center of Kävlinge was transferred to the northeast. The railway brought along the possibility of industries to establish along the stream and in a couple of decades Kävlinge was transformed into an industrial center. The significance of the railway to the society is reflected in the municipalities armorial bearings which symbolizes the railway junction. In the arm, made in gold on green, the six railways radiate from Kävlinge in the center.
Shopping centre
Communications and trade has always been of importance to the Kävlinge area. The beginning of the 60's meant the end of the great railwayperiod and motordom took over. In recent years a large trade center, Center Syd, has established near the E6 and once again Löddeköpinge has become an important trading place.Sources: Kävlingebygdens årsbok 1978, 1979, 1987-88 Kävlinge - ett skånskt järnvägssamhälle, rapport från Konsthögskolans Arkitekturskola 1983
