Investigating the sense of place among immigrants; How newcomers in Skellefteå perceive their new hometown?

Abstract: Sense of place refers to people's perception of the environment and determines the type of emotional relationship between man and place. This sense plays a decisive role in determining one's satisfaction with their place of residence, sense of place identity, belonging and attachment, and, consequently, willingness to stay there.Skellefteå is one of the fastest-growing northern cities in Sweden, with an increasing population of immigrants. Immigrants will therefore make up a significant portion of the city's population in the near future, and recognizing their perspectives on the city can help stabilize the population and sustain the city.This study looksat newcomers' sense of place in Skellefteå, with a focus onimmigrants,and identify elementsthat play critical role. This study employs a qualitative approach, with semi-structured in-depth interviews with newcomersof various ethnicities. The interviewees were chosen using two methods: snowball and purposive sampling. The results of the interviews were analyzed using the thematic analysis method.The findings of this study show that a variety of environmental and individual factors have influenced newcomers’sense of place. Although the majority of respondents were somewhat satisfied with life in this city, this satisfaction was due to a favorable work or study situation rather than the city's characteristics.Positive aspects of the city, such as pristine nature and tranquility, undoubtedly have a positive impact ontheir perceptions. On the other hand, weather conditions, a lack of certain facilities, and society's limited capacity to welcome immigrants make it difficult for them to fully integrate and feel a sense of belonging to the city.