 Southern Westrobothnia (Umeå and Skellefteå) has been a permanent Germanic settlement since at least the 14th century, but probably since the Viking ages or earlier.Umeå in its first form was a parish with a wooden church and trade post located in the section of town now known as Backen (or Kyrkbacken).Its location near the coast and on a river was probably one of the reasons that people chose to settle there.