Ancient remains in the form of old settlements show that the Råne river valley has been inhabited for a very long time. Gunnarsbyn got its name from one of the two farms that made up the village in the mid-17th century, “Gunnars”. (Guddnár in Lule Sami.) From farming and forestry communities, the villages in the river valley have evolved into modern small towns where entrepreneurship and culture are important industries. A manifestation of Gunnarsbyn’s spirit and identity is the World Globe, one of several land art works initiated by the cultural association Skogslandet Råne älvdal and created in collaboration between the artist Birgitta Linhart and Gunnarsbyn’s village association. The globe, located in the park in the middle of the village, is decorated with the flags of the 22 countries from which the inhabitants of the village come. (Of course, the Sami flag is also depicted, as Gunnarsbyn is located in Sápmi).
Sörbyn also has its own landmark that was created on the initiative of Sörbyns IF: the Millennium Stone. The monument consists of a millstone from a grinding mill that used to be located in Kvarnforsen. The stone is engraved with the names of the villagers who lived in Sörbyn/Sundsnäs at the time of construction.
Demand for houses in the Gunnarsby area is currently high and planning is underway for new single-family housing. The process involves Råek and the relevant landowners.
City center
41 Kilometer