town, Västra Götaland län (county), southwestern Sweden, on the Viskan River east of Göteborg. It was founded in 1622 by King Gustav II Adolf. Borås is Sweden's leading textile centre, with cotton and woollen mills, dye works, hosiery factories, and weaving colleges. It is also the main centre for ready-made clothing and for mail order firms. In the western part of town is an open-air museum, the buildings of which include the wooden Kinnarumma Church and old peasant houses. The town is home to the University College of Borås. Pop. (2005 est.) mun., 99, 325.