59°20N 18°03E, pop (2000e) 709 000. Seaport and capital of Sweden; on a group of islands and the adjacent mainland, where L Mälar joins the Saltsjö, an arm of the Baltic Sea; largest city in Sweden; founded, 1255; important trading centre of the Hanseatic League; capital, 1436; bishopric; airport; railway; underground railway; university (1878); metalworking, engineering, textiles, foodstuffs, brewing, tourism; royal palace (18th-c), German church (17th-c), national museum, Drottningholm Palace (royal family residence).
Stockholm|
City arms |
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| 59°21′ N 18°4′ E | ||
| Charter | 13th century | |
| Municipality | Stockholm Municipality, and others in Stockholm urban area | |
| County | Stockholm County | |
| Province | Södermanland and Uppland | |
| Population |
Municipal: 776,545 (Jun 30, 2006) Urban: 1,212,196 (Dec 31, 2000) Metropolitan: 1,729,274 (Mar 31, 2006) |
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Stockholm (help·info) (IPA: ['stɔkhɔlm];
Stockholm has been Sweden's political and economic center since the 13th century. Today it is the largest municipality of Sweden, with a population of 776,000, while the populations of the Stockholm urban area and Metropolitan Stockholm are roughly 1.2 and 1.7 million, respectively.
History
The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing dates from 1252, when the mines in Bergslagen made it an important site in the iron trade. The first part of the name (stock) means log, while the second (holm) means islet, and refers to the islet Stadsholmen in central Stockholm which for centuries constituted the main part of Stockholm.
The strategic and economic importance of the city made Stockholm an important factor in relations between the Danish Kings of the Kalmar Union and the national independence movement in the 15th century.
The 17th century saw Sweden rise into a major European power, reflected in the development of the city of Stockholm.
In the late 20th century, Stockholm became a modern, technologically-advanced, and ethnically diverse city. (Coordinates: 59°21′N 18°4′E.)
For details about the other municipalities usually considered part of Stockholm, see respective municipality.
Stockholm Municipality
Stockholm Municipality is an administrative unit defined by geographical borders. The City of Stockholm is usually described in term of its three main parts: Stockholm City Centre (Innerstaden), South Stockholm (Söderort) and West Stockholm (Västerort). The districts of respective parts are:
| Stockholm City Centre | South Stockholm | West Stockholm |
|---|---|---|
| Katarina-Sofia borough Kungsholmen borough Maria-Gamla stan borough Norrmalm borough Östermalm borough | Enskede-Årsta borough Farsta borough Hägersten borough Liljeholmen borough Skarpnäck borough Skärholmen borough Vantör borough Älvsjö borough | Bromma borough Hässelby-Vällingby borough Kista borough Rinkeby borough Spånga-Tensta borough |
Climate
Due to the city's high northern latitude, the climate of Stockholm is extremely varied with distinct seasons.
Typical temperatures for each season:
Winter: from +2 to −7°C (36 to 19°F)
Spring: between +5 and 15°C (41 to 59°F)
Summer: 20–25°C (68 to 77°F) or warmer
Autumn: between +5 and 18°C (41 to 64°F)
Climate Table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F (°C) | 30 (−1) | 30 (−1) | 37 (3) | 48 (9) | 61 (16) | 70 (21) | 72 (22) | 68 (20) | 59 (15) | 50 (10) | 41 (5) | 34 (1) | 50 (10) | |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) | 23 (−5) | 23 (−5) | 27 (−3) | 34 (1) | 43 (6) | 52 (11) | 55 (13) | 55 (13) | 48 (9) | 41 (5) | 34 (1) | 27 (−3) | 36 (2.5) | |
| Rainfall millimeters | 39 | 27 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 45 | 72 | 66 | 55 | 50 | 53 | 46 | 539 | |
| Mean number of rain days | 18 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 173 | |
| Source: World Weather Information Service | ||||||||||||||
Politics and government
Municipalities are responsible for government-mandated duties, and elections for the City Council are held every four years, parallel to the general elections.
Following the 2006 municipal elections, the seats are divided in the following way:
| The governing parties | Parties in opposition |
|---|---|
| The Moderate Party 41 The Liberal People's Party 10 The Christian Democrats 3 The Center Party 1 | The Social Democrats 27 The Left Party 9 The Green Party 6 |
The current Mayor of Stockholm is Kristina Axén Olin.
Economy
The vast majority of Stockholmians work in the service industry, which accounts for roughly 85% of jobs in Stockholm. Stockholm is also home to Sweden's foremost stock exchange, the Stockholm Stock Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen).
Largest companies by number of employees:
Ericsson -- 8,430 Posten -- 4,710 Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) -- 4,240 Swedbank -- 3,610 Södersjukhuset (Southern Hospital) -- 3,610 Nordea -- 2,820 Handelsbanken -- 2,800 IBM Svenska -- 2,640 Securitas -- 2,360 Connex -- 2,300 ISS Facility Services -- 2,000 Sveriges Television (public television) -- 1,880 Sodexho -- 1,580Education
Research and higher education in the sciences started in Stockholm in the 18th century, with an education in medicine and various research institutions, such as the Stockholm Observatory.
The Södertörn University College was founded in 1995 as a multidisciplinary institution for southern Metropolitan Stockholm, to balance the many institutions located in the northern part of the region.
Other institutes of higher education are:
Ersta Sköndal University College The Stockholm School of Theology (Teologiska Högskolan, Stockholm) The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, or GIK) The Stockholm Institute of Education (Lärarhögskolan i Stockholm)Demographics
The Stockholm region is home to around 20% of Sweden's total population, and accounts for about 25% of the gross domestic product.
Historical population
Population in the City of Stockholm from 1750 to present:
| Year | Stockholm % of nation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 60,018 | 1,780,678 | 3,4 |
| 1800 | 75,517 | 2,347,303 | 3,2 |
| 1850 | 93,070 | 3,482,541 | 2,7 |
| 1900 | 300,624 | 5,136,441 | 5,9 |
| 1910 | 342,323 | 5,522 403 | 6,2 |
| 1920 | 419,440 | 5,904,489 | 7,1 |
| 1930 | 502,213 | 6,142,191 | 8,2 |
| 1940 | 590,503 | 6,371,432 | 9,3 |
| 1950 | 744,143 | 7,041,829 | 10,6 |
| 1960 | 808,294 | 7,500,161 | 10,8 |
| 1970 | 740,486 | 8,091,782 | 9,2 |
| 1980 | 647,214 | 8,317,937 | 7,8 |
| 1985 | 659,030 | 8,358,139 | 7,9 |
| 1990 | 674,452 | 8,590,630 | 7,9 |
| 1995 | 711,119 | 8,837,496 | 8,0 |
| 2000 | 750,348 | 8,882,792 | 8,4 |
| 2005 | 771,038 | 9,047,752 | 8,5 |
In the latest century, the population of nearby municipalities of Stockholm County has become important to mention next to the population of Stockholm Municipality, as many municipalities are constituting parts of Stockholm urban area and as such often considered part of the general term "Stockholm".
As of 2000, Stockholm urban area extended into 11 municipalities (Stockholm 750,000 inh.;
Culture
Apart from being a large city with an active cultural life, Stockholm, as Sweden's capital, houses many national cultural institutions.
The oldest part of Stockholm is the Stockholm Old Town, Gamla stan, with its main part on the islet Stadsholmen.
During 1998 Stockholm was selected as the European City of Culture.
Literature
Authors connected to Stockholm include the poet and songwriter Carl Bellman (1740–1795), novelist and dramatist August Strindberg (1849 - 1912), and novelist Hjalmar Söderberg (1869-1941), all of whom made Stockholm part of their works. The maybe most well-known landmark of Stockholm, the Stockholm City Hall, was erected 1911-1923 by architect Ragnar Östberg. Other notable architectural works of those times are the Stockholm Public Library and the Forest Cemetery, Skogskyrkogården
In the 1930s modernism characterized the development of the city as it grew with new residential areas such as the development on Gärdet and industrial development such as the KF manufacturing industries on Kvarnholmen in the Nacka Municipality.
Museums
Stockholm is one of the most crowded museum-towns in the world with some 70 museums, visited by over 9 million people per year.
Theatres
Among Stockholm's many theatres distinguish the Royal Dramatic Theatre (Dramaten), as one of Europes most renowned theatres, and the Royal Swedish Opera, inaugurated back in 1773.
Media
Stockholm is basically the media center of Sweden.
Gallery of notable buildings
|
Historical buildings in Gamla Stan |
Stockholm Palace, the official residence of the Royal Family, with its appearance consecrated between 1730–1830. |
The oldest building in Stockholm, Riddarholmskyrkan |
The Nordic Museum at Djurgården, classicistic style, built 1907. |
|
Modern construction at Sergels Torg |
Stockholm Globe Arena, built 1989 |
The bustling NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) department store. |
Stock Exchange building at Stortorget, Old Town |
|
Youth Hostel Af Chapman, Skeppsholmen |
Transport
Public transport
Stockholm has an extensive public transport system.
All the land-based public transport in Stockholm County, except the airport buses/trains, is organised by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL), with the operation and maintenance of the public transport services delegated to several contractors, such as Connex who operate the metro and regional/suburban railways except for the commuter rail.
During the trial period the following was valid: The City Centre is within the Stockholm congestion tax zone.
Airports
International and Domestic: Stockholm-Arlanda Airport Stockholm-Bromma Airport Only international Stockholm-Skavsta Airport Stockholm-Västerås AirportFlygbussarna bus lines run to and from central Stockholm from all the airports, and the Arlanda Express airport rail link runs between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm.
Twin towns
The policy of Stockholm is to have informal town twinning with all capitals of the world, with its main focus being those in northern Europe. ^ In official contexts, the municipality of Stockholm calls itself "Stockholm Stad" (or City of Stockholm), as does a small number of other Swedish municipalities, and especially the other two Swedish metropols: Gothenburg and Malmö. See also city status in Sweden ^ , 2006-07-18 ^ ^ Stockholm, The Official Visitors Guide, Climate 2006-07-18 ^ Näringslivet i siffror -- Stockholm Business Region website ^ "Besöksnäring" -- Stockholm Business Region website ^ Statistical Yearbook of Stockholm 2006, section Labour Market and Manufacturing, p.
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