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Mariehamn

Coordinates: 60°06′N 19°56′E / 60.100°N 19.933°E / 60.100; 19.933
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Mariehamn
Capital city
Mariehamns stad
Town of Mariehamn
Nickname: 
De tusen lindarnas stad (lit. 'The town of a thousand linden trees')[1]
[mapframe not available on SimWiki]
Interactive map of Mariehamn
Location within the Åland Islands
Coordinates: 60°06′N 19°56′E / 60.100°N 19.933°E / 60.100; 19.933
CountryFile:Flag of Finland.svg Finland
Autonomous RegionFile:Flag of Åland.svg Åland
Sub-regionMariehamn
Charter21 February 1861; 165 years ago (1861-02-21)[2]
Named forMaria Alexandrovna
Government
 • MayorArne Selander
Area
 • Total
20.75 km2 (8.01 sq mi)
 • Land11.81 km2 (4.56 sq mi)
Population
 (2025-12-31)
 • Total
11,957
 • Density1,012.45/km2 (2,622.2/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Postal code
22100, 22101, 22110, 22111, 22120, 22140, 22150, 22160

Mariehamn (/məˈriːəhɑːmən/ mə-REE-ə-hah-mən,[3] Finland Swedish: [mɑriːeˈhɑmn] Audio file "Mariehamn.ogg" not found; Finnish: Maarianhamina [ˈmɑːriɑnˌhɑminɑ]; Latin: Portus Mariae) is the capital of Åland, an autonomous region of Finland, and the seat of its government and parliament.

Mariehamn lies on the main island of Åland. It has about 40% of the region’s population. The city is Swedish-speaking, and most residents have Swedish as their native language.[4]

Mariehamn borders Jomala to the north and west and Lemland to the east.

The coat of arms of Mariehamn reflects the city’s maritime economy and its linden-lined parks. It was designed by Nils Byman and confirmed in 1951.[5][6][7]

Mariehamn and all of Åland is a popular summer destination, with about 1.5 million visitors each year.[8][9]

History

Mariehamn was founded on 21 February 1861 on land that belonged to the village of Övernäs in Jomala. It was named after the Russian empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824–1880), meaning lit. 'Marie's Port'.[10][11]

The town grew from a planned layout that remains largely intact. It later expanded into Jomala. One of the oldest streets is Södragatan, which has preserved 19th-century wooden houses.

In the late 19th century, shipping became central to the local economy, and shipowners and shipyards settled in the town.[12]

After the First World War, Mariehamn became known for its Grain Fleet.[13]

On 8 November 1963, a plane crash in Mariehamn killed 22 of 25 people, Finland’s second-deadliest air accident.[14]

Demographics

Population growth

Mariehamn's population grew steadily from under 10,000 in the late 1980s to over 11,800 by 2024. Based on data from Ålands statistik- och utredningsbyrå (ÅSUB),[15] the city's population by year was:

Population by year
Year Population
1987 9,966
1990 10,263
1997 10,408
2000 10,488
2002 10,632
2004 10,712
2006 10,824
2008 11,005
2009 11,123
2010 11,190
2011 11,262
2012 11,346
2013 11,393
2014 11,480
2015 11,461
2016 11,565
2017 11,677
2018 11,743
2019 11,679
2020 11,705
2021 11,742
2022 11,757
2023 11,812
2024 11,866

Foreign-born residents

As of 2018, the largest groups of foreign-born residents in Mariehamn were:[16]

Foreign-born residents of Mariehamn by country of birth (2018)
Country Population %
File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 1,093 9.55
File:Flag of Romania.svg Romania 173 1.51
File:Flag of Latvia.svg Latvia 163 1.42
File:Flag of Iran.svg Iran 101 0.85
File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia 92 0.80
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 86 0.75
File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Yugoslavia 86 0.75
File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand 73 0.64
File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines 55 0.48
File:Flag of the United Kingdom (1-2).svg United Kingdom 45 0.39

Transport

Airport

Mariehamn Airport serves the city with regular flights operated by Finnair and regional airlines.[17]

Harbours

Mariehamn lies on a peninsula with two main harbours, west and east. Both remain ice-free for most of the year and experience minimal tidal variation.[18]

The Western Harbour is an international port with daily ferry connections to Sweden, Estonia, and mainland Finland. Because Åland is outside the EU customs zone, ferries call at Mariehamn to enable duty-free sales.

The city has a long maritime tradition. The four-masted barque Pommern, now part of the Åland Maritime Museum, is moored in the Western Harbour. The Eastern Harbour hosts one of the largest marinas in Scandinavia and the historic Dutch steamer F.P. von Knorring, named after Åland teacher and vicar Frans Peter von Knorring.

Roads

Three of Åland's four main roads begin in Mariehamn: Åland Highway 1 (Main Road 1) to Eckerö, Åland Highway 2 (Main Road 2) to Sund, and Åland Highway 3 (Main Road 3) to Lumparland.[19]

Culture

Media

Mariehamn is the centre of Åland's media. Both local newspapers, Ålandstidningen and Nya Åland, several radio stations, and the television channels TV Åland and Åland24 operate from the city.[18]

Libraries and publishing

The first public libraries on Åland opened before 1920, and a printing house was founded in 1891. The municipal library, completed in 1989, is known for its modern architecture.

Museums

Architecture and landmarks

Several buildings in Mariehamn were designed by Finnish architect Lars Sonck, including the church of Mariehamn (1927), the main building of the Åland Maritime College (1927), and the town hall (1939). Hilda Hongell also designed wooden houses, though few remain.

The main parish church of Mariehamn is the Church of St George, opened in 1927, expanded in 1959, and renovated in 1972. The interior features painted wooden ceiling panels by Finnish artist Bruno Tuukkanen and golden mosaics behind the altar illustrating the life of Christ. Decorative items include a ship model, Tjerimaj, and a 37-stop organ built in stages between 1969 and 1982.[20]

Climate

Mariehamn has a transitional climate between an oceanic (Cfb) and a humid continental (Dfb) type, according to the Köppen climate classification. The Baltic Sea moderates temperature extremes, resulting in mild winters and cool summers.

Summers are cooler than in most of Sweden and Finland, while winters are milder, similar to those on the Swedish coast.[21]

  • Lowest recorded temperature: −32.9 °C (−27.2 °F) in February 1979, Mariehamn Airport[21]
  • Highest recorded temperature: 31.5 °C (88.7 °F) in July 2018, Western Harbour[22]

Data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute provide climate averages for 1991–2020 and historical records since 1914.[23]

Climate data for Mariehamn Airport normals 1991–2020, extremes 1914–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6) 		10.5
(50.9) 		17.0
(62.6) 		21.1
(70.0) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.4
(84.9) 		31.3
(88.3) 		30.7
(87.3) 		25.7
(78.3) 		19.0
(66.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		11.1
(52.0) 		31.3
(88.3)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4) 		5.8
(42.4) 		9.9
(49.8) 		15.3
(59.5) 		21.8
(71.2) 		23.5
(74.3) 		26.0
(78.8) 		25.0
(77.0) 		19.5
(67.1) 		14.6
(58.3) 		9.9
(49.8) 		7.0
(44.6) 		26.9
(80.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.0
(33.8) 		0.4
(32.7) 		3.1
(37.6) 		8.0
(46.4) 		13.4
(56.1) 		17.5
(63.5) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.0
(68.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		9.6
(49.3) 		5.2
(41.4) 		2.5
(36.5) 		9.8
(49.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		3.8
(38.8) 		8.9
(48.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		16.8
(62.2) 		16.1
(61.0) 		11.8
(53.2) 		6.8
(44.2) 		3.2
(37.8) 		0.4
(32.7) 		6.4
(43.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.3
(24.3) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		−3.7
(25.3) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		4.0
(39.2) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.2
(54.0) 		11.6
(52.9) 		7.8
(46.0) 		3.5
(38.3) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		2.7
(36.9)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −15.5
(4.1) 		−15.8
(3.6) 		−13.1
(8.4) 		−5.8
(21.6) 		−2.8
(27.0) 		2.1
(35.8) 		5.5
(41.9) 		4.3
(39.7) 		0.1
(32.2) 		−5.2
(22.6) 		−7.3
(18.9) 		−10.7
(12.7) 		−19.1
(−2.4)
Record low °C (°F) −32.3
(−26.1) 		−32.9
(−27.2) 		−25.0
(−13.0) 		−18.9
(−2.0) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		0.1
(32.2) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−11.8
(10.8) 		−20.0
(−4.0) 		−28.9
(−20.0) 		−32.9
(−27.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 53
(2.1) 		35
(1.4) 		38
(1.5) 		31
(1.2) 		35
(1.4) 		53
(2.1) 		52
(2.0) 		76
(3.0) 		61
(2.4) 		70
(2.8) 		71
(2.8) 		59
(2.3) 		634
(25)
Average precipitation days 17 13 12 9 10 10 9 13 12 16 17 17 155
Mean monthly sunshine hours 39 74 130 207 297 296 312 235 163 91 41 26 1,911
Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991–2020[24]
Source 2: record highs and lows 1961 – present[25]

FMI (record highs and lows 1914-1961)[26]

Twin towns

Mariehamn has the following twin towns:[27]

Notable people

Images

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Turism – Mariehamns stad" (in svenska). Mariehamns stad. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  2. ↑ "Sjöfartspromenaden: Upptäck Mariehamn till fots" (PDF) (in svenska). City of Mariehamn. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "Mariehamn". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Population by language and area". Statistics Finland (in suomi). Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  5. ↑ Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in suomi). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 171. ISBN 951-773-085-3.
  6. ↑ "Ahvenanmaan kuntien vaakunat 1947–1987 (I:15) – Maarianhamina". Kansallisarkisto (in svenska). Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Mitä-Missä-Milloin, Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1980 (in suomi). Otava. 1979. p. 165.
  8. ↑ "Mariehamn". Visit Åland. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Tourism in Mariehamn". Discovering Finland. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  10. ↑ "Sjöfartspromenaden". Mariehamns stad (in svenska). Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Mann, Robert (2011). "Mariehamn Celebrates". The UBC Bulletin (1). Union of the Baltic Cities: 34. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "A town built around shipping". Visit Åland. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  13. ↑ Derby, W. L. A. (21 July 1937). "Mariehamn's Grain Fleet". Shipping Wonders of the World. Amalgamated Press: 746–749. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "Douglas C-47A OH-LCA accident, Mariehamn Airport (1963)". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Population by year". ÅSUB. Ålands statistik- och utredningsbyrå. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Foreign-born residents by country of birth". Statistics Finland (in suomi). Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "Mariehamn Airport". Finavia. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. p. 5.
  19. ↑ "Road network in Åland". Ålands landskapsregering. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "The Church of St Goran (St George)". Mariehamns Tryckeri Ab. 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Suomen maakuntien ilmasto" [The climate of Finland’s regions] (PDF) (in suomi). Finnish Meteorological Institute. 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  22. ↑ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 25 Sep 2026.
  23. ↑ "Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1991–2020" [Climatological statistics of Finland 1991–2020] (PDF) (in suomi). Finnish Meteorological Institute. 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  24. ↑ "FMI normals 1991-2020" (PDF). fmi.fi. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  25. ↑ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Suomen maakuntien ilmasto" (PDF). helda.helsinki.fi.
  27. ↑ "Mariehamns stads vänorter". Mariehamns stad (in svenska). Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "Dags att avbryta ryskt vänortssamarbete helt?" [Time to completely end Russian twin city cooperation?]. Nya Åland (in svenska). Nya Åland. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
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