Stockholm

Stockholms stad
Image:Stockholm.png
City Stockholm (1250)
County Stockholm County
Provinces Uplandia
Sudermannia
Area
- Total Ranked 251st
188 km²
Population
- Total (1999)
- Density Ranked 1st
743,703
3966.4/km² (1st)

Stockholm is the capital and the largest City of Sweden. The City of Stockholm is administratively a Municipality within Stockholm County, with an inner city population of 743,703, and with 1,823,210 including the suburbs and county.

As a capital Stockholm is the site of the Government and the Parliament of Sweden. It is also the residence of the head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Universities
6 Heraldry
7 Culture
8 Sites of interest
9 Sports teams
10 Notable natives
11 Miscellaneous topics
12 See also
13 External links

History

Main article: History of Stockholm

The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing dates from 1252, when it was an important post in the iron trade from the mines in Bergslagen. The city is said to have been founded by Birger Jarl in order to protect Sweden from invasion from the sea by foreign navies and stop pillage of the cities such as Sigtuna on lake Mälaren. The first building at Stockholm was a fortification for the purpose of controlling the traffic between the Baltic Sea and Mälaren.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Stockholm

The city is subdivided into 18 boroughs, which carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure and cultural services within their respective areas.

Bromma
Enskede-Årsta
Farsta
Hägersten
Hässelby-Vällingby
Katarina-Sofia

Kista
Kungsholmen
Liljeholmen
Maria-Gamla stan
Norrmalm
Rinkeby

Skarpnäck
Skärholmen
Spånga-Tensta
Vantör
Älvsjö
Östermalm

View over Stockholm
View over Stockholm (larger picture): At the left the Royal Palace,
in the middle Helgeandsholmen, with the Parliament building,
above left Riddarholmen with Riddarholmskyrkan and
above right Kungsholmen with the City Hall.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Stockholm

The city is situated on fourteen islands and on the banks to the archipelago where lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. The city center is virually situated on the water. Coordinates: 59°21'N, 18°4'E.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Stockholm

Universities

Main article: Universities in Sweden

Stockholm might be most well known for the Nobel Prizes and the prize ceremony held each year, but the city also houses the largest concentration of Universities with research and higher education in Sweden.

Stockholm University
Royal Institute of Technology
Stockholm School of Economics
Karolinska Institute
Royal College of Music
Royal College of Fine Arts
University College of Film, Radio, Television and Theatre
University College of Arts, Crafts and Design
University College of Opera
University College of Music Education
University College of Dance
University College of South Stockholm

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Stockholm

Culture

Main article: Culture of Stockholm

Apart from being a large city with an active cultural life Stockholm as a capital also houses many of the national cultural institutions of Sweden, inluding theater, opera and museums.

Sites of interest

Main article: Tourism in Stockholm

Royal Palace in Stockholm, Royal Palaces in Sweden, Riddarholmskyrkan
Gamla Stan, Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen
Sager House, Rosenbad
Norrmalmstorg
Sergels Torg
Djurgården, Gröna Lund

Sports teams

Sporting events are popular with football and ice hockey being the most popular sports.

Notable natives

Miscellaneous topics

Pronunciation: Stockholm (/stok'hôlm/, SAMPA: [stQk"hOlm])

External links

Stockholm - Official site
Stockholm Visitors Board - The official visitors guide
Stockholm Map in Swedish

Counties of Sweden | Sweden