Stockholm (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈstɔkːˈhɔlm, ˈstɔkːˈɔlm, ˈstɔkːɔlm][5] (
listen to the second one)) is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden andScandinavia, with 881,235 people living in the municipality and a total population of 2,127,006 in the metropolitan area, accounting for 22% of the Swedish population in 2012.[2]Stockholm is an important global city, placed in the "alpha-" category by the GaWC,[6] and ranked 27th in the world, 12th in Europe and first in Scandinavia by the Global Cities Indexin 2012.[7] In 2013, Stockholm was named the 8th most competitive city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit.[8]
listen to the second one)) is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden andScandinavia, with 881,235 people living in the municipality and a total population of 2,127,006 in the metropolitan area, accounting for 22% of the Swedish population in 2012.[2]Stockholm is an important global city, placed in the "alpha-" category by the GaWC,[6] and ranked 27th in the world, 12th in Europe and first in Scandinavia by the Global Cities Indexin 2012.[7] In 2013, Stockholm was named the 8th most competitive city in the world by the Economist Intelligence Unit.[8]
Founded in c. 1250, possibly as early as 1187, Stockholm has long been one of Sweden's cultural, media, political, and economic centres. Its strategic location spread across 14 islands on the coast in the south-east of Sweden at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, by the Stockholm archipelago, has been historically important. The city is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, its abundant clean and open water, and its many parks.[9]
Stockholm is the seat of the Government of Sweden and most government agencies,[10] including the highest courts in the Judiciary,[11][12] and the official residencies of the Swedish monarch and the Prime Minister. The Government has its seat in the Rosenbad building, the Riksdag is seated in the Parliament House, and the Prime Minister's residence is adjacent at the Sager House.[13][14][15] The Stockholm Palace is the official residence and principal workplace of the Swedish monarch, while the Drottningholm Palace, a World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Stockholm, serves as the Royal Family's private residence.[16][17]
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[show]History[edit]
Main article: History of Stockholm
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After the Ice Age, at around 8,000 BC, there had already been vast migrations towards the present-day Stockholm area, but as temperatures dropped, inhabitants moved away towards the South. Thousands of years later, as the ground unfroze, the climate became tolerable and the lands fertile, some life moved back to the North. At the intersection of the Baltic Sea and lake Mälaren is an archipelago site where the Old Town of Stockholm was first occupied at about 1000 AD by Vikings. Vikings had a positive trade impact on the land thanks to the trade routes they created.
Stockholm's location appears in Norse sagas as Agnafit, and in Heimskringla in connection with the legendary king Agne. The earliest written mention of the name Stockholm dates from 1252, by which time the mines in Bergslagen made it an important site in the iron trade. The first part of the name (stock) means log in Swedish, although it may also be connected to an old German word (Stock) meaning fortification. The second part of the name (holm) means islet, and is thought to refer to the islet Helgeandsholmen in central Stockholm. The city is said to have been founded by Birger Jarl to protect Sweden from a sea invasion by foreign navies and to stop the pillage of towns such as Sigtuna on Lake Mälaren.
Stockholm's core of the present Old Town (Gamla Stan) was built on the central island next to Helgeandsholmen from the mid-13th century onward. The city originally rose to prominence as a result of the Baltic trade of the Hanseatic League. Stockholm developed strong economic and cultural linkages with Lübeck, Hamburg, Gdańsk, Visby, Reval, and Riga during this time[citation needed]. Between 1296 and 1478 Stockholm's City Council was made up of 24 members, half of whom were selected from the town's German-speaking burghers.
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 Danish King Christian II was able to enter the city in 1520. On 8 November 1520 a massacre of opposition figures called the Stockholm Bloodbath took place and set off further uprisings that eventually led to the breakup of the Kalmar Union. With the accession of Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the establishment of a royal power, the population of Stockholm began to grow, reaching 10,000 by 1600.
The 17th century saw Sweden grow into a major European power, reflected in the development of the city of Stockholm. From 1610 to 1680 the population multiplied sixfold. In 1634 Stockholm became the official capital of the Swedish empire. Trading rules were also created that gave Stockholm an essential monopoly over trade between foreign merchants and other Swedish and Scandinavian territories.
In 1710, a plague killed about 20,000 (36 percent) of the population.[18] After the end of the Great Northern War the city stagnated. Population growth halted and economic growth slowed. The city was in shock after having lost its place as the capital of a Great Power. However Stockholm maintained its role as the political centre of Sweden and continued to develop culturally under Gustav III.
By the second half of the 19th century, Stockholm had regained its leading economic role. New industries emerged and Stockholm was transformed into an important trade and service centre as well as a key gateway point within Sweden. The population also grew dramatically during this time, mainly through immigration. At the end of the 19th century, less than 40% of the residents were Stockholm-born. Settlement began to expand outside the city limits. The 19th century saw the establishment of a number of scientific institutes, including the Karolinska Institute. The General Art and Industrial Exposition was held in 1897.
Stockholm became a modern, technologically advanced, and ethnically diverse city in the latter half of the 20th century. Many historical buildings were torn down during the modernistera, including substantial parts of the historical district of Klara, and replaced with modern architecture. However, in many other parts of Stockholm (such as in Gamla Stan,Södermalm, Östermalm, Kungsholmen and Vasastan), many "old" buildings, blocks and streets built before the modernism and functionalism movements took off in Sweden (around 1930-1935) survived this era of demolition. Throughout the century, many industries shifted away from work-intensive activities into more high-tech and service industry areas.
Between 1965 and 1974, the city expanded very quickly with the creation of additional suburban districts such as Brinkley and Tens ta as a part of the Million Programme. Many of these areas have been criticized for being "concrete suburbs", dull, grey, low-status areas built mainly out of concrete slabs. The most common complaints are about the high crime rate and the high racial and social segregation in these areas[citation needed].
Geography[edit]
Main article: Geography of Stockholm
Location[edit]
Stockholm is located on Sweden's south-central east coast, where the freshwater Lake Mälaren - Sweden's third largest lake - flows out into the Baltic Sea. The central parts of the city consist of fourteen islands that are continuous with the Stockholm archipelago. The geographical city centre is situated on the water, in Riddarfjärden bay. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways and another 30% is made up of parks and green spaces.
The biome Stockholm belongs to is the Temperate Deciduous Forest, which means the climate is very similar to that of the Eastern area of the United States. The average annual temperature is 10 °C (50 °F). The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. The deciduous forest has four distinct seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the autumn the leaves change color. During the winter months the trees lose their leaves.
For details about the other municipalities in the metropolitan area, see the pertinent articles. North of Stockholm Municipality: Järfälla, Solna, Täby, Sollentuna, Lidingö, Upplands Väsby, Österåker, Sigtuna, Sundbyberg, Danderyd, Vallentuna, Ekerö, Upplands-Bro, Vaxholm, and Norrtälje. South of Stockholm: Huddinge, Nacka, Botkyrka, Haninge, Tyresö,Värmdö, Södertälje, Salem, Nykvarn and Nynäshamn.
Stockholm Municipality[edit]
Main article: Stockholm Municipality
Stockholm Municipality is an administrative unit defined by geographical borders. The semi-officially adopted name for the municipality is City of Stockholm (Stockholms stad in Swedish).[19]As a municipality, the City of Stockholm is subdivided into district councils, which carry responsibility for primary schools, social, leisure and cultural services within their respective areas. The municipality is usually described in terms of its three main parts: Innerstaden (Stockholm City Centre), Söderort (Southern Stockholm) and Västerort (Western Stockholm). The districts of these parts are:
| Stockholm City Centre | Söderort | Västerort |
|---|---|---|
The modern centrum Norrmalm, (concentrated around the town square Sergels torg), is the largest shopping district in Sweden[citation needed]. It is the most central part of Stockholm in business and shopping. Östermalm is the most affluent district of Stockholm[citation needed].
Climate[edit]
Stockholm, with a February mean of −3.0 °C (26.6 °F), has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Due to the city's high northerly latitude, daylight varies widely from more than 18 hours around midsummer, to only around 6 hours in late December. Despite its northern location, Stockholm has relatively mild weather compared to other locations at similar latitude, or even farther south.
Summers average daytime high temperatures of 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) and lows of around 13 °C (55 °F), but temperatures can reach 30 °C (86 °F) on some days. Days above 30 °C (86 °F) are quite rare, and it can be some years between them. Days between 25 °C (77 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) are relatively common especially in July. Nighttime lows of above 20 °C (68 °F) are rare as well, with the hot summer nights roaming around 17 to 18 °C (63 to 64 °F). Winters are snowy with average temperatures ranging from −10 to −1 °C (14 to 30 °F), and sometimes drop below −20 °C (−4 °F). Spring and autumn are generally cool to mild. The year of 2013 had an unusually long summer.
The climate table below presents weather data from the years 1961–1990. According to ongoing measurements, the temperature has increased during the years 1991–2009 as compared with the last series. This increase averages about 1.0 °C (1.8 °F) over all months. Warming is most pronounced during the winter months, with an increase of more than 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) in January.[20]
The highest temperature ever recorded in Stockholm was 36 °C (97 °F) on 3 July 1811; the lowest was −32 °C (−26 °F) on 20 January 1814.[21] However, the temperature has not dropped to below −25.1 °C (−13.2 °F) since 10 January 1987.[22][23]
Annual precipitation is 539 mm (21.2 in) with around 170 wet days and light to moderate rainfall throughout the year. Snowfall occurs mainly from December through March. Snowfall may occasionally occur in late October as well as in April.
In Stockholm, the Aurora Borealis can occasionally be observed.
| [hide]Climate data for Stockholm, 1961−1990 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 12.2 (54) | 17.8 (64) | 26.1 (79) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.2 (90) | 36.0 (96.8) | 35.4 (95.7) | 27.9 (82.2) | 20.2 (68.4) | 14.0 (57.2) | 12.2 (54) | 36.0 (96.8) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −0.7 (30.7) | −0.6 (30.9) | 3.0 (37.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.7 (69.3) | 21.9 (71.4) | 20.4 (68.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.5 (40.1) | 1.1 (34) | 10.0 (50) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.8 (27) | −3.0 (26.6) | 0.1 (32.2) | 4.6 (40.3) | 10.7 (51.3) | 15.6 (60.1) | 17.2 (63) | 16.2 (61.2) | 11.9 (53.4) | 7.5 (45.5) | 2.6 (36.7) | −1.0 (30.2) | 6.6 (43.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −5 (23) | −5.3 (22.5) | −2.7 (27.1) | 1.1 (34) | 6.3 (43.3) | 11.3 (52.3) | 13.4 (56.1) | 12.7 (54.9) | 9.0 (48.2) | 5.3 (41.5) | 0.7 (33.3) | −3.2 (26.2) | 3.6 (38.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32 (−26) | −25.5 (−13.9) | −22 (−8) | −11.5 (11.3) | −4.5 (23.9) | 1.0 (33.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | −1.5 (29.3) | −9.0 (15.8) | −17 (1) | −21 (−6) | −32.0 (−25.6) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 39 (1.54) | 27 (1.06) | 26 (1.02) | 30 (1.18) | 30 (1.18) | 45 (1.77) | 72 (2.83) | 66 (2.6) | 55 (2.17) | 50 (1.97) | 53 (2.09) | 46 (1.81) | 539 (21.22) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 105 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 40 | 72 | 135 | 185 | 276 | 292 | 260 | 221 | 154 | 99 | 54 | 33 | 1,821 |
| Source #1: NOAA[24] | |||||||||||||
| Source #2: SMHI[25] | |||||||||||||
Politics and government[edit]
Main article: Stockholm Municipality
Municipalities are responsible for government-mandated duties, and elections for the municipal council are held every four years, parallel to the general elections.
Following the 2010 municipal elections, the seats are divided in the following way:
| The governing parties | Parties in opposition |
|---|---|
|
|
As of April 2008, the Mayor of Stockholm is Sten Nordin from the Moderate Party.
Economy[edit]
The vast majority of Stockholm residents work in the service industry, which accounts for roughly 85% of jobs in Stockholm. The almost total absence of heavy industry (and fossil fuel power plants) makes Stockholm one of the world's cleanest metropolises. The last decade has seen a significant number of jobs created in high technology companies. Large employers include IBM, Ericsson, and Electrolux. A major IT centre is located in Kista, in northern Stockholm.
Stockholm is Sweden's financial centre. Major Swedish banks, such as Nordea, Swedbank, Handelsbanken, and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, are headquartered in Stockholm, as are the major insurance companies Skandia, Folksam and Trygg-Hansa. Stockholm is also home to Sweden's foremost stock exchange, the Stockholm Stock Exchange (Stockholmsbörsen). Additionally, about 45% of Swedish companies with more than 200 employees are headquartered in Stockholm.[26] Famous clothes retailer H&M is also headquartered in the city. In recent years, tourism has played an important part in the city's economy. Stockholm County is ranked as the 10th largest visitor destination in Europe, with over 10 million commercial overnight stays per year. Among 44 European cities Stockholm had the 6th highest growth in number of nights spent in the period 2004-2008.[27]
The largest companies by number of employees:[28]
- Ericsson—8,430
- Posten AB (national postal service)—4,710
- Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)—4,240
- Swedbank—3,610
- Södersjukhuset (Southern Hospital)—3,610
- MTR Stockholm (Stockholm Subway operator)—3,000
- Nordea—2,820
- Handelsbanken—2,800
- IBM Svenska—2,640
- Capgemini—2,500
- Securitas AB—2,360
- Veolia Transport—2,300
- ISS Facility Services—2,000
- Sveriges Television (public television)—1,880
- Nobina Sverige AB — 1,873 (2012)
- Sodexo—1,580
Fiber Optic Network[edit]
“During a national fiscal crisis in the early Nineties, the City of Stockholm decided to pursue an unusual model in telecommunications. The city-owned company Stokab started in 1994 to build a fiber-optic network throughout the municipality as a level playing field for all operators” (City of Stockholm, 2011). Streets were destroyed for installation of conduit and fiber. Today, around a decade later, the network has grown to be 1.2 million kilometers long and has over 90 operators and 450 enterprises as customers. 2011 was the final year of a three-year project which brought fiber to 100% of public housing, meaning an extra 95,000 houses were added. (City of Stockholm, 2011) This advanced method of communication is one perfect example of import replacement in Stockholm that allows the city to transmit energy/information through a network of communication that is no longer bought from foreign countries. Six years ago, the city issued a vision of 2030, explaining the features the city targeted to have by that year. According to the blueprint, Stockholm would be a “(…) world-class metropolis offering a rich urban living experience, the center of an internationally competitive innovation region, and a place where citizens enjoyed a broad range of high-quality, cost-effective social services” (City of Stockholm, 2011). All these characteristics of the metropolis have grown into what they are today due to Stockholm’s unusual history and strong motivation.
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