View source for Hamina

{{other uses|Hamina-class missile boat}}
{{Short description|Town in Kymenlaakso, Finland}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Hamina
| official_name      = {{lang|fi|Haminan kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Fredrikshamns stad}}
| other_name         = Fredrikshamn
| settlement_type    = Town
| image_skyline      = File:Hamina montage.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = Clockwise from top-left: St. Mary's Church, the [[Reserve Officer School]], the countryside of [[Husula]] neighbourhood, a view from the Sailor Pavilion towards Tervasaari and the historical Town Hall.
| image_flag         = Hamina.lippu.svg
| flag_size          = 120x70px
| image_shield       = Hamina.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size        = 120x80px
| image_map          = Hamina sijainti Suomi.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Hamina in Finland
| coordinates        = {{coord|60|34|N|027|12|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Kymenlaakso]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kotka-Hamina sub-region|Kotka-Hamina]]
| leader_title       = [[Town manager]]
| leader_name        = Ilari Soosalu
| established_title  = [[Charter]]
| established_date   = 1653
| area_footnotes     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Hamina}}
| area_total_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Hamina}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Hamina}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Hamina}}
| area_rank          = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Hamina}}
| population_as_of   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Hamina}}
| population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Hamina}}
| population_total   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Hamina}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Hamina}}
| population_rank    = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Hamina}}
| demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Hamina}}
| demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_footnotes|Hamina}}
| demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Hamina}}
| demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Hamina}}
| demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Hamina}}
| demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Hamina}}
| demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Hamina}}
| demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Hamina}}
| demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Hamina}}
| demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Hamina}}
| demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Hamina}}
| demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Hamina}}
| demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Hamina}}
| demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Hamina}}
| demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Hamina}}
| demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Hamina}}
| demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Hamina}}
| demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Hamina}}
| blank_name         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Hamina}}
| blank_info         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Hamina}}
| blank3_name        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank3_info        = [[Humid continental climate#Mild/cool summer subtype|Dfb]]
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +02:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +03:00
| website            = {{Url|https://www.hamina.fi/en/}}
| named_for          = [[Frederick I of Sweden]]
}}
'''Hamina''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈhɑminɑ}}; {{langx|sv|Fredrikshamn}}, {{IPA|sv-FI|freːdriksˈhɑmn|lang|Fredrikshamn.ogg}}, <small>Sweden</small> {{IPA|sv|freːdrɪksˈhamːn|lang}}) is a [[List of cities in Finland|town]] and a [[Municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]]. It is located approximately {{convert|145|km|abbr=on}} east of the country's capital [[Helsinki]], in the [[Kymenlaakso]] [[Regions of Finland|region]], and formerly the [[Provinces of Finland|province]] of [[Southern Finland]]. The municipality's population is {{Formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hamina}}}} (as of {{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}
}})<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.vrk.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/029EEED89C84611BC22575350052CE3A/$file/081231.html |title= Population by municipality as of {{#time: j F Y|2008-12-31}} |access-date= {{#time: j F Y|2010-03-27}} |work= Population Information System |publisher= Population Register Center of Finland |language= fi, sv |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101202145510/http://www.vrk.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/029EEED89C84611BC22575350052CE3A/%24file/081231.html |archive-date= 2010-12-02 }}</ref> and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Hamina}}|km2}}, of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Hamina}}|km2|abbr=on}}
is water.<ref name="total_area" /> The [[population density]] is
{{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Hamina|round=2}}|PD/km2}}. The population of the central town is approximately 10,000. The municipal language of Hamina is [[Finnish language|Finnish]].

[[Finnish national road 7|Highway 7]] ([[European route E18|E18]]) is the town's road connection to Helsinki, after it was upgraded to a continuous motorway in September 2014. Hamina is also the base of one of the most important harbors of Finland, the [[Port of Hamina-Kotka]]. The port specializes in [[Forestry|forest products]] and the transit of cargo to [[Russia]]. One of [[Google]]'s five European data centers is situated in Hamina.<ref>[https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/locations/hamina/ Hamina Data Center - Google Data centers]</ref>

==History==
[[Vehkalahti]] was as a municipality first mentioned in 1336. At the proposal of Count [[Per Brahe the Younger|Per Brahe]], the area surrounding the Vehkalahti church (today St. Mary's Church) received its charter in 1653 through the establishment of Vehkalahden Uusikaupunki (Veckelax Nystad in [[Swedish language|Swedish]], "The New Town of Vehkalahti"). The town was later destroyed during the [[Great Northern War]] in 1712.<ref name="autogenerated3">[http://www.hamina.fi/?pid=458&cg=119&sg=458&grp=lang&lang=eng Hamina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[File:Fredrikshamn 1720.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Plan of the Fredrikshamn fortress town (1723) by [[Axel Löwen]]]]
As the commercially vibrant city of [[Vyborg]] was lost to Russia in 1721, Fredrikshamn (named in 1723 in the honor of King [[Frederick I of Sweden]]) was dedicated to replace it.<ref name=UppslagsFiUniv>{{cite web |url=http://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-FinlandsHistoria1700Talet |title=Finlands historia: 1700-talet |last=Lindberg |first=Johan  |date=May 26, 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=November 30, 2017 |language=sv}}</ref> The town, hitherto a small domestic port with restricted trading privilege's, was granted extensive rights to conduct foreign trade. The Finnish speaking population soon abbreviated the name of the town to Hamina. The reconstruction of the town was completed between 1722 and 1724. The [[star fort|star-shaped fortress]] and the circular town plan, designed by [[Axel Löwen]], were based on Central European and [[Italy|Italian]] [[Renaissance]] concepts from the 16th century.<ref name="autogenerated3" /> Fortress towns with a circular street plan like this are quite rare; one example is [[Palmanova]] in Italy.<ref name="kopomaa2005">{{cite journal |last= Kopomaa |first= Timo |year= 2005 |journal= Yhdyskuntasuunnittelu |volume= 43 |issue= 2 |pages= 6–26 |publisher= Yhdyskuntasuunnittelun seura ry (The Finnish Society of Housing and Planning) |location= Helsinki |url= http://www.yss.fi/Kopomaa.pdf |title= Kriisioloihin varautunut kaupunki |language= fi |access-date= 25 January 2009 |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000444/http://www.yss.fi/Kopomaa.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In 1743, Hamina was surrendered to Russia, after the [[Russo–Swedish War, 1741–1743]], and the town of [[Loviisa]] was the next Swedish candidate for an Eastern-Finnish trade center. Hamina became a Russian frontier town, for which a fortress was desirable.

The [[Treaty of Fredrikshamn]] (1809), by which Sweden ceded Finland, including parts of the province of [[Laponia (historical province)|Lappland]] and [[Åland]], was signed in Hamina. Thus Sweden was split, and the eastern half was formed into the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], an [[Autonomous entity|autonomous]] part of the [[Russian Empire]]. In 1812, the previously conquered territories known as [[Old Finland]] (including Hamina) were joined to the Grand Duchy.

[[Hamina Cadet School]] was founded in 1819 and was in operation until 1903. In 1920 the [[Reserve Officer School]] began in the same facilities.

Because the town was founded next to the Vehkalahti Church, the municipal center had always been inside the town borders. [[Vehkalahti]] and Hamina were consolidated in 2003, and the old coat of arms was replaced with Vehkalahti's coat of arms. The old coat of arms was readopted in January 2013.<ref>[http://www.hamina.fi/fi/Kaupunki/Uutiset/2012/05/17/724 Haminan vaakuna vaihtuu - Haminan kaupunki (in Finnish)] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130213062356/http://www.hamina.fi/fi/Kaupunki/Uutiset/2012/05/17/724 |date=2013-02-13 }}</ref>

Results of the [[2021 Finnish municipal elections]], resulted in [[True Finns|The Finns Party]] being the largest group on Hamina council, in Hamina.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finns_party_gains_ncp_top_as_turnout_dips_in_finnish_local_elections/11979073|title = Finns Party gains, NCP top as turnout dips in Finnish local elections|date = 13 June 2021}}</ref>

== Main sights ==
* '''Town Hall:''' Originally built in 1798, it was renovated by [[Carl Ludvig Engel]] in 1840.
* '''[[Reserve Officer School]]:''' The site which trains reserve officers in the [[Army Academy (Finland)|Army Academy]] of the [[Finnish Army]]
* '''Town Museum:''' It is located in a building where King [[Gustav III of Sweden]] and Empress [[Catherine II of Russia]] met in 1783.<ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.hamina.fi/?pid=701&cg=441&sg=701&grp=lang&lang=eng Hamina<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* '''Shopkeeper's Museum'''
* '''Google Data Center:''' (former [[Stora Enso]] pulp factory)
* '''[[Hamina Fortress]]:''' Built in the 18th century, it is one of the [[star fort]]s in Finland. The corners of the fortress form six [[bastion]]s, named after towns in Finland. The Central Bastion was added at the end of the 18th century, and is currently used for cultural events.

=== Churches ===
*'''[[St. Mary's Church (Hamnia)|St. Mary's Church]]''', previously known as '''Vehkalahti Church''', is the oldest building in [[Kymenlaakso]]. It was originally built in the Middle Ages, but it was burnt in 1821 and the current [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] exterior is designed by [[Carl Ludvig Engel]] and completed in 1828. The church has a museum dedicated to the church life from the 18th century onwards.<ref>[http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/28-marian-kirkko-ja-kirkkomuseo Hurmaava Hamina - The 15th century church of St Mary and church Museum] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217120101/http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/28-marian-kirkko-ja-kirkkomuseo |date=2013-02-17 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muuka.com/finnishpumpkin/churches/h/church_h.html |title=Churches in Finland |access-date=2008-02-26 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201742/http://www.muuka.com/finnishpumpkin/churches/h/church_h.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*'''[[St. John's Church (Hamnia)|St. John's Church]]''', formerly known as '''Hamina Church''', was built between 1841-1843. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in the neoclassical style.<ref>[http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/30-johanneksen-kirkko Hurmaava Hamina - Church Of St John] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217113449/http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/30-johanneksen-kirkko |date=2013-02-17 }}</ref>
*'''[[Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (Hamnia)|Church of St. Peter and St. Paul]]''', the [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] church in Hamina, was built in 1837. It was designed by [[Italian people|Italian]]-[[French people|French]] architect [[Louis Visconti]]. The architecture of the church is combination of neoclassical and [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] elements.<ref>[http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/27-pietarin-ja-paavalin-ortodoksinen-kirkko Hurmaava Hamina - The Orthodox Church Of St Peter and St Paul] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130217112506/http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/index.php/en/see/churches/27-pietarin-ja-paavalin-ortodoksinen-kirkko |date=2013-02-17 }}</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Hamina Ortho6 s.JPG|The orthodox church of Peter and Paul
Image:Hamina aerial 2014.jpg|Aerial view of the town
Image:Keskusbastioni jossa 58 varastokasemattia.jpg|Central bastion of the fortress
Image:Haminan kaupunginmuseo.JPG|The town museum
</gallery>

==Sports==
The [[pesäpallo]] club [[Haminan Palloilijat]] fields teams in both the men's and women's [[Superpesis]] national league, playing at [[Rampart Field]].

==Twin towns==
* {{Flag icon|Denmark}} [[Vordingborg]], [[Denmark]]<ref>[http://www.vordingborg.dk/cms/site.aspx?p=11431 Vordingborg Kommune har 17 venskabsbyer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705220455/http://vordingborg.dk/cms/site.aspx?p=11431 |date=2014-07-05 }}</ref>
* {{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Falun]], [[Sweden]]
* {{Flag icon|Estonia}} [[Paide]], [[Estonia]]
* {{Flag icon|Norway}} [[Røros Municipality|Røros]], [[Norway]]<ref>[http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/en/info Hurmaava Hamina - Info] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129004544/http://www.hurmaavahamina.fi/en/info |date=2011-11-29 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
[[File:Herran Kukkaro, Hamina.jpg|thumb|A house called "Herran Kukkaro", the birthplace of painter [[Hugo Simberg]]]]
*[[Magnus Enckell]] (1870–1925), symbolist painter
*[[Simo Häyhä]] (1905–2002), a farmer and [[military sniper]]
*[[Tapani Kansa]] (1949–2025), a singer
*[[Pelle Miljoona]] (born 1955), a musician
*[[Hugo Simberg]] (1873–1917), a painter
*[[Emilie Mechelin]] (1838–1917), opera singer and pedagogue
*[[Leo Mechelin]] (1839–1914), a professor, statesman, senator and liberal reformer
*[[Keke Rosberg]] (born 1949), racing driver
*[[Meri Toppelius]] (1863–1896), educational theorist

==See also==
* [[Mariehamn]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Hamina}}
* [https://www.hamina.fi/en/ Official website of Hamina]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927105327/http://www.hamina.net/opaskartat.php Guide map of Hamina]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060601084812/http://www.elisanet.fi/petri.metsala/kartat/hamina.png Map of Hamina]
* [http://www.nortfort.ru/hamina/index_e.html Hamina-Fredrikshamn at Northern Fortress]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Hamina
 | N = [[Kouvola]]
 | E = [[Miehikkälä]]<br/>[[Virolahti]]
 | S = ''[[Gulf of Finland]]''
 | W = [[Kotka]]
}}
{{kymenlaakso}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hamina| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Finland]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Finland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1653]]
[[Category:1653 establishments in Sweden]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Kymenlaakso]]