View source for Mariehamn

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of the Åland Islands}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mariehamn
| official_name      = {{lang|sv|Mariehamns stad}}<br />{{lang|en|Town of Mariehamn}}
| nickname           = De tusen lindarnas stad ({{literal translation|The town of a thousand linden trees}})<ref>{{cite web |title=Turism – Mariehamns stad |url=https://www.mariehamn.ax/organisation-arbete/Information_och_media/om-mariehamn/turism/ |publisher=Mariehamns stad |access-date=23 January 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416225337/http://www.mariehamn.ax/organisation-arbete/Information_och_media/om-mariehamn/turism/ |url-status=dead |language=sv}}</ref>{{force singular}}
| settlement_type    = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline      = Mariehamn harbor 5.jpg
| image_caption      = [[Western Harbour (Mariehamn)|Västerhamn ferry terminal]]
| image_shield       = Maarianhamina.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size        = 120
| map_caption        = Location of Mariehamn in Finland
| pushpin_map        = Finland Åland Islands
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Åland Islands
| coordinates        = {{coord|60|06|N|19|56|E|region:FI_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Åland]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mariehamn sub-region|Mariehamn]]
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Arne Selander
| established_title  = [[Charter]]
| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1861|2|21|df=y}}<ref name="sjöfartspromenaden">{{cite web |title=Sjöfartspromenaden: Upptäck Mariehamn till fots |url=https://www.mariehamn.ax/sites/default/files/attachments/page/Sj%C3%B6fartpromenaden.pdf |publisher=City of Mariehamn |access-date=21 February 2024 |language=sv}}</ref>
| named_for          = [[Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna]]
| area_total_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Mariehamn}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Mariehamn}}
| population_total   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Mariehamn}}
| population_as_of   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Mariehamn}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Mariehamn}}
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +02:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +03:00
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 22100, 22101, 22110, 22111, 22120, 22140, 22150, 22160
| website            = [https://www.mariehamn.ax/ www.mariehamn.ax]
}}

'''Mariehamn'''  ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|r|iː|ə|h|ɑː|m|ə|n}} {{respell|mə|REE|ə|hah|mən}},<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Mariehamn|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref> {{IPA|sv-FI|mɑriːeˈhɑmn|lang|Mariehamn.ogg}}; {{langx|fi|Maarianhamina}} {{IPA|fi|ˈmɑːriɑnˌhɑminɑ|}}; {{langx|la|Portus Mariae}}) is the [[capital city|capital]] of [[Åland]], an autonomous territory under Finnish [[sovereignty]]. The city is the seat of the [[Government of Åland]] and the [[Parliament of Åland]], and about 40% of Åland’s population live there. Mariehamn borders [[Jomala]] to the north and west and [[Lemland]] to the east.

Like the rest of Åland, the city is unilingually [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish-speaking]]. Most inhabitants have Swedish as their native language.<ref name="population_by_language">{{Cite web |
url = http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=060_vaerak_tau_107_fi&amp;ti=V%E4est%F6+kielen+mukaan+sek%E4+ulkomaan+kansalaisten+m%E4%E4r%E4+ja+maa%2Dpinta%2Dala+alueittain++1980+%2D+2008&amp;path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&amp;lang=3&amp;multilang=fi | title = Population according to language and the number of foreigners and land area km2 by area as of 31 December 2008
| accessdate = 29 March 2009 | work = Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases | publisher = Statistics Finland  }}
</ref>

The [[coat of arms of Mariehamn]] reflects the city’s main livelihood, [[maritime transport]], and its linden tree–lined parks.<ref>{{cite book |title=Suomen kunnallisvaakunat |publisher=Suomen Kunnallisliitto |year=1982 |page=171 |isbn=951-773-085-3 |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ahvenanmaan kuntien vaakunat 1947–1987 (I:15) – Maarianhamina |url=http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=1738597 |publisher=Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto |access-date=25 March 2021 |language=sv}}</ref> The coat of arms was designed by Nils Byman and confirmed in 1951.<ref>{{cite book |title=Mitä-Missä-Milloin, Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1980 |publisher=Otava |year=1979 |page=165 |language=fi}}</ref>

Mariehamn’s central location in the [[Baltic Sea]] makes it a popular summer destination. Approximately 1.5&nbsp;million tourists visit each year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mariehamn – Visit Åland |url=https://www.visitaland.com/en/good-to-know/mariehamn/ |website=Visit Åland |access-date=2024-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tourism in Mariehamn |url=https://www.discoveringfinland.com/aland-archipelago/mariehamn/ |website=Discovering Finland |access-date=2024-02-20}}</ref>

== History ==
{{expand section|date=June 2022}}

Mariehamn was named after the Russian empress [[Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse)|Maria Alexandrovna]] (1824–1880), meaning {{literal translation|Marie's Port}}. The town was founded on 21 February 1861 around the village of [[Övernäs]],<ref name="sjöfartspromenaden">{{cite web |title=Sjöfartspromenaden |url=https://www.mariehamn.ax/se-och-gora/sevardheter/sjofartspromenaden |website=Mariehamns stad |access-date=2024-12-27 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227104500/https://www.mariehamn.ax/se-och-gora/sevardheter/sjofartspromenaden |archive-date=2023-12-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Mann |first=Robert |title=Mariehamn Celebrates |journal=The UBC Bulletin |publisher=Union of the Baltic Cities |year=2011 |number=1 |page=34 |url=https://www.ubc.net/publications/bulletin-no-1-2011 |access-date=2024-12-27}}</ref> then part of [[Jomala]] municipality. The city later expanded into Jomala. It was built to a regular plan that remains well preserved. One of the oldest streets is ''Södragatan'', with 19th-century wooden houses.

[[File:Mariehamn map.svg|thumb|Map showing Mariehamn and the pre-1961 town area (hatched)]]
[[File:Mariehamn-1961.jpg|thumb|Finnish stamp marking Mariehamn’s centenary (1961)]]

In the mid-19th century, cargo shipping developed, and several shipowners and shipyards settled in the growing town.<ref>{{cite web |title=A town built around shipping |url=https://visitaland.com/en/experience/culture-history/aland-history/a-town-built-around-shipping/ |website=Visit Åland |publisher=Visit Åland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321204323/https://visitaland.com/en/experience/culture-history/aland-history/a-town-built-around-shipping/ |archive-date=2023-03-21 |access-date=2024-12-27 |language=en}}</ref>

After the [[First World War]], Mariehamn hosted the Mariehamn Grain Fleet.<ref name="SWW">{{cite journal |last=Derby |first=W. L. A. |title=Mariehamn's Grain Fleet |journal=Shipping Wonders of the World |publisher=Amalgamated Press |date=21 July 1937 |pages=746–749 |url=https://shippingwondersoftheworld.com/mariehamn.html |access-date=2024-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105123400/https://shippingwondersoftheworld.com/mariehamn.html |archive-date=2024-01-05}}</ref>

On 8 November 1963, a [[Aero Flight 217|plane crash]] in Mariehamn killed 22 of 25 people, Finland’s second-deadliest air accident.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=Douglas C-47A OH-LCA accident, Mariehamn Airport (1963) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19631108-0 |website=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=2024-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105120000/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19631108-0 |archive-date=2024-01-05}}</ref>

== 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),<ref>{{cite web 
|url=https://pxweb.asub.ax/PXWeb/pxweb/en/Statistik/Statistik__BE__Befolkningens%20storlek%20och%20struktur/BE004.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=31bd198f-5b27-45c7-b26c-2e1f6fc74a43 
|title=Population by year 
|work=ÅSUB 
|publisher=Ålands statistik- och utredningsbyrå 
|access-date=14 October 2025 
|language=en}}</ref> the city’s population by year was:

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Population by year
! Year !! Population
|-
| 1987 || 9&nbsp;966
|-
| 1990 || 10&nbsp;263
|-
| 1997 || 10&nbsp;408
|-
| 2000 || 10&nbsp;488
|-
| 2002 || 10&nbsp;632
|-
| 2004 || 10&nbsp;712
|-
| 2006 || 10&nbsp;824
|-
| 2008 || 11&nbsp;005
|-
| 2009 || 11&nbsp;123
|-
| 2010 || 11&nbsp;190
|-
| 2011 || 11&nbsp;262
|-
| 2012 || 11&nbsp;346
|-
| 2013 || 11&nbsp;393
|-
| 2014 || 11&nbsp;480
|-
| 2015 || 11&nbsp;461
|-
| 2016 || 11&nbsp;565
|-
| 2017 || 11&nbsp;677
|-
| 2018 || 11&nbsp;743
|-
| 2019 || 11&nbsp;679
|-
| 2020 || 11&nbsp;705
|-
| 2021 || 11&nbsp;742
|-
| 2022 || 11&nbsp;757
|-
| 2023 || 11&nbsp;812
|-
| 2024 || 11&nbsp;866
|}

=== Foreign-born residents ===
As of 2018, the largest groups of foreign-born residents in Mariehamn were:<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_029.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 
|title=Foreign-born residents by country of birth 
|work=Statistics Finland 
|access-date=26 September 2018 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629211339/http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_029.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 
|archive-date=29 June 2018 
|url-status=dead 
|language=fi}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Foreign-born residents of Mariehamn by country of birth (2018)
! Country !! Population !! %
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}} || 1&nbsp;093 || 9.55
|-
| {{flag|Romania}} || 173 || 1.51
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}} || 163 || 1.42
|-
| {{flag|Iran}} || 101 || 0.85
|-
| {{flag|Estonia}} || 92 || 0.80
|-
| {{flag|Russia}} || 86 || 0.75
|-
| {{flag|Yugoslavia}} || 86 || 0.75
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}} || 73 || 0.64
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}} || 55 || 0.48
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 45 || 0.39
|}

== Transport ==

=== Airport ===
[[Mariehamn Airport]] serves the city with regular flights operated by [[Finnair]] and regional airlines.<ref>{{cite web 
|title=Mariehamn Airport 
|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/airports/mariehamn 
|publisher=Finavia 
|access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref name="protheropage5">{{cite book 
|last=Prothero 
|first=G.W. 
|author-link=George Walter Prothero 
|title=The Åland Islands 
|date=1920 
|publisher=Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section 
|page=5 
|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/9147/view/1/17/}}</ref>

The [[Western Harbour (Mariehamn)|Western Harbour]] is an international port with daily ferry connections to [[Sweden]], [[Estonia]], and mainland [[Finland]]. Because Åland is outside the [[European Union#Customs union|EU customs zone]], ferries call at Mariehamn to enable duty-free sales.

The city has a long maritime tradition. The four-masted barque [[Pommern (ship)|''Pommern'']], now part of the [[Åland Maritime Museum]], is moored in the Western Harbour. The [[Eastern Harbour (Mariehamn)|Eastern Harbour]] hosts one of the largest marinas in [[Scandinavia]] and the historic Dutch steamer [[F.P. von Knorring (ship)|''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, Åland|Sund]], and [[Åland Highway 3]] (Main Road 3) to [[Lumparland]].<ref>{{cite web 
|title=Road network in Åland 
|url=https://www.regeringen.ax/trafik-och-infrastruktur/vagar 
|publisher=Ålands landskapsregering 
|access-date=14 October 2025}}</ref>

== 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.<ref name="protheropage5" />

=== 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 ===
* [[Åland Maritime Museum]] – maritime history and the ship ''Pommern''
* [[Åland Museum]] – cultural and natural history of Åland
* [[Övernässtugan]] – 18th-century farmhouse
* [[Sjökvarteret]] – boatbuilding and maritime crafts centre

== 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 [[St. George's Church, Mariehamn|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.<ref>{{cite web 
|title=The Church of St Goran (St George) 
|publisher=Mariehamns Tryckeri Ab 
|date=2011 
|language=en}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Mariehamn has a transitional climate between an [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] (Cfb) and a [[Humid continental climate|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.<ref name="fmi-climate-regions">{{cite web |url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/15734/2009nro8.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Suomen maakuntien ilmasto |trans-title=The climate of Finland’s regions |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |date=2009 |access-date=14 October 2025 |language=fi}}</ref>

* '''Lowest recorded temperature:''' −32.9&nbsp;°C (−27.2&nbsp;°F) in February 1979  
* '''Highest recorded temperature:''' 31.3&nbsp;°C (88.3&nbsp;°F) in July 1941 and 2022<ref name="fmi-climate-regions" />

Data from the [[Finnish Meteorological Institute]] provide climate averages for 1991–2020 and historical records since 1914.<ref name="fmi-normals">{{cite web |url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/35880/Tilastoja_Suomen_ilmastosta_1991_2020.pdf |title=Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1991–2020 |trans-title=Climatological statistics of Finland 1991–2020 |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |date=2021 |access-date=14 October 2025 |language=fi}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Mariehamn Airport: 1991-2020 averages and extremes since 1914
| metric first = yes
| single line = no

| Jan record high C = 10.9
| Feb record high C = 10.5
| Mar record high C = 17.0
| Apr record high C = 21.1
| May record high C = 27.1
| Jun record high C = 29.4
| Jul record high C = 31.3
| Aug record high C = 30.7
| Sep record high C = 25.7
| Oct record high C = 19.0
| Nov record high C = 16.6
| Dec record high C = 11.1

| Jan high C = 1.0
| Feb high C = 0.4
| Mar high C = 3.1
| Apr high C = 8.0
| May high C = 13.4
| Jun high C = 17.5
| Jul high C = 20.8
| Aug high C = 20.0
| Sep high C = 15.5
| Oct high C = 9.6
| Nov high C = 5.2
| Dec high C = 2.5

| Jan mean C = -1.3
| Feb mean C = -2.3
| Mar mean C = -0.2
| Apr mean C = 3.8
| May mean C = 8.9
| Jun mean C = 13.3
| Jul mean C = 16.8
| Aug mean C = 16.1
| Sep mean C = 11.8
| Oct mean C = 6.8
| Nov mean C = 3.2
| Dec mean C = 0.4

| Jan low C = -4.3
| Feb low C = -5.5
| Mar low C = -3.7
| Apr low C = -0.1
| May low C = 4.0
| Jun low C = 8.6
| Jul low C = 12.2
| Aug low C = 11.6
| Sep low C = 7.8
| Oct low C = 3.5
| Nov low C = 0.6
| Dec low C = -2.5

| Jan record low C = -32.3
| Feb record low C = -32.9
| Mar record low C = -25.0
| Apr record low C = -18.9
| May record low C = -6.5
| Jun record low C = -3.2
| Jul record low C = 0.1
| Aug record low C = -0.5
| Sep record low C = -6.7
| Oct record low C = -11.8
| Nov record low C = -20.0
| Dec record low C = -28.9

| Jan precipitation mm = 53
| Feb precipitation mm = 35
| Mar precipitation mm = 38
| Apr precipitation mm = 31
| May precipitation mm = 35
| Jun precipitation mm = 53
| Jul precipitation mm = 52
| Aug precipitation mm = 76
| Sep precipitation mm = 61
| Oct precipitation mm = 70
| Nov precipitation mm = 71
| Dec precipitation mm = 59

| Jan precipitation days = 17
| Feb precipitation days = 13
| Mar precipitation days = 12
| Apr precipitation days = 9
| May precipitation days = 10
| Jun precipitation days = 10
| Jul precipitation days = 9
| Aug precipitation days = 13
| Sep precipitation days = 12
| Oct precipitation days = 16
| Nov precipitation days = 17
| Dec precipitation days = 17
| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

| Jan sun = 39
| Feb sun = 74
| Mar sun = 130
| Apr sun = 207
| May sun = 297
| Jun sun = 296
| Jul sun = 312
| Aug sun = 235
| Sep sun = 163
| Oct sun = 91
| Nov sun = 41
| Dec sun = 26

| source = Finnish Meteorological Institute<ref name="fmi-normals" />
}}

== Twin towns ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

Mariehamn has the following twin towns:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mariehamn.ax/organisation-arbete/Samarbeten/vanorter/ |title=Mariehamns stads vänorter |website=Mariehamns stad |access-date=14 July 2015 |language=sv}}</ref>
* Iceland – [[Kópavogur]]
* Norway – [[Kragerø]]
* Estonia – [[Kuressaare]]
* Russia – [[Lomonosov, Russia]] – partnership suspended in 2022 after the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nyan.ax/ledare/dags-att-avbryta-ryskt-vanortssamarbete-helt/ |title=Dags att avbryta ryskt vänortssamarbete helt? |trans-title=Time to completely end Russian twin city cooperation? |website=Nya Åland |publisher=Nya Åland |access-date=31 March 2023 |language=sv}}</ref>
* Denmark – [[Slagelse]]
* Faroe Islands – [[Tórshavn]]
* Finland – [[Valkeakoski]]
* Sweden – [[Visby]]

== Notable people ==
* [[Jeremy Duns]] (born 1973), British author and former journalist who lives in Mariehamn
* [[Gustaf Erikson]] (1872–1947), shipowner who operated sailing ships
* [[Maggie Gripenberg]] (1881–1976), dancer and choreographer
* [[Georg Kåhre]] (1899–1969), teacher and author
* [[Henrik Klingenberg]] (born 1978), musician and member of the Finnish band [[Sonata Arctica]]
* [[Stefan Lindfors]] (born 1962), designer, filmmaker and sculptor
* [[Ville Salminen]] (1908–1992), film actor and director
* [[Adelina Engman]] (born 1984), footballer
* [[Olivia Ulenius]] (born 2007), footballer

== Images ==
<gallery>
File:View of Mariehamn, 2022.jpg|Central Mariehamn
File:Mariehamn.jpg|Wooden residential buildings in Mariehamn
File:MariehamnSödragatan.JPG|Södragatan
File:Ålandsvägen i Mariehamn.jpg|Ålandsvägen
File:Mariehamn Church.jpg|St. George's Church
File:Storagatan (Mariehamn), 2019 (01).jpg|Esplanade along Storagatan
File:Pommern2009.JPG|Museum ship Pommern
File:Åland Museum 2022.jpg|Åland Museum
File:MariehamnStadsbibliotek.JPG|City library
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Godby]]
* [[Jomala]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.mariehamn.ax/ Official website]
* [http://www.visitaland.com/en/facts/mariehamn Official tourism website]
* [http://karta.mariehamn.ax/ims/?LAYERS=Ortofoto%202007&AREA=Centrum&language=eng Map of Mariehamn]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081027220928/http://life.screenshots.ru/trips/mariehamn-aland/ Archived description of a travel route]

{{Municipalities of Åland}}

[[Category:Mariehamn]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Åland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Finland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Baltic Sea]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in Finland]]