Vaxholm

Vaxholm

Vaxholm Town Hall
Vaxholm
Vaxholm
Coordinates: 59°25′N 18°19′E / 59.417°N 18.317°E / 59.417; 18.317Coordinates: 59°25′N 18°19′E / 59.417°N 18.317°E / 59.417; 18.317
Country Sweden
Province Uppland
County Stockholm County
Municipality Vaxholm Municipality
Area[1]
 • Total 1.64 km2 (0.63 sq mi)
Population (31 December 2010)[1]
 • Total 4,857
 • Density 2,962/km2 (7,670/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Vaxholm is a locality and the seat of Vaxholm Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden. It is located in the Stockholm archipelago. The name Vaxholm comes from Vaxholm Castle, which was constructed in 1549 on an islet with this name on the inlet to Stockholm, for defense purposes, by King Gustav Vasa.

For historical reasons it has always been referred to as a city, despite the small number of inhabitants, which as of 2010 total was 4,857.[1] Vaxholm Municipality prefers to use the designation Vaxholms stad (City of Vaxholm) for its whole territory, including 64 islets in the Stockholm archipelago, a usage which is somehow confusing.

History

Vaxholm Fortress.

The town of Vaxholm was established in 1558, when King Gustav Vasa bought some farms from Count Per Brahe the Elder. It later received rights as a merchant town (köping) and in 1652 was granted the Royal Charter. The designated coat of arms reminds of the fortifications as well as shipping industry.

During the 19th century, it hardly expanded. In the 1880s, it became a popular spa town, and many wooden summer houses were built by people from Stockholm.

It was not until 1912 that it allowed houses to be built from materials other than wood, giving the town a distinctive appearance.

Sports

The following sports clubs are located in Vaxholm :

Panorama
Vaxholm 2013

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.

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