Mariehamn

History

Mariehamn was named after the Russian empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824–1880), meaning . The town was founded on 21 February 1861 around the village of Övernäs, 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.

In the mid-19th century, cargo shipping developed, and several shipowners and shipyards settled in the growing town.

After the First World War, Mariehamn hosted the Mariehamn Grain Fleet.

On 8 November 1963, a plane crash in Mariehamn killed 22 of 25 people, Finland's second-deadliest air accident.

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),{{cite web |access-date=14 October 2025

Foreign-born residents

As of 2018, the largest groups of foreign-born residents in Mariehamn were:{{cite web |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

Transport

Airport

Mariehamn Airport serves the city with regular flights operated by Finnair and regional airlines.{{cite web |access-date=14 October 2025}}

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.{{cite book |author-link=George Walter Prothero

The Western Harbour is an international port with daily ferry connections to Sweden, Estonia, and mainland Finland. Because Åland is outside the EU customs zone, ferries call at Mariehamn to enable duty-free sales.

The city has a long maritime tradition. The four-masted barque Pommern, now part of the Åland Maritime Museum, is moored in the Western Harbour. The Eastern Harbour hosts one of the largest marinas in Scandinavia and the historic Dutch steamer 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, and Åland Highway 3 (Main Road 3) to Lumparland.{{cite web |access-date=14 October 2025}}

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.

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 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.{{cite web

Climate

Mariehamn has a transitional climate between an oceanic (Cfb) and a 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.

• Lowest recorded temperature: −32.9 °C (−27.2 °F) in February 1979
• Highest recorded temperature: 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) in July 1941 and 2022

Data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute provide climate averages for 1991–2020 and historical records since 1914.

| 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 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

Twin towns

Mariehamn has the following twin towns:

• Iceland – Kópavogur
• Norway – Kragerø
• Estonia – Kuressaare
• Russia – Lomonosov, Russia – partnership suspended in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 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

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

References

References

1. "Turism – Mariehamns stad". Mariehamns stad.
2. "Sjöfartspromenaden: Upptäck Mariehamn till fots". City of Mariehamn.
3. {{Cite Merriam-Webster. Mariehamn
4. (1982). "Suomen kunnallisvaakunat". Suomen Kunnallisliitto.
5. "Ahvenanmaan kuntien vaakunat 1947–1987 (I:15) – Maarianhamina". Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto.
6. (1979). "Mitä-Missä-Milloin, Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1980". Otava.
7. "Mariehamn – Visit Åland".
8. "Tourism in Mariehamn".
9. Mann, Robert. (2011). "Mariehamn Celebrates". Union of the Baltic Cities.
10. "A town built around shipping". Visit Åland.
11. Derby, W. L. A.. (21 July 1937). "Mariehamn's Grain Fleet". Amalgamated Press.
12. Ranter, Harro. "Douglas C-47A OH-LCA accident, Mariehamn Airport (1963)".
13. (2009). "Suomen maakuntien ilmasto". Finnish Meteorological Institute.
14. (2021). "Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1991–2020". Finnish Meteorological Institute.
15. "Mariehamns stads vänorter".
16. "Dags att avbryta ryskt vänortssamarbete helt?". Nya Åland.