Vormsi

History

The documented history of Vormsi dates back as far as the 13th century. During most of this time, the island was inhabited by Estonian Swedes ("rannarootslased" in Estonian or "coastal Swedes" in English). Ormsö in Swedish means "Orm's island", and can be translated also as "Snake island". The Estonian name Vormsi and German Worms have both been derived from Ormsö.

The island's population reached 3,000 before World War II. During the war, nearly all of Vormsi's population, along with other Swedes living in Estonia, forming the larger region of Aiboland, were evacuated, or fled, to Sweden.

Villages

The villages on the island include: Hullo (the administrative centre), Sviby (the main port), Söderby, Norrby, Diby, Rälby, Förby, Borrby, Kärrslätt, Saxby, Suuremõisa (Magnushof, formerly Busby), Rumpo (the main beach area) and Hosby.

The island of Vormsi has homeowners from several countries and regions in Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and elsewhere.

Economy

Vormsi is the per capita wealthiest island and region in Estonia outside of the Tallinn metro area, with incomes on the same level as inner Tallinn. This is attributed to the fact that many comparatively wealthy people own summer homes on the island and are registered as residents, so their yearly income tax is forwarded to the island's budget.

Vormsi has only small businesses with no significant industrial activity. The island earns the majority of its revenues from the taxation on the salaries earned by its residents on the Estonian mainland.

Literature

• Kanarbik, Madis, Ormsö. De estlandssvenska böndernas kamp mot godsägarna under 1700- och 1800-talet [Nordistica Tartuensia; 9] (Tartu, 2003)
• Beyer, Jürgen, 'Whom should one thank for a narrow escape? Lessons drawn from a perilous journey from Vormsi and Noarootsi to Finland in 1796', Pro Ethnologia 17 (2004), 175-95

Gallery

File:Vormsi sadam 2015.jpg|Vormsi harbour (2015) File:Lehmihaka.jpg|Paddock, Rälby File:Vormsi-tuulimylly.jpg|Old windmill, Rälby File:Metsänvartijanmökki1.jpg|Woodsman's cottage, Hullo File:Vormsi-Ormso-Rumpo-muul.jpg|Beach area in Rumpo File:Vormsi-Rumpo.jpg|Viewing platform in Rumpo peninsula, looking towards Sviby harbor File:Vormsi kalmistu 02.jpg|Vormsi cemetery File:Aurora Borealis in Vormsi, Estonia.jpg|Aurora borealis in Saxby File:Vormsi Hullo tuulikud.jpg|Windmills in Hullo, 1930s File:Borbi küla (Borrby), Vormsi saar (Ormsö) SLS 443 22 - 1934.jpg|link=|Aerial photo of the Borrby village, 1934 File:Ny Dag hyllar Stalin ockupation av Estland.jpg|Swedish communist daily Ny Dag headline on 5 September 1940: "The Swedes on Vormsi greet Stalin and the new regime" File:Estlandssvenska flyktingar.jpg|Fleeing the Soviet occupation to Sweden, 1944 File:Vormsi Parish - panoramio.jpg|Road signs in Hullo File:Vormsi kirik 2011.jpg|The 15th century Swedish (now Lutheran) church in Hullo (2011) File:Vormsi - panoramio (1).jpg|Round crosses in the Vormsi cemetery File:Estonia-nordic-cross-flag-02.jpg|A Nordic cross flag used in Vormsi File:Ormsö Vormsi ferry.jpg|Vormsi is connected with the mainland by MS Ormsö (:et)

References

References

1. "Vormsi".
2. "Ajalugu".
3. (January 9, 2012). "Vormsi vald pealinnaga ühel pulgal".