- Kalmar
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kalmar
image_caption = Storgatan in Kalmar
image_shield = Kalmar vapen.svg
pushpin_
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 =Kalmar Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 =Kalmar County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 =Småland
established_title3 = Charter
established_date3 = 1100
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 18.85
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 35,170
population_density_km2 = 1866
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=56 |latm=40 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=16 |longm=22 |longs= |longEW=E
website =Kalmar is a city in
Småland in the south-east ofSweden , situated by theBaltic Sea . It has 35,170 inhabitants (2005), and is the seat ofKalmar Municipality with a total of 61,321 inhabitants (2006). It is also the capital ofKalmar County , which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants (2006).From the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries, Kalmar was one of Sweden's most important cities. Between 1602 and 1913 it was the
episcopal see ofKalmar Diocese , with a bishop, and the Kalmar Cathedral from 1702 is still a fine example of classicistic architecture. It became a fortified city, with the still mightyKalmar Castle as the center. After theTreaty of Roskilde 1658 Kalmar's importance diminished, until the industry sector was initiated in the 19th century.Geographically Kalmar is the main route to the island of
Öland thanks to theÖland Bridge .History
The area around Kalmar has been inhabited since ancient times. Diggings have found traces of
stone age gravefields. The oldest sources of there being a town are however from the 11th century. According to a medievalfolk tale , the Norwegian patronSaint Olav had his ships moved to Kalmar. The oldest city seal of Kalmar is from somewhere between 1255-1267, making it the oldest known city seal inScandinavia .In the 12th century the first foundations of a castle were established, with the construction of a round tower for guard and lookout. The tower was continuously expanded on in
13th century , and as such, Queen Margaret called an assembly there between head of states of Sweden and Norway, and onJuly 13 ,1397 , theKalmar Union treaty was signed, which would last until 1523. Kalmar's strategic location, near the Danish border (at the time theScanian lands , i.e the provinces ofBlekinge ,Halland andScania , were part of Denmark), and its harbour and merchancy, also involved it into several feuds. There are two events independently labelledKalmar bloodbath : The first in 1505, when KingJohn of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden let execute the mayor and city council of Kalmar; the second in 1599 by command of Duke Charles, later to became KingCharles IX of Sweden .In the 1540s, first King
Gustav Vasa , and later his sonsErik XIV of Sweden andJohn III of Sweden would organize a rebuilding of the castle into the magnificentRenaissance castle it is today.Kalmar became a
diocese in1602 , a position it held until 1903. In1634 ,Kalmar County is founded, with Kalmar as the natural capital. In 1660, the Kalmar Cathedral was begun by drawings ofNicodemus Tessin the Elder . It would be inaugurated in1702 .In 1611-1613, it suffered in the
Kalmar War , which began with a Danish siege of Kalmar Castle. 1611 is mentioned as the darkest year of Kalmar's history, but by no means the only dark year; much blood has been shed in the vicinity of the castle. The last was during theScanian War in the 1670s, leading its sieges to a total of 22 -- yet, the castle was never taken.After the
Treaty of Roskilde in1658 , the strategical importance of Kalmar gradually diminished as the borders were drawn to a southern latitude. In 1689, the King established his mainnaval base south inKarlskrona and Kalmar lost its status as one of Sweden's main military outposts.Today
In more recent times, Kalmar has been an industrial city with
Kalmar Mekaniska Verkstad making steam engines and large machinery. It has a university with over 9,000 students and a research facility forTelia Sonera .Gallery
Notable natives
*
Helena Josefsson - musician, lead singer inSandy Mouche
*Ivar Kreuger
*Jenny Nyström ister cities
*
Gdańsk ,Poland * Wilmington,
Delaware ,United States *
Savonlinna ,Finland *
Samsun ,Turkey ee also
*
Kalmar Municipality
*Kalmar Airport
*Kalmar Mekaniska Verkstad
*Spawn of Possession
*University of Kalmar
*Kalmar Nyckel , historical ship named after the city of Kalmar
*Kalmar FF , premier division football club from the cityReferences
*sv icon [http://runeberg.org/nfbm/0358.html article "Kalmar"] ,
Nordisk familjebok External links
* [http://www.kalmar.se/ Kalmar Municipality] - Official site
* [http://www.ikalmar.se/ iKalmar] - a social network for citizens of Kalmar
* [http://www.kalmar.se/templates/Page.aspx?id=3775 Kalmar Castle]
* [http://www.kalmarcity.se/ Kalmar City] - pictures from nightlife in Kalmar
* [http://www.hik.se/ University of Kalmar]
* [http://www.cityrapporten.se/ CityRapporten] - local publication about Kalmar
* [http://www.barometern.se/ Barometern Oskarshamns-Tidningen] - daily newspaper from Kalmar andOskarshamn
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