Mariehamn

Sister cities

• Tórshavn
• Kragerø
• Kuressaare City
• Region Gotland
• Valkeakoski
• Kópavogur
• Lomonosov

History

Mariehamn was founded on 21 February 1861 on land that belonged to the village of Övernäs in Jomala. It was named after the Russian empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824–1880), meaning . The town grew from a planned layout that remains largely intact. It later expanded into Jomala. One of the oldest streets is Södragatan, which has preserved 19th-century wooden houses. In the late 19th century, shipping became central to the local economy, and shipowners and shipyards settled in the town. After the First World War, Mariehamn became known for its Grain Fleet. On 8 November 1963, a plane crash in Mariehamn killed 22 of 25 people, Finland’s second-deadliest air accident.