Jomala

Coordinates: 60°09′N 019°57′E / 60.150°N 19.950°E / 60.150; 19.950
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jomala
Municipality
Jomala kommun
St. Olav sitting on a throne and holding an axe and a globus cruciger
Population by age
 • 0 to 1421.6%
 • 15 to 6463.3%
 • 65 or older15.2%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.jomala.ax

Jomala is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland. In terms of population, it is the next largest after Mariehamn, the capital of Åland.

The municipality has a population of 5,698 (31 December 2023)[2] and covers an area of 687.00 square kilometres (265.25 sq mi) of which 544.43 km2 (210.21 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 39.92 inhabitants per square kilometre (103.4/sq mi).

The municipality is unilingually Swedish.

highway 3 east to Lumparland
.

History

"Jomala" is the name of a

Finno-Ugric peoples
. Jumala is Finnish for god and Jomala is one of the sites where the Christian church organized itself in Finland. Other versions of the name that have occurred are Jwmala in 1356, Jomalum in 1414, Jomala in 1486 and Jwmala in 1494. One of oldest churches in Finland stands here as testament to these times.

Jomala was inhabited around 2000 BC with Jettböle being one of the most renowned prehistoric sites. Other ancient sites include Borgberget, where there was a Viking fortress, and Kasberget which was one of the many mountains where signal fires were lit when enemies were seen approaching.

Before the city of Mariehamn was established in 1861, the peninsula where the city is situated was a part of Jomala.

Sights

The church of Jomala is dedicated to the patron saint of Åland, St. Olav. It is the oldest surviving church in Finland[6] and it is situated in the village of Prästgården. The oldest parts of the church date from the 13th century. The church tower is 52 meters tall and there is also a memorial for all the Ålanders who emigrated. Another memorial refers to sailors who lost their lives at sea. The "King of Åland" Julius Sundblom is buried here. A large medieval cemetery with graves from the Iron Age
can be visited behind the church.

The Lemström channel divides Jomala from its neighboring municipality, Lemland. It was widened by Russian POWs in 1882.

The Kungsö

First World War in 1916. The battery was situated 32 meters above sea level, on the highest point of Dalsberg. Finnish, Swedish and German troops invaded it in 1918. It was dismantled in 1919 by Finnish
civilian workers.

There are various well-preserved windmills in Jomala, e.g. on Norrgård farm in Björsby.[7]

Culture

Since Jomala belongs to the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland, Midsummer is celebrated every year by hoisting up a maypole. It was a tribute to the sun in the ancient times. Harvest festivities are held every September.

Geography

Jomala is bordered by Lemland in the southwest, Mariehamn in the south, Hammarland in the northwest, Finström in the north and Sund in the northeast.

Villages

These are Andersböle, Björsby, Buskböle, Dalkarby, Djurvik, Gottby, Gölby, Hammarudda, Hinderböle, Ingby, Jomalaby, Karrböle, Kila, Kungsöby, Möckelby, Möckelö, Norrsunda, Rasmansböle, Ringsböle, Sviby, Södersunda, Torp, Ulvsby, Vargsunda, Västansunda, Västerkalmare, Ytterby, Ytternäs, Ödanböle, Önningeby, Österkalmare and Överby.

People from Jomala

  • Janne Holmén, long-distance runner, European champion in men's marathon

Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Immigration record high in Finland in 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Churches in Åland".
  7. ^ Kjell Ekström: Åland - skärgård i Östersjön, p. 46. Mariehamn 2006

External links

Media related to Jomala at Wikimedia Commons

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