Östhammar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Östhammar

Östhammar center

Coat of arms

Östhammar

Location in Uppsala

Östhammar

Location in Sweden

Östhammar Municipality

Area

• Total

3.76 km² (1.45 sq mi)

Population

(31 December 2020)

• Total

4,976

• Density

1,323.4/km² (3,428/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Östhammar is a small town in Sweden. It is the main town of Östhammar Municipality in Uppsala County. About 4,976 people lived there in 2020.

Östhammar is located in Uppsala County today. However, in the past, this area was part of Stockholm County.

History of Östhammar
Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

History of Östhammar

Early Beginnings and City Status

Östhammar became a city in 1368. This special status was given by King Albert. Being a city meant it had certain rights and importance.

Around this time, a castle called Östhammarshus was built. Castles were important for defense and control.

Challenges and Changes

In 1434, the castle was burned down. A Danish official, who was in charge of the castle, set it on fire. He then escaped to Denmark by sea. This happened during the Engelbrekt rebellion, a big uprising against the government.

By the late 1400s, it became hard for boats to reach Östhammar. This was because the land was slowly rising out of the sea. This natural process is called post-glacial rebound. Because of this, Östhammar's city status was moved to a nearby town called Öregrund.

Regaining City Status and Growth

Östhammar got its city status back in 1538. The town also moved closer to the sea to make it easier for boats to dock.

In 1651, Östhammar built its own town hall. This building was important for local government. In 1795, a large fire caused a lot of damage to Östhammar.

For many years, from the early 1600s to the mid-1800s, fishing was very important. Catching herring was a big part of Östhammar's economy.