Jomala

Jomala kommun
Coat of Arms Location
Province	Åland
Region	Åland
Sub-region	countryside
Area - Of which land - Rank	143.01 km² 141.99 km² ranked 379th
Population - Density - Change - Rank	3,664 (2006) 25.8 inh./km² + 1.4% ranked 262nd (2005)
Urbanisation	36.9%
Unemployment	1.5%
Official languages	Swedish
Municipal manager	Harry Jansson
Home page	http://www.jomala.ax/

Jomala is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland.

The municipality has a population of 3,508 (2004) and covers an area of 143.01 km² of which 1.02 km² is water. The population density is 24.7 inhabitants per km².

The municipality is unilingually Swedish.

The only airport in Åland is located in Jomala.

History

It is not known where the name Jomala comes from but it has been suggested that "jom" comes from the name of the Viking god Jom and "ala" means "place". Therefore Jomala would mean "the place where Jom is worshiped".

Jomala was inhabited around 4000 years ago 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 in 1991

The church of Jomala is dedicated to the patron saint of Åland, St. Olav. It is the oldest stone church in Åland and it is situated in the village of Prästgården. The oldest parts of the church date from the 12th century. The church tower is 52 meters tall and there is also a memorial for all the Ålanders who have moved away. The "King of Åland" Julius Sundblom is buried here. In the old times there was a great estate on the eastern side of the church.

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

Welcome to Jomala! The coat of arms of Jomala features St. Olav sitting on a throne and holding an axe and a globus cruciger

The Kungsö battery was one of the ten coastal batteries which the Russians built in Åland during the 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.

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

Villages

The Jomala Rectory as seen by Lake Dalkarby in 1991. The rectory was built in 1848 and an Art Nouveau veranda was added in the beginning of the 20th century

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, Västerkalmar, Ytterby, Ytternäs, Ödanböle, Önningeby, Österkalmar, Överby.

People from Jomala

• Janne Holmén, long distance runner

External links

• Official website of Jomala
• Map of Jomala municipality

	Municipalities of Åland
	Brändö | Eckerö | Finström | Föglö | Geta | Hammarland | Jomala | Kumlinge | Kökar | Lemland | Lumparland | Mariehamn | Saltvik | Sottunga | Sund | Vårdö
	Åland | Finland

Coordinates: 60°09′10″N, 19°56′55″E

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia