Stockholm is the capital city and seaport of Sweden, on the Eastern coast of the country, where Lake Mälaren enters the Baltic Sea.

It is also the capital of Stockholm County.

Stockholm is situated on about 20 islands and the adjacent mainland, connected by a series of bridges, and is the largest city and the chief commercial, manufacturing, financial, transportation, and cultural center of Sweden.

Major manufactures include printed materials, electrical equipment, processed food, machinery, metal products, paper, chemicals, textiles, and clothing.

Government operations, tourism, and shipbuilding also are important to the city’s economic base.

Although the area had long been inhabited, Stockholm was not established until the mid-13th century. This settlement developed as a trading center after commercial ties were established with cities that were members of the Hanseatic League (a commercial federation of European cities), particularly Lübeck.

In 1520, the coronation of Christian II, king of Denmark and Norway, as king of Sweden took place here. To strengthen his position in Sweden, Christian had a number of Swedish noblemen killed during what has been called the Stockholm Massacre.

Three years later, Danish rule was overthrown, and Gustav I Vasa became king of Sweden, with Stockholm as the center of his kingdom.

The city became a noted cultural center in the 17th century, and its main growth as an industrial community began about 1850.

The 1912 Olympic Games were held in Stockholm.