The name Stockholm means Island at Stocksund. Stocksund is the old name for the body of water which connects Lake Mälar (Mälaren) with the Baltic Sea. The Stocksund is now called the Norrström (North Stream). It is not just one island involved in the site of Stockholm; there are 22 islands as well as the mainland. The original Old Town (Gamla Stan) consisted of three islands: Stadsholmen (the city island), Helgeandholmen (the island of the holy spirit) and Riddarholmen (the nobles' island).

The islands in Lake Maläre provided security for settlements as well as easy access by water for trade. There is evidence of the habitation of one island in Lake Maläre since the first centuries CE. The town of Birka Björkö was established cirka 800 CE. It ultimately developed into a trading center with links to eastern and western Europe and even the Byzantine Empire.

Timeline of the History of Stockholm

• c. 1250 CE: The founding of Stockholm by Earl Birger. A trade agreement was made with the German city of Lübeck.
• 1521: Rule of Sweden by the Vasa dynasty began.
• 1682: The town of Ladugård was incorporated into Stockholm. Kungsholmen (the King's island) was donated by the Queen for inclusion in Stockholm.
• 1634: Stockholm became an independent adminstrative unit to be governed by a lord mayor.
• 1636: A royal edict prohibited any town north of Stockholm from trading with traders from foreign countries.
• 1697: The Swedish monarchy's castle in Stockholm burned down.
• 1751: A devastating fire occurred in the Klara district of Stockholm.
• 1759: A devastating fire occurred in the Södermalm district of Stockholm.
• 1773: Again a devastating fire occurred in the Södermalm.
• c. 1800: An ironworks was created in Bergslagen and its products were shipped through Stockholm to markets in Europe.
• 1859: A program of citywide street cleaning was initiated for Stockholm.
• 1860: A railroad line connected Stockholm with the southern and western parts of Sweden.
• 1861: A program of citywide sanitation (sewers) was initiated for Stockholm.
• 1871: A central station was built connecting the railway lines of the north and south of Stockholm.
• 1911: The first major street connecting eastern and western Stockholm was excavated through the Brunkeberg ridge.
• 1923: The first highrise "skyscraper" was built in Stockholm.
• (To be continued.)