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Vormsi

Native name: Ormsö
The lighthouse in Saxby, Vormsi (2013)
VormsiLocation in the Baltic Sea regionShow map of ScandinaviaVormsiLocation in EuropeShow map of EuropeVormsiLocation within EstoniaShow map of Estonia
Geography
Location	Baltic Sea
Coordinates	59°00′N 23°13′E / 59.000°N 23.217°E / 59.000; 23.217
Archipelago	West Estonian archipelago
Area	93 km (36 sq mi)
Administration
Estonia
County	Lääne County
Demographics
Population	415 (15 October 2011)
Pop. density	4.5/km (11.7/sq mi)

Vormsi (Swedish: Ormsö) is the fourth-largest island of Estonia, measuring 92 square kilometres (36 square miles) and a registered population of around 400. It is located in the Baltic Sea, northwest of the mainland and east of Hiiumaa island, and is part of the West Estonian archipelago (Moonsund archipelago).

Administratively the island forms the main part of the Vormsi vald (rural municipality).

History

The documented history of Vormsi dates back as far as the 13th century. During most of this time, the island was inhabited by Estonian Swedes ("rannarootslased" in Estonian or "coastal Swedes" in English). Ormsö in Swedish means "Orm's island", and can be translated also as "Snake island". The Estonian name Vormsi and German Worms have both been derived from Ormsö.

The island's population reached 3,000 before World War II. During the war, nearly all of Vormsi's population, along with other Swedes living in Estonia, forming the larger region of Aiboland, were evacuated, or fled, to Sweden.

Villages

The villages on the island include: Hullo (the administrative centre), Sviby (the main port), Söderby, Norrby, Diby, Rälby, Förby, Borrby, Kärrslätt, Saxby, Suuremõisa (Magnushof, formerly Busby), Rumpo (the main beach area) and Hosby.

Vormsi is the per capita wealthiest island and region in Estonia outside of the Tallinn metro area, with incomes on the same level as inner Tallinn. This is attributed to the fact that many comparatively wealthy people own summer homes on the island and are registered as residents, so their yearly income tax is forwarded to the island's budget.

Vormsi has only small businesses with no significant industrial activity. The island earns the majority of its revenues from the taxation on the salaries earned by its residents on the Estonian mainland.

The island of Vormsi has homeowners from several countries and regions in Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland and elsewhere.

Literature

• Kanarbik, Madis, Ormsö. De estlandssvenska böndernas kamp mot godsägarna under 1700- och 1800-talet (Tartu, 2003)
• Beyer, Jürgen, 'Whom should one thank for a narrow escape? Lessons drawn from a perilous journey from Vormsi and Noarootsi to Finland in 1796', Pro Ethnologia 17 (2004), 175-95

Gallery

• Vormsi harbour (2015)
• Paddock, Rälby
• Old windmill, Rälby
• Woodsman's cottage, Hullo
• Beach area in Rumpo
• Viewing platform in Rumpo peninsula, looking towards Sviby harbor
• Vormsi cemetery
• Aurora borealis in Saxby
• Windmills in Hullo, 1930s
• Aerial photo of the Borrby village, 1934
• Swedish communist daily Ny Dag headline on 5 September 1940: "The Swedes on Vormsi greet Stalin and the new regime"
• Fleeing the Soviet occupation to Sweden, 1944
• Road signs in Hullo
• The 15th century Swedish (now Lutheran) church in Hullo (2011)
• Round crosses in the Vormsi cemetery
• A Nordic cross flag used in Vormsi
• Vormsi is connected with the mainland by MS Ormsö (:et)

References

1. "Vormsi". ttykk.edu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
2. "Ajalugu". talumuuseum.vormsi.ee. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
3. "Vormsi vald pealinnaga ühel pulgal". Äripäev. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2023.

External links

• Vormsi vald (Vormsi municipality)

v t e Islands of Estonia
Gulf of Finland	Aegna Aksi Allu Hara Keri Koipsi Kräsuli Kumbli Liivakari Mohni Munasaar Naissaar Osmussaar Pakri Islands Suur-Pakri Väike-Pakri Pedassaar Prangli Rammu Rohusi Tiirloo Uhtju islands Ulkkari Umblu Vaindloo
West Estonian archipelago and the Väinameri Sea	Islands adjacent to the mainland Esirahu Hanemaa Härjamaa Hobulaid Kajakarahu Kakrarahu Kitselaid Kumari Liia Mustarahu Öörahu Paljarahu Pasilaid Rukkirahu Seasaar Siimurahu Sipelgarahu Suurrahu Sõmeri Tagarahu Tauksi Tondirahu Väike Siimurahu Valgerahu Vormsi Hiiumaa group Eerikulaid Elmrahu Harilaid Härjakare Hellamaa rahu Hiiumaa Hõralaid Kadakalaid Kakralaid Kassari Külalaid Liivanuka ots Ninalaid Reigilaid Ristlaid Rohurahu Ruserahu Taguküla laid Urverahu Uuemaarahu Uuemererahu Vareslaid Vissulaid Vohilaid Hiiumaa Islets Ahelaid Aherahu Ankrurahu Auklaid Hanerahu Hanikatsi laid Hülgerahu Kaevatsi Käkirahu Kõrgelaid Kõverlaid Langekare Luigerahu Öakse Pihlakare Saarnaki laid Sitakare Vareslaid Varesrahu Saaremaa-Muhu group Abruka Allirahu Anekäbrud Antsulaiud Anulaid Hülgelaid Innarahu Juksirahu Käkimaa Kasselaid Kesselaid Koerakuiv Kõinastu Kriimi laid Kullikare Kunnatilaid Kurgurahu Laasirahu Laidu Läkumätas Leemetikare Liisi Linnusitamaa Lombimaa Loonalaid Maturahu Mihklirahu Mõndelaid Muhu Munaderahu Nabralaid Naistekivi maa Noogimaa Nootamaa Nosurahu Oitma Ojurahu Ooslamaa Paelaid Pakulaid Papilaid Papirahu Pihlalaid Pikknasv Pitkasääremaa Põdvalaid Põiksäär Pühadekare Puningalaid Püskumadal Rannasitik Riinurahu Rooglaid Rusulaid Saaremaa Salavamaa Sepasitik Siiasaar Sokulaid Suuregi laid Suurepoldi Suurlaid Täkulaid Täkunasv Tarja Telve Tõõdilaid Udrikulaid Umalakotid Uus-Nootamaa Vahase Vahelmisrahu Vaika islands Mustpank Väike-Tulpe Vasikalaid Vesiloo Vesitükimaa Viirelaid Vilsandi Võilaid Võrgukare Võrkrahu
Gulf of Riga	Adralaid Ahessäär Ahtra Annilaid Imutlaid Kihnu Kõrksaar Küllisäär Manilaid Oosäär Orikalaid Piiukaarelaid Pöörilaid Ruhnu Sangelaid Selglaid Sillalaid Sorgu Uulutilaid
Lakes and rivers	Kreenholm (Narva River) Piirissaar (Lake Peipus) Tondisaar (Lake Võrtsjärv)
Former islands	Harilaid Mardirahu Kopli Noarootsi Paljassaar Suur Paljassaar Väike Paljassaar Puhtu Sõrve
Bold marks currently populated islands.

• Estonian islands in the Baltic
• Landforms of Lääne County
• Vormsi Parish