A Swedish ruler named Birger Jarl is said to have founded Stockholm in about 1250. The city grew into an important center of international trade.
For many years Denmark and Sweden fought for control of Stockholm. In 1523 Gustav Vasa captured the city for Sweden. Stockholm became the official capital of Sweden in 1634.
The city developed rapidly in the mid-1600s as Sweden temporarily became a great power. In the late 1600s and early 1700s, fires destroyed large parts of the city, and stone and brick buildings were constructed to replace the old wooden ones. A disease called the plague was also a problem, and many people died during the epidemic of 1711. However, by the middle of the 1700s, Stockholm had become the cultural center of Sweden. Many of its literary societies and scientific academies date from this time.
A new period of development began in Stockholm in the 1800s. During this time, buildings, streets, parks, schools, museums, libraries, and hospitals were built. In the 1900s, improvements to the city continued. City Hall was built, as well as an underground subway. At the beginning of the 21st century, Stockholm created a series of tunnels under the city to help with its traffic problems. Population (2013 estimate), 881,235.
