Vormsi Parish
Vormsi Parish (Estonian: Vormsi vald; Swedish: Ormsö kommun) is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Lääne County. It covers the area of Vormsi island. The population of Vormsi is 231 (as of 1 January 2013) and has an area of 92.93 km².
Settlements
There are 14 villages (küla) in Vormsi Parish: Borrby, Diby, Fällarna, Förby, Hosby, Hullo, Kersleti, Norrby, Rumpo, Rälby, Saxby, Sviby, Suuremõisa and Söderby.
History
The island of Vormsi rose from the sea at around 1000 B.C. Before World War II, Vormsi (Ormsö in Swedish) was mainly inhabited by coastal swedes, who formed the majority of the island's population of ~9000 people. Most of the swedes moved to Sweden before the Soviet Occupation of Estonia. After the independence of Estonia in 1992, Swedish families have started to return to the island and rebuild their former estates. Most of the swedes visit the island during the summer season.
Economy
Per capita income of Vormsi Parish is the third biggest in Estonia.
References
External links
Vormsi
Estonia's fourth largest island, Vormsi (German: Worms, Swedish: Ormsö), is located between Hiiumaa and the mainland with a total area of 92 square kilometers. It is part of Vormsi Parish, a rural municipality.
History
Vormsi's history as an inhabited island dates back as far as the 13th century. During most of its history, the island has been inhabited by Estonian Swedes ("rannarootslased" in Estonian or "coastal Swedes" in English), whose population reached 3,000 before World War II. During the war, nearly all of Vormsi's population, along with other Swedes living in Estonia, were evacuated, or fled, to Sweden. The island's current population is approximately 240 inhabitants.
The island's Estonian name Vormsi is derived from its German name Worms or its Swedish name Ormsö ("snake island"). Swedish influence can also be seen in other placenames, as in villages like Hullo (the administrative center), Sviby (the main port), Söderby, Norrby, Diby, Rälby, Förby, Borrby, Kärrslätt, Saxby, Busby, Suuremõisa (Magnushof) and Rumpo; and lakes like Prästvik.
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