Martinlaakso Mårtensdal | |
|---|---|
City District | |
 Office buildings in Martinlaakso | |
 Location on the map of Vantaa, with the district in red and theMyyrmäki major region in light brown | |
| Coordinates:60°17′00″N24°51′00″E / 60.28333°N 24.85000°E /60.28333; 24.85000 | |
| Country |  Finland |
| City |  Vantaa |
| Major region | Myyrmäki |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.7 km2 (1.4 sq mi) |
| Population (1.1.2014)[1] | |
• Total | 11,811 |
| • Density | 3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT +2 |
| Postal Code(s) | 01620 |
| Website | www |
Martinlaakso (Swedish:Mårtensdal) is adistrict inVantaa,Finland. Located in theMyyrmäki major region, it is the second most populous district in all of Vantaa, after Myyrmäki itself. In 2014, Martinlaakso had a population of 11,811, narrowly beating outHakunila.
Martinlaakso has two railway stations,Martinlaakso railway station andVantaankoski railway station, as well as a medical center, several shopping areas, and a comprehensive school (lower level [6 years] and upper level [three years]) and an upper secondary school. It is the birthplace of formerFormula One driversMika Häkkinen andMika Salo. Former Formula One starKimi Räikkönen also spent a part of his childhood in Martinlaakso.
Martinlaakso was the home for Martinkeskus, which was the largestshopping center in theNordic countries at the time of its completion in 1960s.[2] Another shopping center in the area is Martinlaakson Ostari, which was completed in 2011.
Martinlaakso is situated on the grounds of the former town of Martinkylä, which had existed with a stable population since the 16th century. The name, which was originally only theSwedishMårtensby, derives from the name Mårten (Martti), who was likely a notable inhabitant or founder of the town. Settlements in the nearbyEspoo andSipoo also shared the nameMårtensby, so to avoid confusion, the Vantaa settlement was renamedMårtensdal (Martinlaakso), and the Espoo settlement was renamedMårtensbro (Martinsilta). The settlement in Sipoo retained its name.[3]
In 1975, the extension of theHelsinki commuter rail to western Vantaa was completed, and with it, theMartinlaakso railway station opened. In 1991, theVantaankoski railway station was also opened in the district, making Martinlaakso the only district inGreater Helsinki with two railway stations. Starting July 2015, theRing Rail Line runs through Martinlaakso. It connects the district toHelsinki Airport andTikkurila. There is also a high school in Martinlaakso, named Martinlaakson lukio. The school hosts about 450 students in total and has a focus on the natural sciences and geography, as well as drama and theater.
The area around the Vantaankoski railway station acts asbusiness park land, with several companies' headquarters situated there. These include thePöyry consultation firm and theMurata Electronics (formerly VTI Technologies)microelectromechanical engineering firm.
Also in the area is theoffset printing plant Sanomala, which prints the largestsubscriptionnewspaper in theNordic countries,Helsingin Sanomat, as well as Finland's most popularSwedish language newspaper,Hufvudstadsbladet.
Martinlaakso has ashopping center, Martinlaakson Ostari.
TwoFormula One drivers,Mika Häkkinen andMika Salo, were born in Martinlaakso. In addition, current Formula One starKimi Räikkönen spent a part of his childhood in the district. Other notable people from Martinlaakso includeVicky Rosti,Jorma Hynninen, and theschlager singerAnnikki Tähti.
