Gamleby is the second largest locality situated in Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 2,775 inhabitants in 2010. It is situated about 20 km north-west of Västervik, in the area known as Tjust. Gamleby was the original location of the town Västervik, first mentioned in 1275. In 1433 Västervik moved to its present place, but a small settlement remained here. The bandy and football clubTjust IF has its home in Gamleby.
History
The name Gamleby means "the old town" and refers to the fact that the town is located in the place where Västervik's city was originally located, until 1433. The name Västervik was mentioned in 1275. The place had the north-eastern Småland's leading port, until the move of the city when Västervik was considered to have a better placed harbor than this town which is located at the end of Gamlebyviken about 25 km to the northwest. The place was named after the move in 1433 Gamla Västervik, later Gamleby and is written 1456 Gamblaby. Entire Gamleby is located on land that originally belonged to Åby Manor. This farm, which refers to the oldest settlement, was originally called Gammelgård and was a royal farm. The town did not begin to grow until the 19th century when the railway was pulled through society and contributed to the emergence of industries and workshops and as a central town for the surrounding countryside in Tjust. In 1963, Svenska Färgfabriken opened a color factory in the community which became one of society's largest employers until it closed in 2016. Gamleby Folkhögskola was established in the late 1800s in Åby Manor. Thereafter, the town had a growth period that lasted until around 1975, when a population peak was reached at about 3,700 inhabitants. Other industries have also been central to the development of the resort, eg. a garden owned by the wholesaler Henrik Cornelius and a quarry that lay along the Marstrandsberget, on the other side Gamlebyviken seen from the shopping. The garden, which during its heyday was the village's largest workplace, burned down in a big fire in 1920. However, the rest of Old Town could be saved miraculously.
Society
Gamleby Torg, below Garpedansberget, is one of Scandinavia's few triangular squares. A few hundred meters west of Gamleby's old town center is Gamleby shopping center, inaugurated in 1972. Examples of shops in Gamleby Shopping Center are ICA, electricity store, clothing store, pizzeria, pharmacy, kiosk, Systembolaget and restaurant. Bank and ATM are also available. In the southern outskirts of the community, Hammarsbadet is about 25 minutes walk from Gamleby shopping center which is child-friendly with docks and jumping tower of five and ten meters, beach volleyball, playground and a barbecue area. There is also a mini golf course, kiosk with snack bar and restaurant.
