Kalmar, city, southern Sweden, capital of Kalmar County, opposite Öland Island on Kalmarsund (a sound on the Baltic Sea). Dairying, sheep raising, and stone quarrying are the important occupations of the county. In the city are shipyards and match factories. Parts of the fortress of Kalmarnahus, built on an island in the harbor, date from the 12th century. In 1397 the Union of Kalmar agreement, uniting Sweden, Norway, and Denmark under the Danish crown, was signed here. Population (1994) 56,863.
