Copenhagen << `koh` puhn HAY guhn or `koh` puhn HAH guhn >> is the capital and largest city of Denmark. The municipality of Copenhagen has a population of 659,350. A municipality may include rural areas as well as the urban center. Copenhagen’s name in Danish is København. The city is Denmark’s major port and chief cultural, economic, and political center. About a fifth of Denmark’s people live in the Copenhagen area. Some parts of the city lie on the east coast of the island of Sjælland. Other sections are on Amager, an island just east of Sjælland. Many bridges link the two islands. 
The city.
Town Hall Square lies in the heart of Copenhagen. The city’s main streets and highways extend outward from the square, and a number of bus and train routes run through the area. Many office buildings and hotels are near the square, as is the famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park. Tivoli Gardens offers various forms of entertainment, including ballet performances and concerts.
A street called Strøget connects Town Hall Square and the King’s New Market, another major square. Strøget, which is closed to motor traffic, has department stores, sidewalk cafes, and small shops. East of Town Hall Square is Christiansborg Palace, which houses Denmark’s Parliament and Supreme Court.
A statue called The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in Copenhagen’s harbor. The statue represents a character from a fairy tale by the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. The leading museums include the National Museum of Denmark, the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, and the Thorvaldsens Museum. Copenhagen is the home of the Royal Danish Ballet. The University of Copenhagen, Denmark’s oldest university, was founded in 1479. Other attractions include Amalienborg Palace and the Stock Exchange.
Economy.
Copenhagen is the commercial center of Denmark. Service industries, especially business, financial, and health services, contribute to the city’s economy. Government services employ many people in Copenhagen, the seat of Denmark’s national government. Trade is also important to the city’s economy.
Buses and commuter trains provide most public transportation in Copenhagen. Many people ride bicycles, and most of the major streets have special bicycle paths. An international airport lies near the city.
History.
In the mid-1000’s, Copenhagen was a small fishing village. It became a trade center because of its harbor and continued to develop. It received a charter as a town in 1254 and grew increasingly important economically during the next few centuries. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in 1443. 
During various periods from about 1250 to 1810, fires and wars destroyed much of Copenhagen, and epidemics killed many of the city’s people. Copenhagen recovered each time, however, and continued to grow as an economic, military, and political center.
Copenhagen expanded to the north and west in the 1850’s. During the late 1800’s, the city experienced rapid economic growth and began to industrialize. In 1894, the city established a free port, which is a port that does not charge customs duties on goods that pass through. German troops occupied Copenhagen from 1940 to 1945, during World War II, but the city suffered little damage.
