Kalajoki

Kalajoki (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkɑlɑˌjoki]; literally translated the "fish river") is a coastal town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Gulf of Bothnia in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region.

This article is about the town in Finland. For the river, see Kalajoki River.
Kalajoki
Town
Kalajoen kaupunki
Kalajoki stad
Kalajoki Town Hall
Kalajoki Town Hall
Coat of arms of Kalajoki
Coat of arms
Location of Kalajoki in Finland
Location of Kalajoki in Finland
Coordinates: 64°16′N 023°57′E
Country Finland
RegionNorth Ostrobothnia
Sub-regionYlivieska
Charter1865
Town privileges2002
Government
 • Town managerJukka Puoskari
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total2,391.30 km2 (923.29 sq mi)
 • Land922.16 km2 (356.05 sq mi)
 • Water1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi)
 • Rank84th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-10-26)[2]
 • Total12,344
 • Rank84th largest in Finland
 • Density13.39/km2 (34.7/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Finnish96.4% (official)
 • Swedish0.4%
 • Others3.1%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1418.1%
 • 15 to 6455.7%
 • 65 or older26.2%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.kalajoki.fi

The town has a population of 12,344 (26 October 2023)[2] and covers an area of 2,391.30 square kilometres (923.29 sq mi) of which 1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 13.39 inhabitants per square kilometre (34.7/sq mi).

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

History

The first reference to Kalajoki can be found from the beginning of 16th century and it got the status of a parish in 1525, it was designated as a regional parish in 1545. This status ended with the abolishment of the parish form of organization in the early 1860s. Kalajoki was a significant market place and controlled the whole region's tar trading. By the end of 19th century the meaning of tar was diminishing as a good and the importance of Kalajoki was reduced thereafter.

The tar trade was a derivative of the forestry industry, and Kalajoki has long been the location of forestry activities. There are still sawmills in operation in the city today.

In addition to tar trading, Kalajoki has long been a farming community, producing a variety of agricultural products, including wheat and rye. There are many farms still operating in the city, and there is a weekly market during the spring and summer months where local farmers and merchants sell their products.

Government

There were many attempts to reorganize Kalajoki as a city, which would confer additional authorities on the municipality. The first attempt was in 1865, and there were several subsequent attempts throughout the 20th century. Kalajoki was finally reorganized as a city in 2002.

Just like any municipality in Finland, the city of Kalajoki is composed of several sub-units, called a kylä. The following compose the city of Kalajoki: Vasankari, Plassi, Mehtäkylä, Pohjankylä, Pitkäsenkylä, Etelänkylä, Kääntä, Tynkä, Rahja, Kurikkala, Kärkinen, Typpö, Rautio.

Every four years, the voters of Kalajoki elect a city council of 35 members which meets monthly. The Council then elects a governing council of nine members that meets more regularly to transact the business of the city. As of the most recent municipal election in 2004, 19 members of the city council are from the Centre Party, 6 are from the local Pro Kalajoki Party, 4 are from the centre-right National Coalition Party, 3 are from the Left Alliance, 2 are from the centre-left Social Democratic Party, and one member is from the Christian Democrats Party.

The next municipal elections will be held throughout Finland in 2012.

The municipality of Rautio was consolidated with Kalajoki in 1973. The neighboring municipality of Himanka was consolidated with Kalajoki on January 1, 2010.[5]

Tourism
Sandy beaches of Kalajoki

Kalajoki is a well known tourist attraction place in Finland due to long sandy beaches at shores of the Bothnian Bay, and related activities.[6][7][8]

People born in Kalajoki

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kalajoki is twinned with:

See also

References
  1. "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Preliminary population statistics 2023, September". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. Uusitalo, Heikki (29 April 2008). "Kalajoki ja Himanka virallistivat liittonsa". Kaleva.plus (in Finnish). Kaleva Kustannus Oy. STT. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  6. Camp at the sand dunes. – Kalajoki Camping (in English)
  7. Accommodation services of Hiekkasärkät: Cottage or holiday apartment (in English)
  8. Experience the best events in Kalajoki – Visit Kalajoki (in English)
  9. List of twin towns and sister cities in Sweden
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