List of cities and towns in Finland

The following is a 'list of towns in Finland'. In the year 1977 the juridical difference between cities, towns and municipalities were removed. Today only municipalities are recognized, some of which are commonly referred to as towns (kaupunki in Finnish, 'stad' in Swedish). Municipality can decide themself, whether it uses municipality or city / town designation. To date, many decide to use the latter, even though often the places do not even meet the definition of city, made by EU, which is minimum population of 50 000, and minimum population density of 500 inhabitants per square kilometer. Also, even the centre or conurbation of the "city" itself may not be so urban itself. A simple, independent decision in the municipal council is required to change the name of a rural "municipality" (kunta) into a "city" (kaupunki). For towns founded before the 1960s the list includes the year the town was chartered.

A lot of municipal mergers have been made in Finland (and more is yet to come, due a countrywide municipal reform), which also makes it difficult to define "city", because in merger, while population increases a bit, population density decreases. For example, according to the EU definition, Tampere is no longer a city, due completed municipality mergers with Messukylä, Aitolahti and Teisko, decreasing its official population density to 410,5 inhabitants per square kilometer, dated in 1. July 2012. In Finland, the whole municipality area along its borders is officially considered the city or town area. From there on, villages, possible conurbation areas, and administrative center area (which consists the city center and districts of the city) are distinguished quite accurately in official concepts.

The names used in this encyclopedia are usually the Finnish or Swedish forms, depending on the majority language of the municipality, which is common practice where there is no independent English name.

Towns (founded)

Map of Finland
Helsinki, Capital of Finland
Espoo
Tampere
Vantaa
Finnish Name Swedish Name District Year of foundation Population[1]
Akaa Ackas 2007 17028
Alajärvi 1986 10196
Alavus Alavo 1977 12103
Espoo Esbo 1972 265201
Forssa 1964 17564
Haapajärvi Aspsjö 1977 7502
Haapavesi 1996 7185
Hämeenlinna Tavastehus 1639 68006
Hamina Fredrikshamn 1653 21069
Hanko Hangö 1874 9038
Harjavalta 1977 7369
Haukipudas 1866 [1]
Heinola 1839 19737
Helsinki Helsingfors 1550 621863
Huittinen Vittis 1977 10491
Hyvinkää Hyvinge 1960 46382
Iisalmi Idensalmi 1891 22132
Ikaalinen Ikalis 1977 7309
Imatra 1971 28057
Pietarsaari Jakobstad 1652 19603
Joensuu 1848 75086
Juankoski Strömsdal 1998 4908
Jyväskylä 1837 135762
Jämsä 1977 21881
Järvenpää Träskända 1967 40346
Kaarina Sankt Karins 1993 32099
Kajaani Kajana 1651 37836
Kalajoki 1865 12609
Kankaanpää 1972 11895
Kannus 1986 5638
Karkkila Högfors 1977 8981
Kaskinen Kaskö 1785 1329
Kauhajoki 2001 14032
Kauhava 1986 16955
Kauniainen Grankulla 1972 9274
Kemi 1869 21971
Kemijärvi Kemiträsk 1973 7889
Kerava Kervo 1970 35304
Keuruu Keuru 1986 10200
Kitee Kides 1992 11033
Kiuruvesi 1993 8769
Kokemäki Kumo 1977 7710
Kokkola Karleby 1620 47274
Kotka 1878 54624
Kouvola 1960 86548
Kristiinankaupunki Kristinestad 1649 6854
Kuhmo 1986 8944
Kuopio 1775 107624
Kurikka 1977 14187
Kuusamo 2000 15810
Lahti Lahtis 1905 103806
Laitila Letala 1986 8551
Lappeenranta Villmanstrand 1649 72904
Lapua Lappo 1977 14725
Lieksa 1973 12122
Lohja Lojo 1969 47630
Loimaa 1969 16641
Loviisa Lovisa 1745 15466
Mänttä-Vilppula Mänttä-Filpula 2009 10738
Maarianhamina Mariehamn 1861 11489
Mikkeli Sankt Michel 1838 54643
Naantali Nådendal 1443 18884
Närpiö Närpes 1993 9385
Nilsiä 1998 [1]
Nivala 1992 10950
Nokia 1977 32822
Nurmes 1974 8085
Uusikaarlepyy Nykarleby 1620 7537
Orimattila 1992 16275
Orivesi 1986 9602
Oulainen Oulais 1977 7718
Oulu Uleåborg 1605 196260
Outokumpu 1977 7193
Paimio Pemar 1997 10624
Parainen Pargas 1977 15461
Parkano 1977 6789
Pieksämäki 1962 19098
Pori Björneborg 1558 83510
Porvoo Borgå 1346 49720
Pudasjärvi 2004 8406
Pyhäjärvi 1993 5569
Raahe Brahestad 1649 25398
Raasepori Raseborg 2009 28761
Rauma Raumo 1442 40019
Raisio Reso 1974 24380
Riihimäki 1960 29381
Rovaniemi 1960 61572
Saarijärvi 1986 10093
Salo 1960 54266
Sastamala 2009 25373
Savonlinna Nyslott 1639 36004
Seinäjoki Östermyra 1960 60908
Siuntio Sjundeå 1382 6197
Somero 1993 9174
Suonenjoki 1977 7433
Tampere Tammerfors 1779 223035
Tornio Torneå 1621 22334
Turku Åbo 1200–1300 184123
Ulvila Ulvsby 1365 to 1558, later 2000 13350
Uusikaupunki Nystad 1617 15568
Vaasa Vasa 1606 67034
Valkeakoski 1963 21125
Vantaa Vanda 1974 210543
Varkaus 1962 21876
Viitasaari 1996 6797
Virrat Virdois 1977 7169
Ylivieska 1971 14953
Ylöjärvi 2004 32182
Äänekoski 1973 19899
Ähtäri Etseri 1986 6185

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "VÄESTÖTIETOJÄRJESTELMÄ REKISTERITILANNE 30.11.2014" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Register Center of Finland. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

External links

Media related to Cities in Finland at Wikimedia Commons