Kalajoki
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| Kalajoki | |||
| — Town — | |||
| Kalajoen kaupunki | |||
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| Coordinates: 64°16′N 023°57′E / 64.267°N 23.95°ECoordinates: 64°16′N 023°57′E / 64.267°N 23.95°E | |||
| Country |  Finland |
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| Province | Oulu Province | ||
| Region | Northern Ostrobothnia | ||
| Sub-region | Ylivieska sub-region | ||
| Charter | 1865 | ||
| Town privileges | 2002 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Town manager | Jukka Puoskari | ||
| Area (2009-01-01)[1] | |||
| - Total | 1,741.5 km2 (672.4 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 666.96 km2 (257.5 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 1,074.54 km2 (414.9 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2009-03-31)[2] | |||
| - Total | 9,489 | ||
| - Density | 14.23/km2 (36.9/sq mi) | ||
| Population by native language [3] | |||
| - Finnish | 98.8% (official) | ||
| - Swedish | 0.2% | ||
| - Others | 1% | ||
| Population by age [4] | |||
| - 0 to 14 | 19.7% | ||
| - 15 to 64 | 63.2% | ||
| - 65 or older | 17.1% | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Municipal tax rate[5] | 18.5% | ||
| Website | www.kalajoki.fi | ||
Kalajoki is a town and municipality and a river of Finland.
It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of 9,489 (31 March 2009)[2] and covers an area of 1,741.5 square kilometres (672.4 sq mi) of which 1,074.54 km2 (414.88 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 14.23 inhabitants per square kilometre (36.9 /sq mi).
The municipality is unilingually Finnish.
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[edit] 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 regions 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.
[edit] 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 2008.
The neighboring municipality of Himanka will be with Kalajoki on January 1, 2010.[6]
[edit] Tourism
Kalajoki is a well known tourist attraction place in Finland due to long sandy beaches (sea) and related activities.
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Area by municipality as of 1 January 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish) (PDF). Land Survey of Finland. http://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/Pintaalat_kunnittain_1.1.2009.pdf. Retrieved on 20 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Population by municipality as of 31 March 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Information System. Population Register Center of Finland. http://www.vrk.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/5D795199C7CAC193C22575A000324AE2/$file/20090331.htm. Retrieved on 28 April 2009.
- ^ "Population according to language and the number of foreigners and land area km2 by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=060_vaerak_tau_107_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+kielen+mukaan+sek%E4+ulkomaan+kansalaisten+m%E4%E4r%E4+ja+maa%2Dpinta%2Dala+alueittain++1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved on 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Population according to age and gender by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=050_vaerak_tau_104_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+i%E4n+%281%2Dv%2E%29+ja+sukupuolen+mukaan+alueittain+1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved on 28 April 2009.
- ^ "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2009". Tax Administration of Finland. 1 December 2008. http://www.vero.fi/nc/doc/download.asp?id=6425;167571. Retrieved on 8 March 2009.
- ^ Uusitalo, Heikki (29 April 2008). "Kalajoki ja Himanka virallistivat liittonsa" (in Finnish). Kaleva.plus. STT (Kaleva Kustannus Oy). http://www.kaleva.fi/plus/juttu726019_page0.htm. Retrieved on 13 March 2009.
[edit] External links
Media related to Kalajoki at Wikimedia Commons- Town of Kalajoki – Official website
- Kalajoki Tourism Information
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