Närpes
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Town | |
Närpes stad Närpiön kaupunki | |
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Coordinates: 62°28′N 021°20′E / 62.467°N 21.333°E | |
Country | Finland |
Region | Ostrobothnia |
Sub-region | Sydösterbotten sub-region |
Charter | 1867 |
City rights | 1993 |
Government | |
• City manager | Hans-Erik Lindqvist |
Area (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 2,334.14 km2 (901.22 sq mi) |
• Land | 977.82 km2 (377.54 sq mi) |
• Water | 1,357 km2 (524 sq mi) |
• Rank | 80th largest in Finland |
Population (2023-09-30)[2] | |
• Total | 9,587 |
• Rank | 102nd largest in Finland |
• Density | 9.8/km2 (25/sq mi) |
Population by native language | |
• Swedish | 75.3% (official) |
• Finnish | 5.2% |
• Others | 19.5% |
Population by age | |
• 0 to 14 | 15.8% |
• 15 to 64 | 55.5% |
• 65 or older | 28.7% |
Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
Website | www.narpes.fi |
Närpes (Finland Swedish: [ˈnærpːes]; Finnish: Närpiö [ˈnærpiø]) is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in Western Finland and is part of the Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of 9,587 (30 September 2023)[2] and covers an area of 2,334.14 square kilometres (901.22 sq mi) of which 1,357 km2 (524 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 9.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (25/sq mi). Economically, the municipality is known for extensive greenhouse farming of tomatoes and manufacture of trailers for trucks.
Närpes has been a bilingual municipality since 2016. Before that, Närpes was the last unilingually Swedish-speaking municipality in continental Finland.[5] Most locals speak a divergent variety of Ostrobothnian Swedish. The bands who sing in that dialect include 1G3B and Nektor.
The most significant main roads in Närpes are Highway 8 between Turku and Vaasa, and Highway 67 between Kaskinen and Seinäjoki.
History
Närpes has a history that can be dated back to 1331, when Klas Bengtsson in "Nærpes" pawned goods to bishop Bengt in Turku.[6]
In 1348 king Magnus IV of Sweden declared "all who live in Nerpis socken, Mustasaari socken and Pedersöre socken" the right to buy and sell "all eatables".[7] Thus creating the first official marketplaces in Ostrobothnia.
Demographics
Närpes has attracted many immigrants, and has also welcomed refugees.[8]
Largest immigrant groups:[9]
- Vietnam (403)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (388)
- Sweden (254)
- Yugoslavia (254)
- Thailand (58)
- Russia (54)
- Ukraine (51)
- Estonia (42)
- Croatia (32)
- Lithuania (30)
- United States (28)
- Ecuador (25)
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Närpes is twinned with:
- Akranes, Iceland
- Bamble, Norway
- Tønder, Denmark
- Västervik Municipality, Sweden
See also
References
- 1 2 "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- 1 2 "Preliminary population statistics 2023, September". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ↑ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Kunnan kaksikielisyys vaatii aikaa, työtä ja kompromisseja Yle.fi 25 April 2016, accessed 25 April 2016
- ↑ "DF 386".
- ↑ "Kumo 13.2.1348". Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.
- ↑ "Närpiö Becomes Magnet for Immigrants".
- ↑ "PX-Web - Valitse muuttuja ja arvot". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
External links
Media related to Närpes at Wikimedia Commons
- Town of Närpes – Official website
- Närpes travel guide from Wikivoyage