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Kalajoki

Kalajoki
Town
Kalajoen kaupunki
Sandy beaches of Kalajoki
Sandy beaches of Kalajoki
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 / 64.267°N 23.950°E / 64.267; 23.950Coordinates: 64°16′N 023°57′E / 64.267°N 23.950°E / 64.267; 23.950
Country  Finland
Region Northern Ostrobothnia
Sub-region Ylivieska sub-region
Charter 1865
Town privileges 2002
Government
 • Town manager Jukka Puoskari
Area (2016-01-01)
 • Total 922.46 km2 (356.16 sq mi)
 • Land 922.16 km2 (356.05 sq mi)
 • Water 1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi)
Area rank 84th largest in Finland
Population (2016-03-31)
 • Total 12,567
 • Rank 82nd largest in Finland
 • Density 13.63/km2 (35.3/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish 98.8% (official)
 • Swedish 0.2%
 • Others 1%
Population by age
 • 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 19%
Website www.kalajoki.fi

Kalajoki is a town and municipality of Finland.

It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of 12,567 (31 March 2016) and covers an area of 922.46 square kilometres (356.16 sq mi) of which 1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi) is water. The population density is 13.63 inhabitants per square kilometre (35.3/sq mi).

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

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.

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.


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