Pargas

Last updated
Pargas
Pargas – Parainen
Town
Pargas stad
Paraisten kaupunki
Parainen kirkonkyla.JPG
The city centre of Pargas
Nagu.vapen.Nauvo.vaakuna.svg
Coat of arms
Parainen sijainti Suomi.svg
Location of Pargas in Finland
Coordinates: 60°18′N022°18′E / 60.300°N 22.300°E / 60.300; 22.300
CountryFlag of Finland.svg  Finland
Region Southwest Finland
Sub-region Åboland–Turunmaa sub-region
Charter 2009
Seat Pargas
Government
 •  Town manager Patrik Nygrén
Area
 (2018-01-01) [1]
 • Total5,548.17 km2 (2,142.16 sq mi)
 • Land883.98 km2 (341.31 sq mi)
 • Water4,666.46 km2 (1,801.73 sq mi)
 • Rank 88th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-12-31) [2]
 • Total14,993
 • Rank 76th largest in Finland
 • Density16.96/km2 (43.9/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 •  Swedish 54.6% (official)
 •  Finnish 41.5%
 • Others3.9%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1415.1%
 • 15 to 6456.7%
 • 65 or older28.1%
Time zone UTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website www.pargas.fi

Pargas (Finnish : Parainen) is a town and municipality of Finland, in the Archipelago Sea, the biggest archipelago in the world by the number of islands, 50,000. The big limestone mine in Pargas is the base of the main industry and except for the central parts, the municipality is still mostly rural.

Contents

Pargas is located in Åboland in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southwest Finland region. It was created as Väståboland on 1 January 2009 in Southwest Finland, when the municipalities of Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär and Iniö were merged into a single municipality.

The municipality has a population of 14,993 (31 December 2023) [2] and covers an area of 5,548.17 square kilometres (2,142.16 sq mi) of which 4,666.46 km2 (1,801.73 sq mi) is water. [1] The population density is 16.96 inhabitants per square kilometre (43.9/sq mi).

Pargas is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages. The population consists of

Economy

Pargas has a large limestone industry, with the industry and Nordkalk as an important local employer, agriculture employs many in the rural regions of the municipality. Furthermore, the shipping industry is a relevant industry in the region. [5] The municipality is suffering from high debt. [6]

History

Archaeological excavations revealed that the vikings used to travel to the archipelago in the 9th century. [5]

Karin Thomasdotter (1610–1697), who served as vogt in Pargas for over forty years, was one of the longest serving vogts, and also one of only two females to have the position in contemporary Finland. [7] [8]

Recent history

On 1 January 2009, Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär and Iniö merged to form the new municipality of Väståboland (Finnish : Länsi-Turunmaa). [5]

Name dispute

Shortly after the merge, people started debating if the Väståboland name was the right name for the merged municipality; those arguing against the Väståboland name proposed Pargas as a 'new' name. The former municipalities could not agree on a new name, and Pargas insisted on a change, so the state had to step in and decided that the name would be Väståboland. [9] The debates became heated and a referendum was arranged to decide what name the municipality should have in May 2011. [10] The result of the referendum showed that 57,7% of the voters supported Pargas and 40.1% of voters supported Väståboland. Though the overall majority supported changing the name, there was an overwhelming support for the name Väståboland in 4 out of 5 of the former municipalities. In Iniö, only 1 voter out of 173 total voted for Pargas, in all four, 62 out of 2060, while in Pargas proper, 74,5% voted for Pargas. [11]

The municipality council (Swedish : "Fullmäktige") decided on 14 June 2011 in favour of the majority population and decided to rename the municipality Pargas on 1 January 2012. [12] The Council considered taking this issue up again for debate and vote. [13] The council made a re-vote on 6 September 2011 with 25 votes for Pargas, 17 for Väståboland and 1 blank vote. [14]

Merge with Kimitoön

The possibility of merging with Kimitoön to form a single municipality that would include the entire Åboland archipelago has been discussed since 2007, with interest being reignited by the healthcare reforms during the Sipilä Cabinet. [15]

Climate

Pargas has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) closely bordering on a oceanic climate (Cfb).

Climate data for Pargas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)7.7
(45.9)		6.7
(44.1)		11.6
(52.9)		15.9
(60.6)		21.5
(70.7)		25.9
(78.6)		29.2
(84.6)		27.1
(80.8)		22.3
(72.1)		17.0
(62.6)		12.8
(55.0)		9.2
(48.6)		29.2
(84.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)1.4
(34.5)		0.2
(32.4)		1.8
(35.2)		5.6
(42.1)		10.7
(51.3)		15.6
(60.1)		19.8
(67.6)		19.6
(67.3)		15.3
(59.5)		9.9
(49.8)		5.9
(42.6)		3.5
(38.3)		9.1
(48.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)−0.2
(31.6)		−1.4
(29.5)		0.1
(32.2)		3.5
(38.3)		8.3
(46.9)		13.4
(56.1)		17.6
(63.7)		17.7
(63.9)		13.6
(56.5)		8.5
(47.3)		4.6
(40.3)		2.0
(35.6)		7.3
(45.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−1.8
(28.8)		−3.0
(26.6)		−1.6
(29.1)		1.4
(34.5)		5.8
(42.4)		11.1
(52.0)		15.4
(59.7)		15.7
(60.3)		11.9
(53.4)		7.0
(44.6)		3.2
(37.8)		0.5
(32.9)		5.5
(41.8)
Record low °C (°F)−27.6
(−17.7)		−28.0
(−18.4)		−21.2
(−6.2)		−11.4
(11.5)		−1.2
(29.8)		0.8
(33.4)		7.0
(44.6)		7.4
(45.3)		0.6
(33.1)		−4.5
(23.9)		−9.9
(14.2)		−22.4
(−8.3)		−28.0
(−18.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)44
(1.7)		34
(1.3)		32
(1.3)		24
(0.9)		28
(1.1)		42
(1.7)		47
(1.9)		57
(2.2)		57
(2.2)		66
(2.6)		62
(2.4)		57
(2.2)		551
(21.7)
Source: Extreme Weather Watch [16]
Climate data for Parainen Fagerholm (1991-2020 normals, records 1993-present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)8.5
(47.3)		8.9
(48.0)		11.6
(52.9)		20.1
(68.2)		25.8
(78.4)		28.2
(82.8)		31.7
(89.1)		30.5
(86.9)		24.6
(76.3)		17.0
(62.6)		14.1
(57.4)		9.7
(49.5)		31.7
(89.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)0.5
(32.9)		−0.7
(30.7)		1.8
(35.2)		6.7
(44.1)		12.3
(54.1)		17.0
(62.6)		20.5
(68.9)		19.8
(67.6)		15.3
(59.5)		9.7
(49.5)		5.5
(41.9)		2.7
(36.9)		9.3
(48.7)
Daily mean °C (°F)−1.3
(29.7)		−2.6
(27.3)		−0.6
(30.9)		3.5
(38.3)		9.1
(48.4)		14.0
(57.2)		17.8
(64.0)		17.4
(63.3)		13.2
(55.8)		8.0
(46.4)		4.0
(39.2)		1.2
(34.2)		7.0
(44.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−3.6
(25.5)		−5.2
(22.6)		−3.5
(25.7)		0.8
(33.4)		5.8
(42.4)		11.1
(52.0)		15.2
(59.4)		15.1
(59.2)		11.3
(52.3)		6.5
(43.7)		2.4
(36.3)		−0.7
(30.7)		4.6
(40.3)
Record low °C (°F)−26.8
(−16.2)		−25.7
(−14.3)		−20.8
(−5.4)		−11.3
(11.7)		−1.2
(29.8)		4.2
(39.6)		9.6
(49.3)		8.2
(46.8)		3.5
(38.3)		−4.0
(24.8)		−12.0
(10.4)		−20.3
(−4.5)		−26.8
(−16.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)56
(2.2)		39
(1.5)		36
(1.4)		30
(1.2)		29
(1.1)		46
(1.8)		52
(2.0)		62
(2.4)		59
(2.3)		72
(2.8)		70
(2.8)		67
(2.6)		617
(24.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)17131211910101313161819161
Source 1: https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi
Source 2: https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=100924

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Pargas is twinned with:

See also

Related Research Articles

Björkö may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Finland Province</span> Place in Finland

Western Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2009. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland. Tampere was the largest city of the province.

Turku and Pori Province was a province of independent Finland from 1917 to 1997. The province was however founded as a county in 1634 when today's Finland was an integrated part of Sweden. It is named after the cities of Turku and Pori.

The former Province of Western Finland in Finland was divided into seven regions, 34 districts and 192 municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipalities of Southwest Finland</span> They are five sub regions. The region of southwest Finland

The 27 municipalities of the region of Southwest Finland in Finland are divided into five sub-regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houtskär</span> Former municipality in Southwest Finland, Finland

Houtskär is an island group and former municipality of Finland. On 1 January 2009, it was consolidated with Iniö, Korpo, Nagu and Pargas to form the municipality of Pargas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iniö</span>

Iniö is a former municipality of Finland. On 1 January 2009, it was consolidated with Houtskär, Korpo, Nagu and Pargas to form the new town of Väståboland, which name from the beginning of 2012 was changed to Pargas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korpo</span> Former municipality in southern Finland, now part of Pargas

Korpo is an island located in the Turku archipelago. It is a former municipality of Finland. On 1 January 2009, it was consolidated with Houtskär, Iniö, Nagu and Pargas to form the new town of Väståboland. As of 1 January 2012, Väståboland was renamed Pargas, which is also the name of a town on one of the islands, which has proven somewhat confusing for tourists and visitors to the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagu</span> Former municipality in Southwest Finland, Finland

Nagu is a former municipality and parish of Finland. On 1 January 2009, it was consolidated with Houtskär, Iniö, Korpo and Pargas to form the new town of Väståboland. On 1 January 2012 the name Väståboland was changed to Pargas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pargas (former municipality)</span> Former town in Southwest Finland, Finland

Pargas is a former town and municipality in south-western Finland. On 1 January 2009, it was consolidated with Houtskär, Iniö, Korpo and Nagu to form the new municipality of Väståboland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archipelago Sea</span> Part of the Baltic Sea

The Archipelago Sea is a part of the Baltic Sea between the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the Sea of Åland, within Finnish territorial waters. By some definitions it contains the largest archipelago in the world by the number of islands, although many of the islands are very small and tightly clustered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Själö</span> Island in Nagu, Finland

Själö or Nagu Själö or Seili is a small island, off the main islands of Nagu, in the Archipelago Sea, off the south west coast of Finland. Själö is part of the municipality of Pargas. The island is known for its church and nature, a research institute and a former hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Åboland</span> Sub-region of Finland

Åboland is a sub-region in the archipelago of the Southwest Finland region in south-western Finland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaasa Arena</span> Arena in Vaasa, Finland

Vaasan Sähkö Areena is a multipurpose arena in Vaasa, Finland. It was previously called the Kuparisaaren jäähalli and locals often use the old name in conversation. The arena first opened in 1971 and has undergone renovation and expansion several times. It is located approximately three kilometres south-east of downtown Vaasa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archipelago National Park</span>

Archipelago National Park is a national park in Southwest Finland. It was established in 1983 and includes 500 km2 (190 sq mi) of land area. Most of the land is on islands smaller than 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi). The park encompasses about 2,000 of the 8,400 islets and skerries within the cooperative area. The larger islands are mainly owned by their inhabitants. Archipelago National Park is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserves and received a PAN Parks certificate in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luckan</span>

Luckan is a network of Finland-Swedish cultural centres in Finland. Currently, there are located in 11 cities and towns in Finland: Helsinki, Kirkkonummi, Kokkola, Kristinestad, Närpes, Porvoo, Karis in Raseborg, Tampere, Turku and Oulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omenainen</span> Uninhabited island in Finland

Omenainen is a state-owned uninhabited island in the municipality of Nagu, Finland, in the central Archipelago Sea. The size of the island is about seven hectares and its highest point is about 22 meters high. Trees grow there, and the beaches are rugged and inaccessible. The island belongs to the nationally valuable landscape area of Airisto–Seili, and the Natura 2000 area to the Själö archipelago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yngvar Heikel</span> Finnish ethnologist (1889–1956)

Yngvar Sigurd Heikel was a Finland-Swedish ethnologist.

Daniel Olin is a Finland Swedish journalist who has worked at the Finnish public broadcasting company Yle since 2005. Olin will be Svenska Yle's news correspondent in the US from the beginning of August 2022. He is known as the host presenter of the talk show tv-program Daniel Olin and as a studio host for the daily TV-program TV-Nytt.

References

  1. 1 2 "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Immigration record high in Finland in 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland . Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  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. 1 2 3 "Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Pargas". Helsinkitimes.fi. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ekonomin högst upp på den väståboländska agendan". Svenska.yle.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Suomen kansallisbiografia (National Biography of Finland)
  8. ↑ Ohlander, Ann-Sofie. Tusen svenska kvinnoår, 2008. Upplaga 3. uppl.
  9. ↑ "Det blev Väståboland stad". Hbl.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  10. ↑ Oy, Ch5 Finland. "Folkomröstning angående stadens namn". Vastaboland.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Oy, Ch5 Finland. "Rådgivande kommunal folkomröstning 22.5 - resultat". Vastaboland.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Väståboland blir Pargas". Hbl.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "Regeringen ändrar på förutsättningen för namnfrågan". Svenska.yle.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Oy, Ch5 Finland. "Fullmäktige beslöt om stadens namn". Vastaboland.fi. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ ""Åboländsk storkommun måste diskuteras"". Svenska.yle.fi. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  16. ↑ Parainen Weather Records [ better source needed ]

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Pargas at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.