Jakobstad (Swedish: [ˈjɑːkopˌstɑːd]; Finnish: Pietarsaari) is a town and municipality in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The town has a population of 19,096 (31 December 2021)[2] and covers a land area of 88.31 km2 (34.10 sq mi).[1] The population density is 216.24/km2 (560.1/sq mi). Neighboring municipalities are Larsmo, Pedersöre, and Nykarleby. The city of Vaasa is located 98 km (61 mi) southwest of Jakobstad.
Jakobstad
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Town | |
City of Jakobstad Staden Jakobstad Pietarsaaren kaupunki | |
![]() The old Town Hall | |
![]() Flag ![]() Coat of arms | |
![]() Location of Jakobstad in Finland | |
Coordinates: 63°40′N 022°42′E | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | Ostrobothnia |
Sub-region | Jakobstad sub-region |
Charter | 1652 |
Government | |
• City manager | Kristina Stenman |
Area (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 396.35 km2 (153.03 sq mi) |
• Land | 88.31 km2 (34.10 sq mi) |
• Water | 307.94 km2 (118.90 sq mi) |
• Rank | 302nd largest in Finland |
Population (2021-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 19,096 |
• Rank | 61st largest in Finland |
• Density | 216.24/km2 (560.1/sq mi) |
Population by native language | |
• Swedish | 56.4% (official) |
• Finnish | 40.2% |
• Others | 3.4% |
Population by age | |
• 0 to 14 | 15.5% |
• 15 to 64 | 58.2% |
• 65 or older | 26.3% |
Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
Municipal tax rate[5] | 21.25% |
Website | www.jakobstad.fi |
The Swedish name literally means Jacob's City or Jacob's Town, in reference to Jacob De la Gardie. The town was founded at the old harbour of the parish Pedersöre and this name lives on in the Finnish name of the municipality, Pietarsaari, literally Peter's Island.
The town was founded in 1652 by Ebba Brahe, the widow of the military commander Jacob De la Gardie, and was granted city privileges by Queen Christina of Sweden. The town was founded at the old harbour of the parish Pedersöre. Pedersöre remains an independent municipality neighbouring Jakobstad.
The city grew slowly at first, with the authorities scarcely promoting any growth. In 1680 the inhabitants were ordered to relocate to the cities of Karleby (Kokkola), Uleåborg (Oulu) and Nykarleby, but the order was rescinded. Wars also contributed to the slow growth, and the city was invaded by Russian troops twice during the Greater Wrath, and large parts of the town were burnt to the ground. A majority of the inhabitants fled the city. While those with means moved across the sea to the Swedish side, others took shelter in the forest or in the archipelago. Many were captured or killed. During the 1720s, some of the previous inhabitants returned, while newcomers also added to the population. The subsequent decades were finally marked by a period of growth, and the current church was built in 1731.
The economic foundation was laid in the mid 18th century, with tar manufacturing and tobacco packaging at its centre. Trade started to develop rapidly in Jakobstad as of 1765, when the cities along the Finnish shore of the Gulf of Bothnia were granted privileges by the Swedish crown to trade directly with foreign countries. This also led to shipbuilding becoming a major activity in Jakobstad. The first ships to sail with goods to foreign countries were the galeas Jacobstads Wapen and the brig Enigheten. Trade and shipbuilding made Jakobstad a wealthy city, and a notable businessman of that time was the merchant and shipbuilder Adolf Lindskog, who also became one of the richest men in Finland.
The early 19th century was a time of upheaval, which saw the 1808–1809 war between Sweden and Russia, as well as a devastating fire in 1835 that destroyed approximately half of the city. Despite this, the economic progress continued, and a brewery, a matchstick factory and several banks were founded after 1850. In 1859, the merchant and shipowner Peter Malm started a steam powered sawmill, which was only the second such installation in Finland. The Crimean War was a major setback to shipping industry, as the British navy puts up an effective blockade and the shipping fleet in Jakobstad during the Åland War was reduced from 26 ships to 9.
Notable businessmen in the 19th century were Otto Malm and Wilhelm Schauman, the latter founding a chicory (coffee substitute) factory in Jakobstad in 1883. This moment in time is usually considered as the start of industrialization in Jakobstad. In 1900, the Strengberg tobacco factory was the largest employer in Jakobstad.
An artillery school was located in Jakobstad during the Finnish civil war. During World War II, the city was bombed once by Soviet bomber planes, causing a few casualties. Up until the 1960s, the town was overwhelmingly Swedish speaking, but as a consequence of industrial expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, the need for additional work force caused a large influx of Finnish speakers. The town remains bilingual with 56% being Swedish and 40% Finnish speakers.
During the second half of the 19th century, the city changed from a city of shipping to an industrial city. From 1850 to 1900, the population increased from about 1,500 to over 6,000 inhabitants. The existing factories developed rapidly and new factories were established. Production in the factories was still small-scale. The city produced everything from beer and spirits to soaps and matches. The Finnish-speaking population in the city increased sharply when the tobacco factory expanded and was in great need of labor.
Results of the 2017 Finnish municipal election in Jakobstad:
Party | Seats |
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Swedish People's Party | 19 |
Social Democratic Party | 10 |
Left Alliance | 5 |
Christian Democrats | 4 |
Pro Pietarsaari-Jakobstad | 3 |
Green League | 1 |
Centre Party | 1 |
On July Jakobsdagar is one of the main summer events which attracts almost every resident in Jakobstad and it is also the best time to see the local population at once. the event goes whole week.
At the end of November a chamber music festival called Rusk is held annually in Pietarsaari/Jakobstad. At the heart of this festival embracing superb chamber music and various other genres of the arts is the Schauman Hall in the centre of town, but the events also spread out into the surrounding urban environment.
In the 1980s, a rural liverwurst was named traditional food of Jakobstad.[7] The culture of cafés and restaurants is lively in Jakobstad anyway, as the Strengberg tobacco factory was the first Finnish industrial plant to offer lunch to its employees.[8] Jakobstad has ethnic restaurants, home-cooked lunch restaurants, à la carte restaurants and cafés, pubs and nightclubs.[9]
The town's football team FF Jaro currently plays in Ykkönen, the second league in Finland. The woman's league football club FC United has been very successful over the years.
Jakobstad is twinned with:[10][11]
Municipalities of Ostrobothnia | ||
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Former municipalities | ||
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