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 9,570 (31 December 2021)[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 9.79 inhabitants per square kilometre (25.4/sq mi). Economically, the municipality is known for extensive greenhouse farming of tomatoes and manufacture of trailers for trucks.
Närpes
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Town | |
| Närpes stad Närpiön kaupunki | |
Närpes Church | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Närpes in Finland | |
| Coordinates: 62°28′N 021°20′E | |
| Country | |
| 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 | 977.15 km2 (377.28 sq mi) |
| • Water | 1,357 km2 (524 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 80th largest in Finland |
| Population (2021-12-31)[2] | |
| • Total | 9,570 |
| • Rank | 102nd largest in Finland |
| • Density | 9.79/km2 (25.4/sq mi) |
| Population by native language | |
| • Swedish | 88.4% (official) |
| • Finnish | 5.8% |
| • Others | 5.8% |
| 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) |
| Municipal tax rate[5] | 21% |
| Website | www.narpes.fi |
Närpes has been a bilingual municipality since 2016. Before that, Närpes was the last unilingually Swedish-speaking municipality in continental Finland.[6] 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.
Närpes has a history that can be dated back to 1331, when Klas Bengtsson in "Nærpes" pawned goods to bishop Bengt in Turku.[7]
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".[8] Thus creating the first official marketplaces in Ostrobothnia.

Närpes has attracted many immigrants, and has also welcomed refugees.[9]
Largest immigrant groups:[10]
Närpes is twinned with:
Media related to Närpes at Wikimedia Commons
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Municipalities of Ostrobothnia | ||
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| Municipalities | ||
| Former municipalities | ||
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