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 | |
![]() 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
Places adjacent to Närpes | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities of Ostrobothnia | ||
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Municipalities | ![]() | |
Former municipalities | ||
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