Post code: SF-67100
Telephone code: 6
Kokkola, one of the oldest towns in Finland (founded 1620), was almost entirely Swedish- speaking, and was known only under the name of Gamlakarleby, until the 20th century. With the development of industry, however, the language boundary was obliterated and Finnish came increasingly
into use. Nowadays only about a fifth of the population are Swedish-speaking. Originally situated on the sea, the town is now 5km/3mi inland as a result of the rise in the level of the coast. The harbor is the deepest on the west coast of Finland. The nearby Seven Bridges Archipelago is a popular sight and the local specialty shops attract many visitors.
History
The town was founded by Per Brahe in 1620 at the behest of King Gustavus Adolphus. Its excellent situation from the point of view of communications led to the rapid growth of its commerce and shipping around 1800. Kokkola lost much of its merchant shipping fleet during the Crimean War (1854-56).