# Kalajoki > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kalajoki > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kalajoki.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalajoki > Source revision: 1346738582 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article is about the town in Finland. For the river, see [Kalajoki River](/source/Kalajoki_River). You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Finnish. (June 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. 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Town in North Ostrobothnia, Finland Kalajoki Town Kalajoen kaupunki Kalajoki stad Kalajoki Town Hall Coat of arms Location of Kalajoki in Finland Interactive map of Kalajoki Coordinates: 64°16′N 023°57′E / 64.267°N 23.950°E / 64.267; 23.950 Country Finland Region North Ostrobothnia Sub-region Ylivieska Charter 1865 Town privileges 2002 Government • Town manager Jukka Puoskari Area (2018-01-01)[1] • Total 2,391.30 km2 (923.29 sq mi) • Land 924.1 km2 (356.8 sq mi) • Water 1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi) • Rank 84th largest in Finland Population (2025-12-31)[2] • Total 12,155 • Rank 84th largest in Finland • Density 13.15/km2 (34.1/sq mi) Population by native language [2] • Finnish 95.9% (official) • Swedish 0.4% • Others 3.7% Population by age [3] • 0 to 14 18.1% • 15 to 64 55.7% • 65 or older 26.2% Time zone UTC+02:00 (EET) • Summer (DST) UTC+03:00 (EEST) Website www.kalajoki.fi **Kalajoki** (Finnish pronunciation: [\[ˈkɑlɑˌjoki\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Finnish); literally translated the "fish river") is a coastal [town](/source/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Finland) and [municipality](/source/Municipalities_of_Finland) of [Finland](/source/Finland). It is located in the immediate vicinity of the [Gulf of Bothnia](/source/Gulf_of_Bothnia) in the [province](/source/Provinces_of_Finland) of [Oulu](/source/Oulu_(province)) and is part of the [Northern Ostrobothnia](/source/Northern_Ostrobothnia) [region](/source/Regions_of_Finland). The town has a population of 12,155 (31 December 2025)[2] and covers an area of 2,391.30 square kilometres (923.29 sq mi) of which 1,469.15 km2 (567.24 sq mi) is water.[1] The [population density](/source/Population_density) is 13.15 inhabitants per square kilometre (34.1/sq mi). The municipality is unilingually [Finnish](/source/Finnish_language). ## History The first reference to Kalajoki can be found from the beginning of 16th century and it got the status of a parish in 1525, it was designated as a regional parish in 1545. This status ended with the abolishment of the parish form of organization in the early 1860s. Kalajoki was a significant market place and controlled the whole region's [tar](/source/Tar) trading. By the end of 19th century the meaning of tar was diminishing as a good and the importance of Kalajoki was reduced thereafter.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The tar trade was a derivative of the [forestry industry](/source/Forest_industry_in_Finland), and Kalajoki has long been the location of forestry activities.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] There are still sawmills in operation in the city today. In addition to tar trading, Kalajoki has long been a [farming](/source/Farming) community, producing a variety of agricultural products, including wheat and rye. There are many farms still operating in the city, and there is a weekly market during the spring and summer months where local farmers and merchants sell their products.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Government There were many attempts to reorganize Kalajoki as a city, which would confer additional authorities on the municipality. The first attempt was in 1865, and there were several subsequent attempts throughout the 20th century. Kalajoki was finally reorganized as a city in 2002. Just like any [municipality](/source/Municipality) in [Finland](/source/Finland), the city of Kalajoki is composed of several sub-units, called a [kylä](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyl%C3%A4&action=edit&redlink=1). The following compose the city of Kalajoki: Vasankari, Plassi, Mehtäkylä, Pohjankylä, Pitkäsenkylä, Etelänkylä, Kääntä, Tynkä, Rahja, Kurikkala, Kärkinen, Typpö, [Rautio](/source/Rautio). Every four years, the voters of Kalajoki elect a city council of 35 members which meets monthly. The Council then elects a governing council of nine members that meets more regularly to transact the business of the city. As of the most recent municipal election in 2004, 19 members of the city council are from the Centre Party, 6 are from the local Pro Kalajoki Party, 4 are from the centre-right National Coalition Party, 3 are from the Left Alliance, 2 are from the centre-left Social Democratic Party, and one member is from the Christian Democrats Party. The next municipal elections will be held throughout Finland in 2012. The municipality of [Rautio](/source/Rautio) was consolidated with Kalajoki in 1973. The neighboring municipality of [Himanka](/source/Himanka) was consolidated with Kalajoki on January 1, 2010.[5] ## Tourism Sandy beaches of Kalajoki Kalajoki is a well known tourist attraction place in Finland due to long [sandy beaches](/source/Sand_beach) at shores of the [Bothnian Bay](/source/Bothnian_Bay), and related activities.[6][7][8] ## People born in Kalajoki This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) - [Kalle Myllylä](/source/Kalle_Myllyl%C3%A4) (1844 – 1923) - [Tuomas Pohjanpalo](/source/Tuomas_Pohjanpalo) (1861 – 1933) - [Leonard Typpö](/source/Leonard_Typp%C3%B6) (1868 – 1922; born in [Rautio](/source/Rautio)) - [Sakari Ainali](/source/Sakari_Ainali) (1874 – 1938; born in [Himanka](/source/Himanka)) - [Wäinö Palmqvist](/source/W%C3%A4in%C3%B6_Palmqvist) (1882 — 1964) - [Vilho Kivioja](/source/Vilho_Kivioja) (1896 – 1977) - [Elias Simojoki](/source/Elias_Simojoki) (1899 – 1940; born in Rautio) - [Kauko Tuupainen](/source/Kauko_Tuupainen) (1940 – ) - [Antti Haapakoski](/source/Antti_Haapakoski) (1971 – ) - [Rainer Nygård](/source/Rainer_Nyg%C3%A5rd) (1972 – ) - [Jussi Jokinen](/source/Jussi_Jokinen) (1983 – ) - [Juho Jokinen](/source/Juho_Jokinen) (1986 – ) - [Benedek Oláh](/source/Benedek_Ol%C3%A1h) table tennis player (1992 – ) - [Jaakko Rahja](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jaakko_Rahja&action=edit&redlink=1) [[fi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaakko_Rahja)] (1872 – 1926) ## International relations See also: [List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland](/source/List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Finland) ### Twin towns — Sister cities Kalajoki is [twinned](/source/Twin_towns_and_sister_cities) with: - [Izumo, Shimane](/source/Izumo%2C_Shimane), Japan (2003) - Taki, Japan - [Vansbro](/source/Vansbro), Sweden[9][*[circular reference](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Wikipedia_and_sources_that_mirror_or_use_it)*] ## See also - [Kallankari Islands](/source/Kallankari_Islands) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-total_area_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-total_area_1-1) ["Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018"](https://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/sites/maanmittauslaitos.fi/files/attachments/2018/01/Suomen_pa_2018_kunta_maakunta.pdf) (PDF). *National Land Survey of Finland*. Retrieved 30 January 2018. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-population_count_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-population_count_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-population_count_2-2) ["Population growth slowed down in 2025"](https://stat.fi/en/publication/cmg6f46k91y0e07w0qtdt6yl7). Population structure. Statistics Finland. 1 April 2026. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2243-3627](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2243-3627). Retrieved 6 April 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-demography_3-0)** ["Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020"](https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rf.px/). *StatFin*. [Statistics Finland](/source/Statistics_Finland). Retrieved 2 May 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tax_rate_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tax_rate_4-1) ["Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023"](https://www.vero.fi/syventavat-vero-ohjeet/paatokset/47465/kuntien-ja-seurakuntien-tuloveroprosentit-vuonna-2023/). Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-kaleva20080429_5-0)** Uusitalo, Heikki (29 April 2008). ["Kalajoki ja Himanka virallistivat liittonsa"](http://www.kaleva.fi/plus/juttu726019_page0.htm). *Kaleva.plus* (in Finnish). Kaleva Kustannus Oy. STT. Retrieved 13 March 2009.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Camp at the sand dunes.](https://kalajokicamping.fi/en) – Kalajoki Camping (in English) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Accommodation services of Hiekkasärkät: Cottage or holiday apartment](https://www.hiekkasarkat.com/in-english) (in English) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Experience the best events in Kalajoki](https://visitkalajoki.fi/en/events/) – Visit Kalajoki (in English) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [List of twin towns and sister cities in Sweden](/source/List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Sweden) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kalajoki](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kalajoki). - [Kalajoki](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kalajoki#Q939758) travel guide from Wikivoyage - [Town of Kalajoki](https://www.kalajoki.fi/) – Official website - [Kalajoki Tourism Information](https://visitkalajoki.fi/en/) Places adjacent to Kalajoki Pyhäjoki Merijärvi Bothnian Bay Kalajoki Alavieska Ylivieska Kokkola (Central Ostrobothnia) Kannus (Central Ostrobothnia) Sievi v t e North Ostrobothnia Municipalities Alavieska Haapajärvi Haapavesi Hailuoto Ii Kalajoki Kempele Kuusamo Kärsämäki Liminka Lumijoki Merijärvi Muhos Nivala Oulainen Oulu Pudasjärvi Pyhäjoki Pyhäjärvi Pyhäntä Raahe Reisjärvi Sievi Siikajoki Siikalatva Taivalkoski Tyrnävä Utajärvi Vaala Ylivieska Former Haukipudas Himanka Kestilä Kiiminki Kuivaniemi Oulujoki Oulunsalo Paavola Pattijoki Piippola Pulkkila Rantsila Rautio Revonlahti Ruukki Saloinen Temmes Vihanti Yli-Ii Ylikiiminki Authority control databases International ISNI 2 VIAF 2 GND FAST National United States Israel Finland 2 Geographic MusicBrainz area --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kalajoki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalajoki) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalajoki?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.