Oulainen | |
Official Name: | Finnish: Oulaisten kaupunki Swedish: Oulainens stad |
Settlement Type: | Town |
Motto: | Syntyy ja tapahtuu. |
Coordinates: | 64.2667°N 73°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Finland |
Subdivision Type1: | Region |
Subdivision Name1: | North Ostrobothnia |
Subdivision Type2: | Sub-region |
Subdivision Name2: | Ylivieska |
Leader Title: | Town manager |
Leader Name: | Riikka Moilanen |
Established Title: | Charter |
Established Date: | 1865 |
Established Title2: | City rights |
Established Date2: | 1977 |
Timezone: | EET |
Utc Offset: | +02:00 |
Timezone Dst: | EEST |
Utc Offset Dst: | +03:00 |
Oulainen (Swedish: Oulainen, also Swedish: Oulais) is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, south of the city of Oulu. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of NaNOulainen}} ofwhich NaNOulainen}}is water. The population density isNaNOulainen. Oulainen is founded in 1865, and it received township rights in 1977.
The municipality is unilingually Finnish. The municipality has previously also been known as "Swedish: Oulais" in Swedish documents, but is today referred to as "Oulainen" also in Swedish.[1]
Neighbouring municipalities are Alavieska, Haapavesi, Merijärvi, Pyhäjoki, Raahe and Ylivieska. In addition to the town center, the municipality includes the villages of Kilpua, Lehtopää, Matkaniva, Petäjäskoski, Piipsjärvi and Honkaranta.
Oulainen was first mentioned in 1572 as Oulahais and as a part of the Pyhäjoki parish. A farm named Oulahainen was established earlier. The name comes from a dialectal word oulu meaning "flooding waters" (see also Oulu) and seems to suggest a Tavastian origin. Alpo Räisänen suggests that the name could be of Savonian or Karelian origin.
Oulainen became a chapel community in 1682, a parish in 1870, a kauppala in 1967 and a town in 1977.[2]
Notable annual events include the National Veteran Machines Fair (Finnish: Waltakunnalliset Weteraanikonepäivät)[3] and Oulainen Music Weeks (Finnish: Oulaisten Musiikkiviikot). Oulainen Music Weeks were organized for the twentieth time in 2006. The Oulainen Youth Choir (Finnish: Oulaisten Nuorisokuoro) has received international acclaim.