Finland Provinces

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Finland Provinces

The term provinces (maakunta) in Finland can refer to either the historical provinces (historialliset maakunnat) or administrative divisions (läänit) of Finland, as well as modern regions (maakunnat). Historical provinces were defined by the region administered by the castle counties (linnalääni, Swedish: slottslän). Provincial names were used in the county name until King Gustav III's county reform of 1776.

Castle Counties (Linnalääni, Slottslän)

These nine administrative regions were used from 1595 to 1634. In 1634 they were reorganized and replaced with counties (lääni / län).

Finnish	Swedish
Hämeenlinnan	Tavastehus
Kastelholman	Kastelhom
Kokemäenkartanon	Kumogård
Korsholman	Korsholm
Porvoon	Borgå
Raaseporin	Raseborg
Savonlinnan	Nyslott
Turun	Åbo
Viipurin	Viborg

Historical Provinces

Since 1634 the historical provinces have no administrative significance, but remain a traditional part of Finland.

English	Finnish	Swedish
Åland	Ahvenanmaa	Åland
Tavastia	Häme	Tavastland
Karelia	Karjala	Karelen
Laponia	Lappi	Lappland
Ostrobothnia	Pohjanmaa	Österbotten
Satakuna	Satakunta	Satakunda
Savonia	Savo	Savolax
Uusimaa	Uusimaa	Nyland
Finland Proper	Varsinais-Suomi	Egentliga Finland

Modern provinces with administrative functions began to be formed in the 1920s. These were based on economic influences causing municipalities to join together creating an provincial union (Finnish: maakunnan liitto, Swedish: landskapsförbund). In 1994 legislative reform was introduced to expand this to the entire country.