Finland Historical Geography: Difference between revisions
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Latest revision as of 19:48, 11 August 2025
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In other languages: The borders of Finland have changed several times, beginning in 1323 with the Treaty of Nöteborg between Sweden and the Novgorod Republic, through 1947 after the end of WWII between Russia and Finland. Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs has published Tracing Finland's Eastern Border which illustrates the many changes to the border with Russia.
There are two very good articles on Wikipedia discussing the cession of Karelia to Russia.
The National Land Survey of Finland has published a brief recounting the documenting of the boundary demarcation on the border between Finland and Russia which took place on 19 June 2017.
Grenser i Sameland is a history of the borders of Lappland in Norway, Finland, and Sweden and the changes that occurred from 1751 to 1944. It is written in Norwegian. A copy is available at the FamilySearch Library, FS Catalog book 948 E3g and other libraries (WorldCat).
Historical Provinces[edit | edit source]
The nine historical provinces of Finland served as administrative entities until 1634 when they were replaced by "castle counties" (fiefs). These provinces should not be confused with the country's first-level administrative jurisdictions, the counties.[1] These provinces retain significant cultural value and traditional value.[2]
| Province | Finnish | Swedish |
|---|---|---|
| Finland Proper | Varsinais-Suomi | Egentliga Finland |
| Karelia | Karjala | Karelen |
| Laponia | Lappi | Lappland |
| Ostrobothnia | Pohjanmaa | Österbotten |
| Satakunta | Satakunta | Satakunda |
| Savonia | Savo | Savolax |
| Tavastia | Häme | Tavastland |
| Uusimaa | Uusimaa | Nyland |
| Åland | Ahvenanmaa | Åland |
|
|
Counties and Regions[edit | edit source]
See Finland Counties for additional information.
Castle Counties[edit | edit source]
These nine fiefs (Finnish: Linnalääni, Swedish: Slottslän) were used as administrative regions from 1595 to 1634.[3][4] In 1634 they were reorganized and replaced with counties (lääni / län).
| Finnish | Swedish | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Hämeenlinnan | Tavastehus | Häme |
| Kastelholman | Kastelhom | Ahvenanmaa (Åland) |
| Kokemäenkartanon | Kumogård | Satakunta |
| Korsholman | Korsholm | Ostrobothnia |
| Porvoon | Borgå | Eastern Uusimaa |
| Raaseporin | Raseborg | Western Uusimaa |
| Savonlinnan | Nyslott | Savo |
| Turun | Åbo | Finland Proper |
| Viipurin | Viborg | Karelia |
Counties 1634-1945[edit | edit source]
Additional maps showing the changes in county boundaries can be found at Suomen läänit (in Finnish).
1634 Counties
1809 Counties
1938 Counties
1945 Counties
Counties 1997-2009[edit | edit source]
In 1997 the country was reorganized into six counties. This lasted until 2009 when all counties were abolished. In their place, regional administrative agencies and business, transport and environment centers were established.[5]
| Finnish | Swedish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ahvenanmaan lääni | Ålands län | Åland County |
| Etelä-Suomen lääni | Södra Finlands län | Southern Finland County |
| Itä-Suomen lääni | Östra Finlands län) | Eastern Finland County |
| Lapin lääni | Lapplands län | Lapland County |
| Länsi-Suomen lääni | Västra Finlands län | Western Finland County |
| Oulun lääni | Uleåborgs län | Oulu County |
Regions[edit | edit source]
The 19 regions of Finland
Ceded Areas[edit | edit source]
At the conclusion of the Winter War (1939-1940), Finland ceded some of its territory to the Soviet Union as part of the Moscow Peace Treaty, 12 March 1940. These areas included parts of Viipuri and Kuopio counties (Karelia) and Oulu and Lappi counties (Lappi). The following was originally published by the National Archives of Finland.[6]
Karelia[edit | edit source]
The following rural communities, towns, and cities were located in the area of Karelia:
- Antrea
- Harlu
- Heinjoki
- Hiitola
- Impilahti
- Jaakkima
- Johannes
- Kanneljärvi
- Kaukola
- Kirvu
- Kivennapa
- Koivisto
- Koiviston maalaiskunna
- Kuolemajärvi
- Kurkijoki
- Käkisalmi maalaiskunna
- Käkisalmi
- Lahdenpohja
- Lavansaari
- Lumivaara
- Metsäpirtti
- Muolaa
- Pyhäjärvi
- Rautu
- Ruskeala (Kuopio)
- Räisälä
- Sakkola
- Salmi
- Seiskari
- Soanlahti
- Sortavala
- Sortavalan maalaiskunna
- Suistamo
- Suojärvi
- Suursaari
- Terijoki
- Uusikirkko
- Valkjärvi
- Viipuri
- Viipuri maalaiskunna
- Vuoksela
- Vuoksenranta
- Äyräpää
These five municipalities lost part of their territory, with parts left to Finland adjacent to the neighboring municipalities and the municipalities were abolished.
- Jääski
- Pälkjärvi (Kuopio)
- Vahviala
- Korpiselkä
- Säkkijärvi
16 municipalities had to surrender part of their territory but remained to continue their activities and retained their names.
- Ilomantsi
- Joutseno
- Kitee (Kuopio)
- Lappee
- Nuijamaa
- Parikkala
- Rautjärvi
- Ruokolahti
- Saari
- Simpele
- Tohmajärvi
- Uukuniemi
- Vehkalahti
- Virolahti
- Värtsilä (Kuopio)
- Ylämaa
Lappi[edit | edit source]
The municipality of Petsamo was abolished. Salla and Kuusamo gave up part of their territory, but remained as independent municipalities to continue their activities and kept their names.
Congregations[edit | edit source]
Evangelican Lutheran and Orthodox congregations operated in Petsamo. Records of the Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox congregations were transferred to the National Archives facility in Mikkeli.
Evangelical Lutheran congregations of Karelia[edit | edit source]
- Antrea
- Harlu
- Heinjoki
- Hiitola
- Ihantala
- Ilmee
- Impilahti
- Jaakkima
- Johannes
- Jääski
- Kanneljärvi
- Kaukola
- Kirvu
- Kivennapa
- Koivisto
- Korpiselkä
- Kuolemajärvi
- Kurkijoki
- Käkisalmi city parish (kaupunkiseurakunta)
- Käkisalmi rural parish (maaseurakunta)
- Lavansaari
- Lumivaara
- Metsäpirtti
- Muolaa
- Pyhäjärvi
- Pälkjärvi
- Rautu
- Ruskeala
- Räisälä
- Sakkola
- Salmi
- Seiskari
- Soanlahti
- Sortavala city parish (kaupunkiseurakunta)
- Sortavala rural parish (maaseurakunta)
- Suojärvi
- Suursaari
- Säkkijärvi
- Terijoki
- Tytärsaari
- Uusikirkko
- Vahviala
- Valkjärvi
- Viipuri rural parish (maaseurakunta)
- Viipuri Swedish parish (ruotsalainen seurakunta)
- Viipuri Cathedral (tuomiokirkkoseurakunta)
- Vuoksela
- Vuoksenranta
- Äyräpää
- Ingria refugee congregation
Orthodox parishes of Karelia[edit | edit source]
- Annantehdas
- Kellomäki
- Kitelä
- Korpiselkä
- Kuokkala
- Kyyrölä
- Käkisalmi
- Mantsinsaari
- Palkeala
- Pitkäranta
- Raivola
- Salmi
- Sortavala
- Suistamo
- Suojärvi
- Terijoki
- Tiurula
- Uusikirkko
- Viipuri
- Viipuri Finnish Orthodox congregation (suomalainen ortodoksinen seurakunta)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Wikipedia (Finnish). Suomen historialliset maakunnat. Accessed 3 February 2023.
- ↑ Wikipedia. Historical provinces of Finland. Accessed 6 April 2023.
- ↑ "Slottslän", Wikipedia. Accessed 8 September 2022.
- ↑ "Linnalääni", Wikipedia. Accessed 9 September 2022.
- ↑ Wikipedia (Finnish). Suomen läänit. Accessed 12 September 2023.
- ↑ Kansallisarkisto. Luovutettu alue : Maalaiskunnat, kauppalat ja kaupungit (Surrendered territory : Rural municipalities, towns and cities). Accessed 15 August 2020. Archived at Internet Archive, Wayback Machine. 1 August 2016.