Wikipedia

Provinces of Finland

Not to be confused with regions of Finland, historical provinces of Finland, or Regional State Administrative Agency.

Between 1634 and 2009, Finland was administered as several provinces (Finnish: Suomen läänit, Swedish: Finlands län). Finland had always been a unitary state: the provincial authorities were part of the central government's executive branch and apart from Åland, the provinces had little autonomy. There were never any elected provincial parliaments in continental Finland. The system was initially created in 1634. Its makeup was changed drastically on 1 September 1997,[1] when the number of the provinces was reduced from twelve to six. This effectively made them purely administrative units, as linguistic and cultural boundaries no longer followed the borders of the provinces. The provinces were eventually abolished at the end of 2009. Consequently, different ministries may subdivide their areal organization differently. Besides the former provinces, the municipalities of Finland form the fundamental subdivisions of the country. In current use are the regions of Finland, a smaller subdivision where some pre-1997 läänis are split into multiple regions. Åland retains its special autonomous status and its own regional parliament.

Duties

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Each province was led by a governor (Finnish maaherra, Swedish landshövding) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the cabinet. The governor was the head of the State Provincial Office (Finnish lääninhallitus, Swedish länsstyrelse), which acted as the joint regional authority for seven ministries in the following domains:

  • social services and health care
  • education and culture
  • police administration
  • rescue services
  • traffic administration
  • competition and consumer affairs
  • judicial administration

The official administrative subentities under the Provincial Office authorities were the Registry Offices (Finnish maistraatti, Swedish magistrat). Formerly there was also a division to state local districts (Finnish kihlakunta, Swedish härad), which were districts for police, prosecution, and bailiff services, but there was reorganization such that 24 police districts were founded. These usually encompass multiple municipalities.

Provinces governed only state offices, such as the police. Most services, such as healthcare and maintenance of local streets, were and remain today the responsibility of municipalities of Finland. Many municipalities are too small for a hospital and some other services, so they cooperate in municipality groups, e.g. health care districts, using borders that vary depending on the type of service. Often Swedish-language municipalities cooperate even if they do not share a border.

List of all provinces that ever existed

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In 1634, administratives provinces were formed in Sweden, and therefore in Finland, which was a part of Sweden until 1809. Five of the provinces covered what is now Finland; some of these also covered parts of what are now Russia. The exact division of the country into provinces has fluctuated over time.

The boundaries of the old provinces partly survive in telephone area codes and electoral districts. The exception is Helsinki: there is a telephone numbering area that comprises Greater Helsinki (code 09), while only the city of Helsinki proper comprises the electoral district of Helsinki, the rest of Greater Helsinki belonging to the Uusimaa electoral district.

English name Finnish name Swedish name Residence city Dates of existence Notes
Province of Turku and Pori Turun ja Porin lääni Åbo och Björneborgs län Turku 1634–1997 • one of the original provinces formed in 1634, though parts were split off since then
• merged into the Province of Western Finland
Province of Nyland and Tavastehus Uudenmaan ja Hämeen lääni Nylands och Tavastehus län Helsinki/Hämeenlinna 1634–1831 • one of the original provinces formed in 1634
Province of Ostrobothnia Pohjanmaan lääni Österbottens län Oulu/Vaasa 1634–1775 • one of the original provinces formed in 1634
Province of Viborg and Nyslott Viipurin ja Savonlinnan lääni Viborgs och Nyslotts län Vyborg 1634–1721 • one of the original provinces formed in 1634
Province of Kexholm Käkisalmen lääni Kexholms län Kexholm 1634–1721 • one of the original provinces formed in 1634
Province of Kymmenegård and Nyslott Savonlinnan ja Kymenkartanon lääni Kymmenegårds och Nyslotts län Lappeenranta 1721–1747 • former Province of Viborg and Nyslott
Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård Kymenkartanon ja Savon lääni Savolax och Kymmenegårds län Loviisa 1747–1775 • former Province of Kymmenegård and Nyslott
Province of Vaasa Vaasan lääni Vasa län Vaasa 1775–1997 • split off from the Province of Ostrobothnia
• merged into the Province of Western Finland
Province of Oulu Oulun lääni Uleåborgs län Oulu 1775–2009 • split off from the Province of Ostrobothnia
Province of Kymmenegård Kymenkartanon lääni Kymmenegårds län Heinola 1775–1831 • split off from the Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård
Province of Savolax and Karelia Savon ja Karjalan lääni Savolax och Karelens län Kuopio 1775–1831 • split off from the Province of Savolax and Kymmenegård
Province of Viipuri Viipurin lääni Viborgs län Vyborg 1812–1947 • Russian Vyborg Governorate 1744-1812; transferred as Province of Viipuri to autonomic Grand Duchy of Finland in 1812
• most of its area was lost to the Soviet Union in World War II, and the remainder became the Province of Kymi
Province of Uusimaa Uudenmaan lääni Nylands län Helsinki 1831–1997 • produced by splitting the Province of Nyland and Tavastehus
• merged into the Province of Southern Finland
Province of Häme Hämeen lääni Tavastehus län Hämeenlinna 1831–1997 • produced by splitting the Province of Nyland and Tavastehus
• merged into the Provinces of Southern Finland and Western Finland
Province of Mikkeli Mikkelin lääni St. Michels län Mikkeli 1831–1997 • former Province of Kymmenegård
• merged into the Provinces of Eastern Finland and Southern Finland
Province of Kuopio Kuopion lääni Kuopio län Kuopio 1831–1997 • former Province of Savolax and Karelia
• merged into the Province of Eastern Finland
Province of Åland Ahvenanmaan lääni Ålands län Mariehamn 1918–2009 • had a special status: even though the province was discontinued at the end of 2009 along with the others, there was (and still is) a coextensive "maakunta" (a translation of "province" with a slightly different meaning from the usual) that is semi-autonomous and demilitarized by international treaties
Province of Petsamo Petsamon lääni Petsamo län Pechenga 1921–1921 • gained from Soviet Russia
• merged into the Province of Oulu
• the entire area of the former Province of Pechenga was lost to the Soviet Union in World War II
Province of Lapland Lapin lääni Lapplands län Rovaniemi 1938–2009 • split off from the Province of Oulu
Province of Kymi Kymen lääni Kymmene län Kouvola 1945–1997 • formed from the part of the Province of Viipuri that remained on the Finnish side of the border with Russia
• merged into the Province of Southern Finland
Province of Central Finland Keski-Suomen lääni Mellersta Finlands län Jyväskylä 1960–1997 • split off from the Provinces of Vaasa, Häme, Mikkeli and Kuopio
• merged into the Province of Western Finland
Province of Northern Karelia Pohjois-Karjalan lääni Norra Karelens län Joensuu 1960–1997 • split off from the Province of Kuopio
• merged into the Province of Eastern Finland
Province of Southern Finland Etelä-Suomen lääni Södra Finlands län Hämeenlinna 1997–2009 • merged from Provinces of Uusimaa, Kymi, Häme (part) and Mikkeli (part)
Province of Western Finland Länsi-Suomen lääni Västra Finlands län Turku 1997–2009 • merged from Provinces of Turku and Pori, Vaasa, Central Finland and Häme (part)
Province of Eastern Finland Itä-Suomen lääni Östra Finlands län Mikkeli 1997–2009 • merged from Provinces of Kuopio, Northern Karelia and Michelle

Geographical evolution of Finnish provincial administration 1634-2009

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Swedish rule

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  •  
    1634-1640
    1 Turku
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Karelia
    5 Käkisalmi
  •  
    1640-1641
    1 Turku
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Karelia
    5 Käkisalmi
    6 Tavastia
  •  
    1641-1642
    1 Turku
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Viipuri
    5 Käkisalmi
    6 Tavastia
    7 Savonlinna
    8 Pori
  •  
    1642-1646
    1 Turku
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Viipuri
    5 Käkisalmi
    6 Tavastia
    7 Savonlinna
    8 Pori
    9 Vaasa
  •  
    1647-1648
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Viipuri
    5 Käkisalmi
    6 Tavastia
    7 Savonlinna
    8 Vaasa
  •  
    1648-1650
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Viipuri
    5 Käkisalmi
    6 Savonlinna
  •  
    1650-1721
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Viipuri and Savonlinna
    5 Käkisalmi
  •  
    1721-1743
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Savonlinna and
       Kymenkartano
  •  
    1743-1747
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Savonlinna and
       Kymenkartano
  •  
    1747-1776
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Ostrobothnia
    4 Kymenkartano and
       Savonia
  •  
    1776-1809
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Oulu
    4 Kymenkartano
    5 Vaasa
    6 Savonia and Karelia

Russian rule

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  •  
    1809-1812
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Oulu
    4 Kymenkartano
    5 Vaasa
    6 Savonia and Karelia
  •  
    1812-1831
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa and Tavastia
    3 Oulu
    4 Kymenkartano
    5 Vaasa
    6 Savonia and Karelia
    7 Viipuri
  •  
    1831-1833
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Mikkeli
    5 Vaasa
    6 Kuopio
    7 Viipuri
    8 Tavastia
  •  
    1833-1917
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Mikkeli
    5 Vaasa
    6 Kuopio
    7 Viipuri
    8 Tavastia

Independent Finland

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  •  
    1917-1918
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Mikkeli
    5 Vaasa
    6 Kuopio
    7 Viipuri
    8 Tavastia
  •  
    1918-1920/1921
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Mikkeli
    5 Vaasa
    6 Kuopio
    7 Viipuri
    8 Tavastia
    9 Åland
  •  
    1921
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Viipuri
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Petsamo
  •  
    1922-1938
    1 Turku and Pori
    2 Uusimaa
    3 Oulu
    4 Mikkeli
    5 Vaasa
    6 Kuopio
    7 Viipuri
    8 Tavastia
    9 Åland
  •  
    1938-1940
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Viipuri
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
  •  
    1940-1944
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Viipuri
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
  •  
    1944-1945
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Viipuri
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
  •  
    1945-1947
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Kymi
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
  •  
    1947-1960
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Kymi
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
  •  
    1960-1997
      1 Turku and Pori
      2 Uusimaa
      3 Oulu
      4 Mikkeli
      5 Vaasa
      6 Kuopio
      7 Kymi
      8 Tavastia
      9 Åland
    10 Lapland
    11 Central Finland
    12 Northern Karelia
  •  
    1997-2009
    1 Western Finland
    2 Southern Finland
    3 Oulu
    4 Eastern Finland
    5 Åland
    6 Lapland

Provinces of Finland at abolition

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No. Coats of arms Provinces Finnish and
Swedish names		 Residence city Largest city Population (2003) Area (km²) Merged Provinces (1997) Map
1
 
 Western Finland Länsi-Suomen lääni
Västra Finlands län 		Turku
Åbo		 Tampere 1,848,269 74,185 Vaasa, Turku and Pori, Central Finland, Tavastia  
2
 
 Southern Finland Etelä-Suomen lääni
Södra Finlands län 		Hämeenlinna
Tavastehus		 Helsinki 2,116,914 34,378 Uusimaa, Kymi, Tavastia
3
 
 Oulu Oulun lääni
Uleåborgs län 		Oulu
Uleåborg		 Oulu 458,504 57,000 No changes
4
 
 Eastern Finland Itä-Suomen lääni
Östra Finlands län 		Mikkeli
S:t Michel		 Kuopio 582,781 48,726 Kuopio, Northern Karelia, Mikkeli
5
 
 Åland[a] Ahvenanmaan lääni
Ålands län[b] 		Mariehamn[b]
Maarianhamina		 Mariehamn 26,000 6,784 No changes
6
 
 Lapland Lapin lääni
Lapplands län 		Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi		 Rovaniemi 186,917 98,946 No changes

a. ^ Some duties, which in Mainland Finland are handled by the provinces, are on the Åland Islands transferred to the autonomous Government of Åland.
b. ^ The Åland Islands are unilingually Swedish.

After abolition

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The provinces were abolished altogether effective 1 January 2010. Since then, the regional administration of the Finnish state has two parallel top-level organs in the hierarchy: the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on the one hand, and the Regional State Administrative Agencies on the other.

Six Regional State Administrative Agencies (aluehallintovirasto, regionförvaltningsverk, abbr. avi) – in addition to the State Department of Åland – are primarily responsible for law enforcement. Among these, South-Western Finland and Western and Central Finland cover the former province of Western Finland, and the former province of Oulu was revamped as Northern Finland; other old provincial boundaries remain much the same in the new disposition.

In parallel, there are 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (Finnish: elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus, usually abbreviated ely-keskus), which are responsible for other state administration: employment, road and transport infrastructure, and environmental monitoring. They are each responsible for one or more of regions of Finland, and include offices of the Ministries of Employment and the Economy, Transport and Communications and Environment.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kun Itä-Suomen lääni syntyi". Karjalan Heili. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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