Kristinestad

Kristinestad (Finland Swedish: [krisˈtiːneˌstɑːd];^[6][7] Finnish: Kristiinankaupunki [ˈkristiːnɑŋˌkɑu̯puŋki]; Latin: Christinea; lit. 'Christine Town') is a town in Finland, located on the west coast of the country. Kristinestad is situated in Ostrobothnia, along the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Kristinestad is approximately 6,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 17,000. It is the 153rd most populous municipality in Finland.

Kristinestad Kristinestad – Kristiinankaupunki
Town
Kristinestads stad Kristiinankaupungin kaupunki
Kristinestad in 2019
Coat of arms
Location of Kristinestad in Finland
Coordinates: 62°16′N 021°21′E
Country	Finland
Region	Ostrobothnia
Sub-region	Sydösterbotten
Founded	1649[1]
Named for	Christina of Sweden[1]
Government
• Town manager	Mila Segervall
Area  (2018-01-01)[2]
• Total	1,678.98 km2 (648.26 sq mi)
• Land	683.25 km2 (263.80 sq mi)
• Water	996.45 km2 (384.73 sq mi)
• Rank	124th largest in Finland
Population  (2025-03-31)[3]
• Total	6,121
• Rank	153rd largest in Finland
• Density	8.96/km2 (23.2/sq mi)
Population by native language [4]
• Swedish	52.6% (official)
• Finnish	40.1%
• Others	7.3%
Population by age [5]
• 0 to 14	11.9%
• 15 to 64	51.4%
• 65 or older	36.7%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	www.kristinestad.fi/start/

Kristinestad is located in the western part of Finland on the shore of the Bothnian Sea. Kristinestad covers an area of 683.25 km² (263.80 sq mi) (excluding sea areas) of which 14.66 km² (5.66 sq mi) is inland water.^[2] The population density is 8.96/km² (23.2/sq mi).

Kristinestad is a bilingual municipality with Finnish and Swedish as its official languages. The population consists of 40% Finnish speakers, 53% Swedish speakers, and 7% speakers of other languages.

The Finnish name "Kristiinankaupunki" is the longest municipality name currently in use in Finland. In the vernacular, locally and on some maps, the town itself is known only as "Kristiina".

History

The town was chartered in 1649 by Per Brahe the Younger at Koppö island and is named for Queen Christina of Sweden.^[1] Kristinestad is known for its old town with low wooden houses and narrow alleys. In April, 2011, Kristinestad became Finland's first Cittaslow community.^[8]

Geography

Climate

Kristinestad has a continental subarctic climate (Dfc).

Climate data for Kristinestad
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Daily mean °C (°F)	−8 (18)	−7.8 (18.0)	−3.7 (25.3)	1.9 (35.4)	9 (48)	14 (57)	15.7 (60.3)	13.8 (56.8)	8.8 (47.8)	4.0 (39.2)	−1.3 (29.7)	−5.6 (21.9)	3.4 (38.1)
Average precipitation days	10	8	9	8	7	8	11	11	11	11	11	11	116
Source: http://www.yr.no/place/Finland/Western_Finland/Kristinestad~650770/statistics.html

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kristinestad is twinned with:

• Sala, Sweden
• Novello, Italy

Gallery

• 
  Ulrica Eleonora church in central Kristinestad.
• 
  During twilight over the town bay and the silhouette.
• 
  Summer market of Kristinestad in 1989.
• 
  City Hall (1865)

See also

• Jakobstad
• Kaskinen
• Lappfjärd