Oulainen
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox settlement Oulainen (Template:Langx, also Template:Lang) is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, Template:Convert south of the city of Oulu. The municipality has a population of Template:Data Finland municipality/population count ({{#time: j F Y|Template:Data Finland municipality/population count }})<ref name="population_count"/> and covers an area of Template:Convert of which Template:Convert is water.<ref name="total_area"/> The population density is Template:Convert. 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 "Template:Lang" in Swedish documents, but is today referred to as "Oulainen" also in Swedish.<ref>Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus :: Kuntien nimet Template:Webarchive</ref>
Geography
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.
Railway station
Oulainen railway station is located in the center of the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The station has three platforms each with designated boarding areas, a ticket vending machine, car parking and a bicycle stand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was opened in 1886.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
History
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Events
Notable annual events include the National Veteran Machines Fair (Template:Lang)<ref name="weteraanikonepäivät">Template:Cite web</ref> and Oulainen Music Weeks (Template:Lang). Oulainen Music Weeks were organized for the twentieth time in 2006. The Oulainen Youth Choir (Template:Lang) has received international acclaim.
Notable people
- Eeli Erkkilä, Minister and Member of Parliament
- Elsi Hetemäki-Olander, Member of Parliament
- Katja Hänninen, Member of Parliament
- Merja Kiviranta, triathlonist
- Rosa-Maria Ryyti, model and Miss Finland 2015 beauty pageant titleholder
See also
References
External links
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Town of Oulainen – Official website Template:In lang
- Oulainen Music Weeks Template:Webarchive