View source for Kemi

{{About|the Finnish town}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Kemi
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Kemin kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Kemi stad}}
| other_name = Giepma<br />Kiemâ<br />Ǩeeʹmm
| nickname = Monaco of Finland
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Montage of Kemi 03.jpg
| image_caption = Clockwise, from top left: [[Kemi railway station|Kemi Railway Station]], Kemi City Hall, Karihaara School, Café at the inner harbour, and [[Kemi Church]]
| image_shield = Kemi.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size = 120x80px
| image_map = Kemi sijainti Suomi.svg
| map_caption = Location of Kemi in Finland
| image_map1 = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{maplink|frame-width=250|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|zoom=12|id=Q203619|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000}}{{hidden end}}
| map_caption1 = Interactive map outlining Kemi.
|coordinates = {{coord|65|44|10|N|024|33|49|E|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kemi-Tornio sub-region|Kemi–Tornio]]
| leader_title = [[Town manager]]
| leader_name = Matti Ruotsalainen
| established_title = [[Charter]]
| established_date = 1869
|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Kemi}}
|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Kemi}}
|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Kemi}}
|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Kemi}}
|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Kemi}}
|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Kemi}}
|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Kemi}}
|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Kemi}}
|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Kemi}}
|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Kemi}}
|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Kemi}}
|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Kemi}}
|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Kemi}}
|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Kemi}}
|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Kemi}}
|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Kemi}}
|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Kemi}}
|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Kemi}}
|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Kemi}}
|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Kemi}}
|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Kemi}}
|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Kemi}}
|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Kemi}}
|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Kemi}}
|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Kemi}}
|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Kemi}}
|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Kemi}}
|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Kemi}}
|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Kemi}}
|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Kemi}}
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +02:00
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| elevation_m = 4
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 94100
| website = {{URL|https://www.kemi.fi/en/}}
}}

'''Kemi''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈkemi|lang}}; {{langx|se|Giepma}} {{IPA|se|ˈkie̯pma|}}; {{langx|smn|Kiemâ}}; {{langx|sms|Ǩeeʹmm}}) is a [[cities of Finland|town]] and [[municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]]. It is located approximately {{convert|30|km}} from the city of [[Tornio]] and the [[Finland–Sweden border|Swedish border]]. The distance to [[Oulu]] is {{convert|105|km}} to the south and to [[Rovaniemi]] is {{convert|117|km}} to the northeast. It was founded in 1869 by a decree of the [[Emperor of Russia|Emperor]] [[Alexander II of Russia]] because of its proximity to a deepwater port.

The town has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kemi}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }})<ref name="population_count" /> and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Kemi}}|km2|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Kemi}}|km2|sp=us}} are water.<ref name="total_area" /> The [[population density]] is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kemi|round=2}}|PD/km2}}.

According to current statistics, Kemi has the highest number of [[Drug-related crime|drug crimes]] than any other town in Finland. This is thought to be due to its proximity to the Swedish border and the [[Illegal drug trade|drug smuggling]] that occurs across it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000011196985.html|title=Yksi paikkakunta nousi esille Suomen synkimmissä huumealueissa – "Kyllä tämä yllätti"|first=Pasi|last=Lapinkangas|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=29 April 2025|access-date=30 April 2025|language=fi}}</ref>

==History==
===World War II hostage crisis===
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2022}}
During [[World War II]], after Finland signed the [[Moscow Armistice]] and found itself involved in the [[Lapland War]] against its former German ally, German forces at the beginning of October 1944 captured 132 Finnish civilian hostages in Kemi (as well as 130 in [[Rovaniemi]]) and threatened to kill them unless the Finnish army released the German POWs captured in the [[Battle of Tornio]]. However, Finland refused to comply and threatened to retaliate by killing the German POWs. The hostages were released unharmed on October 11, 1944, near Rovaniemi.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

== Geography ==
Kemi is situated on the [[Bothnian Bay]], at the mouth of the river [[Kemijoki]], and it is part of the [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]] [[Regions of Finland|region]].

===Climate===
The climate type of Kemi is a typical [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfc''). It is characterized by long, cold winters and warm, short summers; but because it is on the coast of the [[Gulf of Bothnia]], the characteristics of its continental climate are not as pronounced as inland areas.
{{Weather box	
|location = Kemi ([[Kemi-Tornio Airport]], 1991–2020 normals, records 1959–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C= 8.8
|Feb record high C= 7.7
|Mar record high C= 9.6
|Apr record high C= 18.3
|May record high C= 28.1
|Jun record high C= 31.4
|Jul record high C= 32.9
|Aug record high C= 31.0
|Sep record high C= 23.7
|Oct record high C= 15.9
|Nov record high C= 10.0
|Dec record high C= 7.0
|year record high C= 
|Jan avg record high C = 2.8
|Feb avg record high C = 3.1
|Mar avg record high C = 5.9
|Apr avg record high C = 11.8
|May avg record high C = 21.1
|Jun avg record high C = 24.7
|Jul avg record high C = 26.5
|Aug avg record high C = 24.3
|Sep avg record high C = 18.1
|Oct avg record high C = 11.4
|Nov avg record high C = 6.2
|Dec avg record high C = 3.5
|year avg record high C = 27.3
|Jan high C = -5.7
|Feb high C = -5.7
|Mar high C = -0.9
|Apr high C = 4.4
|May high C = 11.4
|Jun high C = 17.2
|Jul high C = 20.6
|Aug high C = 18.0
|Sep high C = 12.6
|Oct high C = 5.2
|Nov high C = 0.3
|Dec high C = -3.0
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = -9.6
|Feb mean C = -9.7
|Mar mean C = -5.4
|Apr mean C = 0.4
|May mean C = 6.8
|Jun mean C = 12.8
|Jul mean C = 16.0
|Aug mean C = 13.9
|Sep mean C = 8.8
|Oct mean C = 2.4
|Nov mean C = -2.6
|Dec mean C = -6.6
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -14.1
|Feb low C = -14.4
|Mar low C = -10.3
|Apr low C = -3.9
|May low C = 1.5
|Jun low C = 7.3
|Jul low C = 11.0
|Aug low C = 9.1
|Sep low C = 4.7
|Oct low C = -1.0
|Nov low C = -5.5
|Dec low C = -10.4
|year low C = 
| Jan avg record low C = -28.1
| Feb avg record low C = -28.1
| Mar avg record low C = -23.2
| Apr avg record low C = -13.7
| May avg record low C = -4.4
| Jun avg record low C = 0.8
| Jul avg record low C = 4.6
| Aug avg record low C = 1.0
| Sep avg record low C = -3.3
| Oct avg record low C = -11.8
| Nov avg record low C = -16.8
| Dec avg record low C = -23.6
| year avg record low C = -30.5
|Jan record low C= -37.1
|Feb record low C= -43.2
|Mar record low C= -34.0
|Apr record low C= -25.4
|May record low C= -9.3
|Jun record low C= -3.4
|Jul record low C= 1.4
|Aug record low C= -2.2
|Sep record low C= -9.8
|Oct record low C= -24.8
|Nov record low C= -31.3
|Dec record low C= -36.7
|year record low C= 
|unit precipitation days= 0.1&nbsp;mm
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 32.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 25.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 28.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 26.4
|May precipitation mm = 30.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 39.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 52.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 63.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 58.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 59.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 44.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 33.0
|year precipitation mm= 
|Jan precipitation days= 25
|Feb precipitation days= 22
|Mar precipitation days= 21
|Apr precipitation days= 16
|May precipitation days= 14
|Jun precipitation days= 15
|Jul precipitation days= 15
|Aug precipitation days= 16
|Sep precipitation days= 17
|Oct precipitation days= 21
|Nov precipitation days= 24
|Dec precipitation days= 24
|year precipitation days= 230
|Jan humidity= 88
|Feb humidity= 87
|Mar humidity= 81
|Apr humidity= 72
|May humidity= 63
|Jun humidity= 63
|Jul humidity= 69
|Aug humidity= 76
|Sep humidity= 82
|Oct humidity= 88
|Nov humidity= 92
|Dec humidity= 90
|year humidity= 
| source 1 = [[Finnish Meteorological Institute|FMI]]{{efn|Climatological normals for Finland 1991&ndash;2020,<ref name="FMI">{{cite web |title=FMI normals 1991-2020 |url=https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi |access-date=11 April 2023|publisher=fmi.fi|language=fi}}</ref> Record highs and lows,<ref name="FMI data">{{cite web |title=FMI normals 1991-2020 |url=https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=101840 |access-date=6 July 2025 |publisher=FMI|language=fi}}</ref> Precipitation 1961&ndash;1990,<ref>{{cite web |title=FMI normals 1991-2020 |url=https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=101840 |access-date=11 April 2023 |publisher=FMI|language=fi}}</ref> Precipitation days<ref name=Weatherbase>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=46820&cityname=Kemi--United-States-of-America|title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Kemi, Finland
|publisher=Weatherbase
|year=2013
}}
Retrieved on April 18, 2013.
</ref>}}}}

{{Weather box	
|location = Kemi Ajos (1991–2020 normals, records 1993–present)
|collapsed = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C= 5.2
|Feb record high C= 5.4
|Mar record high C= 7.1
|Apr record high C= 16.5
|May record high C= 27.4
|Jun record high C= 28.7
|Jul record high C= 31.2
|Aug record high C= 30.1
|Sep record high C= 24.0
|Oct record high C= 16.0
|Nov record high C= 8.5
|Dec record high C= 5.3
|year record high C= 31.2
|Jan high C = -5.5
|Feb high C = -5.9
|Mar high C = -1.9
|Apr high C = 3.3
|May high C = 9.5
|Jun high C = 15.9
|Jul high C = 19.7
|Aug high C = 17.6
|Sep high C = 12.5
|Oct high C = 5.9
|Nov high C = 1.0
|Dec high C = -2.7
|year high C = 5.8
|Jan mean C = -8.6
|Feb mean C = -9.2
|Mar mean C = -5.6
|Apr mean C = -0.3
|May mean C = 5.7
|Jun mean C = 12.7
|Jul mean C = 16.4
|Aug mean C = 14.9
|Sep mean C = 10.1
|Oct mean C = 3.8
|Nov mean C = -1.3
|Dec mean C = -5.1
|year mean C = 2.8
|Jan low C = -12.5
|Feb low C = -13.2
|Mar low C = -9.8
|Apr low C = -3.5
|May low C = 2.8
|Jun low C = 9.9
|Jul low C = 13.8
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 7.9
|Oct low C = 2.1
|Nov low C = -3.3
|Dec low C = -8.3
|year low C = -0.1
|Jan record low C= -37.1
|Feb record low C= -33.8
|Mar record low C= -28.5
|Apr record low C= -20.5
|May record low C= -9.3
|Jun record low C= 1.9
|Jul record low C= 6.2
|Aug record low C= 3.3
|Sep record low C= -1.8
|Oct record low C= -12.9
|Nov record low C= -23.3
|Dec record low C= -30.2
|year record low C= -37.1
|source 1 = https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi
|source 2 = https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=101846
}}

====Note====
{{notelist}}

==Economy==
[[File:Kemi City Hall view 4.jpg|thumb|left|Valtakatu street seen from Kemi City Hall.]]
The main economic activity in Kemi is centered on two large paper and woodpulp mills and on the only [[chromium]] mine in Europe (which supplies the [[Outokumpu]] ferrochrome plant in [[Tornio]]).

In April 2007, the city of Kemi laid off all of its municipal workers for two weeks due to the failing economy of the city. Spiraling specialist healthcare costs and a fleeing industry tax base are stated as the cause for the firing.<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135226785425 |title= Northern city of Kemi to lay off all municipal workers for two weeks |access-date=7 January 2009 |date= 2007-04-24 |work= Helsingin Sanomat – International Edition |publisher= Helsingin Sanomat Oy |location= Helsinki }}</ref> These are the most drastic temporary dismissals to take place in Finland since 2000.
{{Clear left}}

== Sights ==
[[File:LumiLinna.jpg|thumb|Kemi SnowCastle]]
Kemi has a claim to fame as the home of the world's largest snow castle<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/8303080/Pictures-of-the-day-4-February-2011.html?image=4|title=Pictures of the day: 4 February 2011|publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group|The Telegraph]]|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref> (reconstructed every year to a different design). The [[SnowCastle of Kemi]] is usually built in the inner harbor of the city.

A model of The Crown of Finland (the original was never made for the [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|King of Finland]]) is kept in the town's gemstone gallery. It also houses replicas of the [[Imperial State Crown]] of Great Britain, the scepter of the [[Czar]] of Russia, the [[Globus cruciger|Orbs]] of Denmark, and the diamond necklace of [[Marie Antoinette]], among other items.

Additional attractions include:
*[[Kemi church]]
*Kemi Gemstone Gallery{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
*Icebreaker [[Sampo (1960 icebreaker)|Sampo]]
*The sailship Jähti{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==Culture==
Kemi is the hometown of the [[power metal]] band [[Sonata Arctica]].{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

== Politics ==
Results of the [[2019 Finnish parliamentary election]] in Kemi:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tulospalvelu.vaalit.fi/EKV-2019/fi/kutulos_240.html|title=Eduskuntavaalit 2019, Kemi|publisher=Oikeusministerö - Tieto- ja tulospalvelu|date=23 April 2019|access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

*[[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]] 26.2%
*[[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] 23.6%
*[[The Finns Party]] 19.8%
*[[Centre Party (Finland)|Center Party]] 13.6%
*[[National Coalition Party]] 7.2%
*[[Green League]] 5.1%
*[[Movement Now]] 1.8% 
*[[Christian Democrats (Finland)|Christian Democrats]] 0.7%
*Communist Worker‘s Party - For Peace and Socialism 2,7%

===Town manager===
{| class="toccolours sortable" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|- bgcolor=orange
!Town manager
! Term
|-
| [[Olli Nylander]]
|1930-1956
|-
|[[Risto Hölttä]]
|1956-1966
|-
|[[Taisto Jokelainen]]
|1967-1980
|-
|[[Juhani Leino]]
|1980-2000
|-
 |[[Kalervo Ukkola]]
|2000-2005
|-
|[[Ossi Repo]]
|2006-2012
|-
|[[Tero Nissinen]]
|2012-2021 
|-
|[[Matti Ruotsalainen]]
|2021- 
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:Karihaaranväylä Kemi 20150228.jpg|thumb|The Karihaaranväylä street and bridge over the [[Finnish national road 4|National road 4]] in Kemi]]
[[Kemi railway station]] is an intermediate station on the railway between [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] and [[Helsinki Central railway station|Helsinki]]. It is operated by [[VR Group|VR]]. The junction of the [[Kolari railway station|Kolari]] and [[Rovaniemi railway station|Rovaniemi]] lines lies to the north of Kemi station.

[[Finnish national road 4]] and European routes [[European route E8|E8]] and [[European route E75|E75]] run through the town.

[[Kemi-Tornio Airport]] is located {{convert|4.5|km|sp=us}} north of Kemi city center.

The [[Port of Kemi]] is a cargo port handling [[containerised]] and [[bulk cargo]] as well as oil and [[petrochemical]] products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Port of Kemi |url=https://www.portofkemi.fi/en/ |website=PortOfKemi.fi |access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref>

==Education==
A [[Kemi-Tornio University of Applied Sciences|polytechnic university of applied sciences]] is situated in Kemi.

== Notable residents ==
* [[Juhani Paasivirta]] (1919–1993), Finnish historian{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
* [[Ensio Seppänen]] (1924–2008), Finnish sculptor and professor{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
* [[Anna-Liisa Tiekso]] (1929–2010), Finnish politician{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
* [[Tony Kakko]] (1975-), Finnish musician and singer of [[Sonata Arctica]]{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Kemi is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Tromsø]] ([[Norway]]), since 1940
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Volgograd]] ([[Russia]]), since 1953
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Liptovský Mikuláš]] ([[Slovakia]])
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Newtownards]] ([[Northern Ireland]])
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Székesfehérvár]] ([[Hungary]])<ref name="Székesfehérvár twinning">{{cite web|url=http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|title=Partnervárosok Névsora Partner és Testvérvárosok Névsora|access-date=2013-08-05|last=Bozsoki|first=Agnes|work=City of Székesfehérvár|language=hu|trans-title=Partner and Twin Cities List|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208035612/http://onkormanyzat.szekesfehervar.hu/index.php?pg=page_49881|archive-date=2012-12-08}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Luleå]] ([[Sweden]])

== See also ==
*[[1949 Kemi strike]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Kemi}}
* [https://www.kemi.fi/en/ Town of Kemi] – Official website
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Kemi
 | N  = [[Keminmaa]]
 | E  = [[Simo, Finland|Simo]]
 | S  = ''[[Bothnian Bay]]''
 | W  = ''[[Bothnian Bay]]''
 | NW = [[Tornio]]
}}
{{Lapland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Kemi| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Finland]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Finland]]
[[Category:Mining towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Finland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Lapland (Finland)]]