Keminmaa is a municipality in the Lapland region of Finland,
located near the towns of Kemi and Tornio, close to the Swedish
border. It was formerly known as Kemin maalaiskunta (Kemi Rural
Municipality) until its name change in 1979. The municipality's
official names in Sami languages are Kiemâeennâm (Inari Sami) and
Ǩeeʹmmjânnam (Skolt Sami). With a population of approximately 7,690
residents, Keminmaa promotes itself as a family-friendly area with
strong natural appeal, boasting 180 kilometers of coastline and
seven Natura protected areas. The municipal manager is Hannele
Matinlassi, and its coat of arms features a red background with a
silver salmon holding a padlock. Situated at coordinates 65°48′N
24°33′E, it neighbors Kemi, Simo, Tervola, and Tornio. Keminmaa
offers a blend of rural tranquility, historical sites, and access to
regional amenities, making it an attractive spot for living and
visiting in Finnish Lapland.
The total area is 647.24 km²,
with 627.27 km² land and 20.73 km² water, ranking it 137th in size
among Finnish municipalities. Its population density is about 12.1
inhabitants per km². The area is characterized by its proximity to
the Bothnian Bay, forests, and rivers, providing a subarctic
environment with opportunities for outdoor activities.
Keminmaa lies in the southern part of Lapland, along the Gulf of
Bothnia, offering extensive coastal areas and natural reserves. The
landscape includes forests, waterways, and low-lying terrain typical of
the region. It experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc), with cold
winters, mild summers, and moderate precipitation. Winters are long and
snowy, while summers feature extended daylight. The time zone is Eastern
European Time (UTC+2), with daylight saving to UTC+3.
Climate
data for Keminmaa shows January as the coldest month, with average highs
of -6.3°C and lows of -10.7°C. July is the warmest, with highs around
19°C. Annual precipitation is approximately 472 mm, with August being
the wettest month (53 mm) and April the driest (28 mm). Note that nearby
Kemi has slightly higher annual precipitation (around 740 mm), but
Keminmaa's data reflects similar patterns.
The settlement on the Kemijoki river is very old.
Permanent settlement was established as early as the beginning of
the 11th century, when people moved from Satakunta, Häme and Karelia
to the wilderness of the north. In the 13th century, Swedish and
German merchants arrived in the area, and the salt obtained from
them was a crucial condition for the revival of the salmon trade.
The first written record of the Kemi parish dates from 1329, when it
is mentioned in a letter from King Maunu Eerikinpoja. In the same
century, there is a controversy over the delimitation of the border
between the dioceses of Uppsala and Turku in Northern Ostrobothnia.
The border of the dioceses eventually formed between Tornio and
Kemi, so that the Kemi region remained in the diocese of Turku and
thus in Finland, while Tornio was under the control of the bishop of
Uppsala. The Kemi parish was a large area that stretched from
northern Lapland to Haukiputaa.
According to tradition, the
first church of the parish, dating from the Catholic period, is
located in Valmarinniemi. The church was looted by the Russians in
1473 and burned down in 1517. The new church, the current old church
in Keminmaa (St. Michael's Church), was built between 1519 and 1521.
There lies the famous mummified body of Pastor Nikolaus Rungius, who
died in 1629. The church is the northernmost medieval stone church
in Finland.
In the Middle Ages, secular rule was also formed.
Keminmaa's predecessor, Kemi Parish, was one of the oldest parishes
in Northern Finland and extended to the whole of Peräpohjola, ie the
present Simon, Kemi, Tervola and Rovaniemi all the way to Kemijärvi.
Livestock farming began to develop from the 17th century.
Rovaniemi seceded from the Grand Master of Kemi in 1785 and Simo and
Tervola in 1866. The uplift lowered the mouth of the Kemijoki River
so that merchants could no longer reach the rivers with their ships,
so in 1869 the city of Kemi was established as a new trading place
by the sea. The new church in Keminmaa was built with the funding of
Emperor Alexander I in 1823–1827 and was designed by Carl Ludvig
Engel. From the 1860s onwards, numerous steam sawmills were
established in Kemijoki, which revolutionized life in the area. The
most significant were the Karihaara sawmill, which started
operations in 1874, and the Veitsiluoto sawmill, founded by the
state in 1921. The birth of industry increased the population of the
area, and thus a large part of the former Kemi countryside was
annexed to the city of Kemi from the beginning of 1931. At the same
time, the Kemi countryside lost almost 15,000 inhabitants and only
3,500 remained.
During the Second World War, on the site of
the present nursing home in Keminmaa, on the edge of Lake
Kallinjärvi, there was a German bakery, where all the breads of
German troops in northern Finland were baked. There was a German
officers' club in Pölho's school.
After the wars came the
time of reconstruction. Pohjolan Voima Oy built the Isohaara power
plant in Keminmaa in 1945–1948, as a result of which the salmon of
the Kemijoki River became history and many meadows and fields were
submerged. At the end of the 1950s, extensive zoning work and the
development of municipal technology began, which resulted in the
construction of more than 1,600 detached houses and about 1,200
apartment and terraced houses between 1970 and 2005. In 1966,
Kuivamaito Oy's factory was completed in the then Kemi countryside.
The Elijärvi mine was opened in 1968 and the Taivalkoski power plant
in 1975. At the beginning of 1979, the name of the municipality was
changed from Kemi to Keminmaa.
As of recent data, Keminmaa has a population of 7,690, ranking it as the 124th largest municipality in Finland. The population is predominantly Finnish-speaking (98.6%), with 1.4% other languages. Age distribution: 16.7% under 15, 57.4% aged 15-64, and 25.9% over 65. The area reflects a stable, aging demographic typical of rural Lapland, with influences from Sami culture.
Keminmaa's economy centers on services, natural resources, and proximity to industrial hubs like Kemi's pulp mills and mining. Employment services are managed locally through Meri-Lapin työllisyyspalvelut, including youth workshops and job initiatives. Tourism is growing, leveraging natural attractions and wellness experiences. The region benefits from Lapland's broader economy, with seasonal jobs in hospitality and outdoor guiding.
Culture in Keminmaa draws from Finnish and Sami traditions, with a focus on nature-based lifestyles. The municipality emphasizes family-oriented activities, including library services and community events. Education includes local schools, with higher education accessible in nearby Kemi or Tornio. Cultural heritage is preserved through sites like the Old Church.
Key attractions include the Keminmaa Old Church, home to the mummified vicar Nicolaus Rungius, a unique historical site. Nature lovers can explore the 180 km coastline, seven Natura areas, and activities like hiking, fishing, and berry picking. Recent highlights include the Forest Café for local flavors and relaxation, and Soundforest for nature-based wellness experiences. Proximity to Kemi's SnowCastle and icebreaker cruises adds winter appeal. Tourism promotes "natural" living, with accommodations like cabins and hotels.
Keminmaa is accessible via major roads like the E75 highway, connecting to Sweden via Tornio. Public transport includes buses and trains from nearby Kemi station, with services to Helsinki and Rovaniemi. Kemi-Tornio Airport provides regional flights. The area's slogan "All roads lead to Keminmaa" highlights its connectivity.