Jakobstad

Jakobstad, or Pietarsaari, is a town and municipality in Finland.

Statistics

• Population: 19,431 (2003)
• Area: 92.34 km²
  • of which is water: 3.91 km²
• Population density: 219.7 inhabitants/km²

History

The town was founded in 1652 by Ebba Brahe, the widow of the military commander Jacob De la Gardie, and was granted city privileges by Queen Christina of Sweden. The Swedish name literally means Jacobs's City or Jacobs's Town. The town was founded at the old harbour of the parish Pedersöre and this name lives on in the Finnish name of the municipality, Pietarsaari.

Culture

Johan Ludvig Runeberg, the national poet of Finland, was born in Jakobstad.

See also: Swedish People's Party