Western Finland Province

Western Finland Province
Western Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2009. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland. Tampere was the largest city of the province.
History
On September 1, 1997 the Province of Turku and Pori, the Province of Vaasa, the Province of Central Finland, the northern parts of the Province of Häme and the western parts of the Mikkeli Province were joined to form the then new Province of Western Finland.
All the provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010.
Administration
The State Provincial Office was a joint regional administrative authority of seven ministries. The State Provincial Office served at five localities; the main office was placed in Turku, and regional service offices were located in Jyväskylä, Tampere, Vaasa, and Pori. Approximately 350 persons worked at the State Provincial Office. The agency was divided into eight departments.
Regions
Western Finland was divided into seven regions:
Southern Ostrobothnia (Etelä-Pohjanmaa / Södra Österbotten)
Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa / Österbotten)
Pirkanmaa (Pirkanmaa / Birkaland)
Satakunta (Satakunta / Satakunda)
Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa / Mellersta Österbotten)
Central Finland (Keski-Suomi / Mellersta Finland)
Finland Proper (Varsinais-Suomi / Egentliga Finland)
Municipalities in 2009 (cities in bold)
Western Finland was divided into 142 municipalities in 2009.
Akaa
Alajärvi
Alavus
Aura
Eura
Eurajoki
Evijärvi
Halsua
Hankasalmi
Harjavalta
Himanka
Honkajoki
Huittinen
Hämeenkyrö
Ikaalinen
Ilmajoki
Isojoki
Isokyrö
Jakobstad
Jalasjärvi
Joutsa
Juupajoki
Jyväskylä
Jämijärvi
Jämsä
Kaarina
Kangasala
Kankaanpää
Kannonkoski
Kannus
Karijoki
Karstula
Karvia
Kaskinen
Kauhajoki
Kauhava
Kaustinen
Keuruu
Kihniö
Kiikoinen
Kimitoön
Kinnula
Kivijärvi
Kokemäki
Kokkola
Konnevesi
Korsholm
Korsnäs
Koski Tl
Kristinestad
Kronoby
Kuhmalahti
Kuhmoinen
Kuortane
Kurikka
Kustavi
Kylmäkoski
Kyyjärvi
Köyliö
Laihia
Laitila
Lappajärvi
Lapua
Larsmo
Laukaa
Lavia
Lempäälä
Lestijärvi
Lieto
Loimaa
Luhanka
Luvia
Malax
Marttila
Masku
Merikarvia
Multia
Muurame
Mynämäki
Mänttä-Vilppula
Naantali
Nakkila
Nokia
Noormarkku
Nousiainen
Nykarleby
Närpes
Oravais
Oripää
Orivesi
Paimio
Parkano
Pedersöre
Perho
Petäjävesi
Pihtipudas
Pirkkala
Pomarkku
Pori
Punkalaidun
Pyhäranta
Pälkäne
Pöytyä
Raisio
Rauma
Ruovesi
Rusko
Saarijärvi
Salo
Sastamala
Sauvo
Seinäjoki
Siikainen
Soini
Somero
Säkylä
Taivassalo
Tampere
Tarvasjoki
Teuva
Toholampi
Toivakka
Turku
Töysä
Ulvila
Urjala
Uurainen
Uusikaupunki
Vaasa
Valkeakoski
Vehmaa
Vesilahti
Veteli
Viitasaari
Vimpeli
Virrat
Vähäkyrö
Väståboland
Vörå-Maxmo
Ylöjärvi
Ähtäri
Äänekoski
Former municipalities (disestablished before 2009)
Alahärmä
Alastaro
Askainen
Dragsfjärd
Halikko
Houtskär
Iniö
Jurva
Jyväskylän mlk
Jämsänkoski
Karinainen
Kiikala
Kimito
Kisko
Kiukainen
Kodisjoki
Korpilahti
Korpo
Kortesjärvi
Kullaa
Kuorevesi
Kuru
Kuusjoki
Kälviä
Lappi
Lehtimäki
Leivonmäki
Lemu
Lohtaja
Loimaan kunta
Luopioinen
Längelmäki
Maxmo
Mellilä
Merimasku
Mietoinen
Mouhijärvi
Muurla
Mänttä
Nagu
Nurmo
Pargas
Perniö
Pertteli
Peräseinäjoki
Piikkiö
Pylkönmäki
Rymättylä
Sahalahti
Sumiainen
Suodenniemi
Suolahti
Suomusjärvi
Särkisalo
Toijala
Ullava
Vahto
Vammala
Vampula
Velkua
Viiala
Viljakkala
Vilppula
Västanfjärd
Vörå
Ylihärmä
Ylistaro
Yläne
Äetsä
Governors
Heikki Koski 1997-2003
Rauno Saari 2003-2009
Heraldry
The coat of arms of Western Finland was composed of the arms of Finland Proper, Satakunta and Ostrobothnia.
Notes
External links
Western Finland State Provincial Office - Official site
Provinces of Finland (1997–2009)
States and territories established in 1997
States and territories disestablished in 2009