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Halikko () is a former municipality of Finland that existed until December 31, 2008. On January 1, 2009, the municipality was merged with the larger neighboring Salo. Before the merge Halikko had become a rapidly urbanizing rural area.

It was located in the province of Western Finland and was part of the Southwest Finland region. The municipality had a population of 9,491 (2004-12-31) and covered an area of 357.31&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> (excluding sea) of which 0.52&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> was inland water. The population density was 26.60 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

The municipality was unilingually Finnish.

thumb|The valley of Halikko River

History

There is evidence that areas in Halikko has been settled in the Stone Age. One of the prehistoric villages, Rikala, became an important trade and meeting place on the Finnish coast during the Iron Age. The vikings sailed to Rikala to trade with the finns. Several Iron Age treasures has been found in Halikko, e.g. the Treasure of Halikko.

In the first centuries of the Swedish rule in Finland, the land was given to the ruling class. Manors of Åminne, Vuorentaka

Saulo Kepsu has suggested that the toponym is Finnic in origin, being derived a possible pre-Christian personal name *Halikka or *Halikkoi, which would be derived from the verb haluta (to want).

Notable people

  • Count Arvid Bernhard Horn af Ekebyholm (1664 in Vuorentaka Manor – 1742) a Swedish general, diplomat and politician.

See also

  • Halikko Church
  • Former official site

References