Kokemäki (; ) is a town and municipality in the Satakunta Region of Finland. The town has a population of ()

The Kokemäki coat of arms depicts the bishop's mitre.

Geography

The long Kokemäki River (Kokemäenjoki) flows from Lake Liekovesi, in the Pirkanmaa region, through Kokemäki and in to the Gulf of Bothnia at Pori. The Kolsi hydro-electric power plant is located at Kokemäki. Kokemäki River has long been an important waterway, well known for its salmon, whitefish and lamprey.

Climate

History

It is believed that the Iron Age town of Teljä was located next to the Kokemäenjoki river at Kokemäki. The oldest stone carving yet found in Finland, dated at 8,000 to 9,000 years old, was discovered in nearby Huittinen in 1903. The 10 cm elk's head is in a permanent exhibition at the National Museum of Finland in the capital, Helsinki. Archeological finds from in and around Kokemäki have been dated to the Middle Ages.

Kokemäki is thought to have been founded in the 12th century, maybe even earlier. The Kokemäki parish was established in 1324. While part of the Kingdom of Sweden, the administrative area (slottslän) of Kumogård (Kokemäenkartano) was created in 1331. Kokemäki served as the administrative centre of the historical province of Satakunta until 1634. The Medieval Kokemäki Castle was demolished in 1367.

During the Revolution of 1918 some one-hundred-fifty-three individuals were killed in the municipality of Kokemäki.

The municipality of Kauvatsa was merged with Kokemäki in 1969. Kokemäki was granted city status in 1977.

The private coach companies OnniBus and ExpressBus operate services to all major towns and regions in Finland.

Rail

Finnish trains have a reputation for being spacious, comfortable and clean.

The state-owned rail company VR operates a service between Tampere and Pori, stopping at Kokemäki.

The train station is to the west of the town centre at Peipohja.

Air

The nearest airport is Pori Airport, which is or 40 minutes away by Highway 2. Piikajärvi Airfield is located ca. 8 kilometres south west of Kokemäki.

Tampere-Pirkkala Airport is or an hour and ten minutes away by Highway 12.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is two hours and twenty minutes away by Highway 2.

Tourist attractions

thumb|right|Kokemäenjoki river

  • St. Henry's Chapel
  • Tulkkila - Museum Bridge
  • Vestry of Saint Maria's Church
  • Puurijärvi-Isosuo National Park
  • Museum of Agriculture or "Maatalousmuseo"
  • Open-air Museum
  • Kokemäenjoki river
  • Kriivari Reindeer Farm
  • Sapila Suspension Bridge
  • Church of Gustav lll

Education

The Finnish education system is based on comprehensive schooling and is publicly funded.

Kokemäki has six schools offering primary and secondary education. These are; Tuomaala, Tulkkila, Riste, Peipohja, Lahteenmaki and Korkeaoja High School. There is free pre-school education for all children aged 6. The Peipohjan day-care nursery caters for children aged 9 months to 5 years.

There is a special needs Forsby School for children aged 0–9.

Vocational training is provided by Satakunta Training Consortium, known as SATAEDU and Huittinen Business and Vocational College.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Kokemäki is twinned with:

  • Falköping, Sweden
  • Lier, Norway
  • Mariagerfjord, Denmark
  • Põltsamaa, Estonia

References

  • Town of Kokemäki – Official website