Raahe (; ; ) is a town in Finland, located on the western coast of the country. Raahe is situated in the North Ostrobothnia region, along the Gulf of Bothnia. The population of Raahe is approximately , while the sub-region has a population of approximately . It is the most populous municipality in Finland.

Founded in 1649 by the Swedish statesman and Governor General of Finland, Count Per Brahe the Younger, it is one of 10 remaining historic wooden towns (or town centres) in Finland. Examples of other historic wooden towns in Finland are Kaskinen (Kaskö), Old Rauma, Porvoo (Borgå), Jakobstad (Pietarsaari) and Vaasa (Vasa). After a devastating fire in 1810, Raahe was rebuilt according to new design principles that minimised the risk of fire and enlarged some of the civic spaces. Old Raahe (or "Wooden Raahe") is notable for its Renaissance-inspired rectilinear town plan with an unusual central square (called Pekkatori) with closed corners.

Raahe is located southwest of Oulu and northeast of Kokkola, and covers an area of of which is water.

The planning of the town for the purpose of building Raahe was given to the surveyor Claes Claesson. His town plan followed the ideals of the regular grid plan of the Renaissance. All of the streets of Raahe were of equal width of 20-21 cubits or 10–11 meters. The market square stood by Rantakatu and the Town Hall behind the square. At the northeast corner of the town stood the church and the schoolhouse. Six blocks were realized of the town plan, i.e. the area surrounded by present-day Koulukatu, Kirkkokatu, Saaristokatu and Rantakatu. The later expansion and changes of the town have held the ambitions of Claesson's town plan in respect until the beginning of the latest century. which further enlivened the town's traffic and commerce. Goods such as tar, boards, tallow, butter, and fur were traded through Raahe, and improved road connections increased the competitiveness of the harbour.

Climate

Economy

thumb|A railway connection to the [[Rautaruukki steel factory in July 2009]]

Raahe was granted Staple port rights in 1791 and was traditionally a harbor town. With industrialization, Raahe was reinvented as a steel and heavy industry city and has further developed with engineering services, ICT and software production. Raahe is known for steel, heavy machinery, engineering works, shipping and ICT. The Rautaruukki steel mill, which up to the 1980s was the largest single industrial site in the Nordic countries, is located in Raahe. The mill produces steel plate, coil and sheeting and semi-finished products for the engineering works.

Traditionally, Raahe was a port city. In the late Age of Sail, the 1850s and on, shipping companies in Raahe owned Finland's largest fleet of sailing vessels, 60 in total at their height. Currently, the port of Raahe is the sixth busiest port in the country, with 700 ships visiting each year. Cargo that is transported through the port includes raw materials and loose cargo, steel, lumber, containers and contract-shipped goods.

With the steel industry, Raahe has grown into the third largest city in the ex-Oulu province, after Oulu and Kajaani. Like Oulu, the city promotes the ICT business, with the help of the steel industry (ProMetal and Steelpolis) and ICT industry (Softpolis) business incubators/business parks.

The municipal tax rate is 19.75%. In 2007, the structure of the economy was as follows: agriculture and forestry 1%, construction 6%, manufacturing 43%, and retail, services and public services 50%. The sub-region includes the municipalities of Pyhäjoki and Siikajoki.

Demographics

Sports

The men's pesäpallo team Pattijoen Urheilijat competes in the Superpesis national league, playing at Rännäri Stadium.

Transportation

The European route E8 goes through the city, and is the biggest mean of land transportation in Raahe. Raahe also has bus transportation by various companies. The Raahe railway station next to the Raahe Railroad was closed from passenger traffic in 1966. Ticket selling ended in 2000.

Notable people

  • Joonas Donskoi (born 1992), ice hockey player
  • Katja Hänninen (born 1980), politician
  • Jyri Junnila (born 1984), ice hockey player
  • Petri Keskitalo (born 1967), decathlete
  • Heikki Kinnunen (born 1946), actor
  • Laura Kivistö (born 1981), football (soccer) player
  • JP Leppäluoto (born 1974), musician
  • Hanna-Leena Mattila (born 1964), politician
  • Janne Niinimaa (born 1975), ice hockey player
  • Lasse Paakkonen (born 1986), cross-country skier
  • Markus Poukkula (born 1988), ice hockey player
  • Samuli Putro (born 1970), musician
  • Miikka Salomäki (born 1993), ice hockey player
  • Onni Suutari (born 2003), football player

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Raahe is twinned with:

  • Skellefteå, Sweden, since 1940
  • Mo i Rana, Norway, since 1946
  • Cherepovets, Russia, since 1968, cooperation suspended since 2022
  • Košice, Slovakia, since 1987
  • Märjamaa, Estonia, twinned with Vihanti (now consolidated with Raahe) since 1998
  • Sosnovy Bor, Russia, since 2017, cooperation suspended since 2022