Foundation of Kajaani

Count Per Brahe recognised the value of Kajaani's geographical location and realised that Kajaani could serve as a trading town for a region known as forest-Finland. In March 1651, he signed Kajaani's foundation documents. At that point the new town was nothing but a small poor-looking village with some 30-40 houses and less than 400 inhabitants. A mayor was appointed and a magistrate set up to look after the town's matters. The former rural municipality and the town municipality were separated from Paltamo in 1655 to form a vicariate of their own so Kajaani rural municipality may be considered to have been established in the very same year.