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Information about Kajaani 

Kajaani is a city with excellent traffic connections and 36,000 residents in Kainuu, in the beautiful landscapes of Lake Oulujärvi and River Kajaaninjoki. Kajaani is the ideal size with nature right outside your door and all the services you need within walking distance.

A diverse regional centre, everyday life in Kajaani is easy, thanks to the short distances and no traffic jams. In fact, you can often easily walk or cycle between home and work. Kajaani’s strengths include a high international level of competence, diverse sports and recreational opportunities and a lively cultural scene.

Kajaani’s vision in its strategy is to be “Nature City Kajaani – a Growth Leader 2022.”

Kajaani in figures

  • Founded in 1651
  • Founded by Pietari Brahe
  • Area 2,264.11 km2
    – land area 1,836.35 km2
    – inland waters 427.76 km2
  • Population density (inhabitants/km2) 21
  •  36,567 inhabitants (31 December 2020)
  • Tax percentage 21.00%

Historical information

  • Kajaani Castle 1604–1716
  • Highway 1825
  • Seminaari college for school teachers 1900–2010
  • Railway 1904
  • Kajaanin Puutavara Oy – UPM Kymmene Oyj 1907–2008
  • Kajaani Technology Centre 1973
  • Consolidation of the City of Kajaani and the rural municipality 1977
  • Kajaani University of Applied Sciences 1995
  • Kajaani University Consortium of the University of Oulu 2004
  • Consolidation of the municipality of Vuolijoki and the City of Kajaani 2007