Oulainen

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Oulainen

| official_name = {{lang|fi|Oulaisten kaupunki}}
{{lang|sv|Oulainens stad}}

| settlement_type = Town

| motto = Syntyy ja tapahtuu.

| image_skyline = Oulainenen_June_2017.jpg

| image_caption = The town center of Oulainen in 2017.

| image_shield = Oulainen.vaakuna.svg

| shield_size = 120x80px

| image_map = Oulainen sijainti Suomi.svg

| map_caption = Location of Oulainen in Finland

|coordinates = {{coord|64|16|N|024|49|E|display=inline,title}}

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = North Ostrobothnia

| subdivision_type2 = Sub-region

| subdivision_name2 = Ylivieska

| leader_title = Town manager

| leader_name = Riikka Moilanen

| established_title = Charter

| established_date = 1865

| established_title2 = City rights

| established_date2 = 1977

|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Oulainen}}

|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Oulainen}}

|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Oulainen}}

|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Oulainen}}

|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Oulainen}}

|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Oulainen}}

|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Oulainen}}

|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Oulainen}}

|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Oulainen}}

|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Oulainen}}

|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Oulainen}}

|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Oulainen}}

|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Oulainen}}

|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Oulainen}}

|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Oulainen}}

|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Oulainen}}

|timezone = EET

|utc_offset = +02:00

|timezone_DST = EEST

|utc_offset_DST = +03:00

| website = {{Url|https://www.oulainen.fi/}}

}}

Oulainen ({{langx|sv|Oulainen}}, also {{lang|sv|Oulais}}) is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, {{convert|101|km}} south of the city of Oulu. The municipality has a population of {{formatnum:

{{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulainen}}}}

({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}

}}) and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Oulainen}}|km2}} of

which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Oulainen}}|km2|abbr=on}}

is water. The population density is

{{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Oulainen|round=2}}|PD/km2}}. Oulainen is founded in 1865, and it received township rights in 1977.

The municipality is unilingually Finnish. The municipality has previously also been known as "{{lang|sv|Oulais}}" in Swedish documents, but is today referred to as "Oulainen" also in Swedish.[http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?s=461 Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus :: Kuntien nimet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223065114/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?s=461 |date=2011-12-23 }}

Geography

Neighbouring municipalities are Alavieska, Haapavesi, Merijärvi, Pyhäjoki, Raahe and Ylivieska. In addition to the town center, the municipality includes the villages of Kilpua, Lehtopää, Matkaniva, Petäjäskoski, Piipsjärvi and Honkaranta.

Railway station

{{Infobox station

| name = Oulainen

| type = VR Group station

| style = VR Group

| image = Oulaisten rautatieasema 2006.JPG

| image_caption =

| address = Rautatienkatu 8,
83600 Oulainen

| coordinates = {{coord|64.26953|N|24.82128|E|display=inline}}

| line =

| other =

| structure = ground station

| platform = 3

| depth =

| levels =

| tracks =

| parking =

| bicycle =

| baggage_check =

| opened = 1886

| closed =

| rebuilt =

| electrified =

| code =

| owned = Finnish Transport Agency

| zone =

| smartcardname =

| smartcardstatus =

| former =

| passengers =

| pass_year =

| pass_percent =

| pass_system =

| mpassengers =

| services =

| map_locator =

| web =

}}

Oulainen railway station is located in the center of the town.{{Cite web |title=Oulainen railway station |url=https://www.vr.fi/en/railway-stations-and-routes/oulainen |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=www.vr.fi |language=en}} The station has three platforms each with designated boarding areas, a ticket vending machine, car parking and a bicycle stand.{{cite web |url=https://vayla.fi/documents/25230764/0/Lahialuekartta_+Oulainen_+A4+072019.pdf/d9eb2512-a753-ecce-2483-cdd588225c5a |type=pdf|title=Oulainen (station plan) |publisher=Väylävirasto - Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency |access-date=2024-01-14}} It was opened in 1886.{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}

History

Oulainen was first mentioned in 1572 as Oulahais and as a part of the Pyhäjoki parish. A farm named Oulahainen was established earlier. The name comes from a dialectal word oulu meaning "flooding waters" (see also Oulu) and seems to suggest a Tavastian origin. Alpo Räisänen suggests that the name could be of Savonian or Karelian origin.

Oulainen became a chapel community in 1682, a parish in 1870, a kauppala in 1967 and a town in 1977.{{Cite web|title=SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf|url=https://kaino.kotus.fi/www/verkkojulkaisut/julk63/SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf|page=309+310|access-date=August 24, 2022|website=kaino.kotus.fi|language=fi}}

Events

Notable annual events include the National Veteran Machines Fair ({{lang|fi|Waltakunnalliset Weteraanikonepäivät}})[http://www.junnut.com/kausi0203/100704Weter1.htm Waltakunnalliset Weteraanikonepäivät] and Oulainen Music Weeks ({{lang|fi|Oulaisten Musiikkiviikot}}). Oulainen Music Weeks were organized for the twentieth time in 2006. The Oulainen Youth Choir ({{lang|fi|Oulaisten Nuorisokuoro}}) has received international acclaim.