Kuopio History, Finland

The history of Kuopio is full of tradition and modern expansion that have helped shape the city into what it is today. The city was established in 1653. The founding of the city was credited to Governor Peter Brahe. However, the recognition of Kuopio as a city only came a century later. It was in 1775 that Kuopio was recognized as a city. Technically, King Gustav III of Sweden ordered the creation of the city which formalized its establishment. The city was still under the ruling of Sweden during that time. Unfortunately, Finland was continuously under attack by its neighbors, particularly Sweden and Russia. It was only during the late 19th century that the city was able to establish structures after a continuous invasion of both countries.  

For this reason, the expansion of Kuopio only came in the late 20th century. Riistavesi and Kuopion Maalaiskunta were integrated to the city in 1969 and 1973 respectively. The latest addition to Kuopio was the town of Vehmersalmi which was integrated to the city in 2005.  

But the history of Kuopio was without remarkable feat. Through its history, schools were a big part of the city. The city is home to some of the country’s first schools that taught in native language. Nationalism is strong in the city as they have often fought against invaders. Although there were times they lost during the battle, the locals never failed to appreciate their local traditions. You should be able to find a lot of museums in the city that carefully depicts the city under the invaders and there are also museums that focus on the traditional way of life of the locals. The local customs and traditions even became very popular and   now they are popular tourist attractions.

 Activities such as Ice Marathon and Dance Festival are only some of the activities that commemorate the past of the city.  

The city is also significant in the religious history of the country. It is currently the seat of the leader of Finish Orthodox Church. The remarkable church located in the center of the city is the witness of the city’s role in the development of the Finish Orthodox religion in the country.  

The history of Kuopio is closely linked to its current role in education and religion. The city was also able to preserve its identity through time and different invaders. The tradition lives through the popular cultural activities which is widely appreciated by tourists.