Simo

Simo has about 3,000 residents. The net migration is slightly positive but the population trend is slowly declining though. The community still lives strongly from agriculture, and potato is even nowadays a major product. Many locals however drive daily to the cities Kemi or Oulu for work. In close future a renovated highway from Oulu towards north will probably bind Simo more to influence of Oulu than to the rest of Lapland. Simo itself is an important wind power producer and there are several wind power plants. Simo is also an important producer of energy peat.

Geography:

Geographically Simo is very similar to the Ostrobothnian area to its south. The landscape is flat and consist of forests and large open mires. Compared to the rest of Finland the lakes and rivers are notably scarce. The river Simo (Finnish: Simojoki) flows to the Baltic Sea, and is one of those few rivers left that still have its original breeding Baltic Sea salmon population. The shoreline to the Baltic Sea is long, and the shallow waters are in favour to many pelagic birds. The population is heavily concentrated to the sea shore and along the banks of the Simo river while there are few people residing elsewhere.

There are large bog and mire systems especially in the northeast. The southern part of the Runkaus Strict Nature Reserve, protecting an exceptionally important fen mire, is in Simo. To protect its nature the Runkaus area is closed to the public.

History:

There are many place names of Sami origin at the area. The oldest known settlements on the mouth of Simo river are fishermen communities from 1300s. In 1540 there were 11 houses in Simonkylä, 6 in Simoniemi and 5 in Maksniemi village. The road connection was established in 1652 but it took until 1750s before wagons could use it. During the 1700s, numerous settlers arrived to the area but it took until 1800s before first permanent settlements were built inland, to the banks of the Simo river. Simo became an independent parish in 1796.

By car:

Highway E75 (Ouluntie) runs through the administrative centre. Distance to Oulu in south is 80 kilometers (1 hour drive) and to Kemi in north 27 kilometers (20 min). National road 924 (Ranuantie) connect the administrative center to Ranua 92 kilometers east (1h 20 min).

By bus:

There are numerous daily coach connections between Oulu and Kemi, some of them continuing to Rovaniemi and Haparanda. These stop at Simo centre if necessary; either at the 1 Simo Bus Station or – mostly – by dropping the passengers to a bus stop by the highway. A bus ticket costs approx. €7 from Kemi and €10–18 from Oulu. See Matkahuolto for details.

By train:

The nearest railway stations are at Kemi and Oulu, where you must continue to Simo with a coach. The railway goes through the administrative centre but passenger trains haven't stopped here for decades.

By plane:

The nearest airports are Kemi-Tornio Airport in north and Oulu Airport in south. Both have daily connections to Helsinki.

By boat:

If you are travelling with a yacht there is 2 Simoniemi Guest Marina .