Geta, Åland

Geta
Municipality
Geta kommun
Geta
Coat of arms of Geta
Coat of arms
Location of Geta in Finland
Location of Geta in Finland
Geta is located in Åland
Geta
Geta
Location in Åland
Coordinates: 60°22.5′N 019°51′E / 60.3750°N 19.850°E / 60.3750; 19.850
Country Finland
RegionÅland
Sub-regionCountryside
Government
 • Municipal managerGustav Blomberg
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
605.99 km2 (233.97 sq mi)
 • Land84.55 km2 (32.64 sq mi)
 • Water522.14 km2 (201.60 sq mi)
 • Rank303rd largest in Finland
Population
 (2025-06-30)[2]
 • Total
517
 • Rank301st largest in Finland
 • Density6.11/km2 (15.8/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Swedish82.1% (official)
 • Finnish4.3%
 • Others13.6%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1416.8%
 • 15 to 6460.9%
 • 65 or older22.3%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.geta.ax

Geta (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈjeːta]) is a municipality in the northern part of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland. The municipality has a population of 517 (30 June 2025)[6] and covers an area of 605.99 square kilometres (233.97 sq mi) of which 522.14 km2 (201.60 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 6.11 inhabitants per square kilometre (15.8/sq mi).

Its neighboring municipalities are Finström, Hammarland and Saltvik. The municipality is unilingually Swedish.

Håkan Skogsjö has documented the permanently residing population of Geta from the 17th century to the present, covering the history of the municipality as a whole, its individual hamlets, down to each original farmstead and the families who lived there.[7]

Geography

Geta is located in the northern part of Fasta Åland, the main island of the Åland archipelago in the Baltic Sea. It shares borders with Finström, Hammarland and Saltvik and is situated about 35-40 km north of Mariehamn.[8]

The municipality covers a total area of 84.55 km², of which the majority is land. The population density is approximately 6 inhabitants per km².[9]

Demographics

As of December 2023, the population is approximately 514 residents. Historical estimates include 499 in 2016 and 505 in 2021.[9]

The municipality is officially unilingually Swedish, in line with other municipalities in Åland.[10]

History

Geta was originally part of the Finström chapel community and became an independent municipality in 1908. The name originates from the Old Norse word gæta, meaning “to guard” or “to watch.” The area was among the first in the region to emerge following post-glacial rebound, and evidence of human settlement dates to the Iron Age.[11]

Government and administration

Geta is governed by a municipal council, based in the village of Västergeta. The municipal administrative office (kommunkansli) is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 to 15:00, with a lunch break from 11:00 to 12:00. The office is closed on Fridays.[12]

Economy

The local economy includes small-scale enterprises, agriculture, tourism, service sectors, and handicrafts.[11] In the broader Åland context, shipping, trade, and tourism are major economic drivers, alongside sectors such as energy and food production.[10]

Education and public services

Public services in Geta include:

  • Primary education (Geta skola) and daycare (Daghemmet Kotten)
  • Library and recreational facilities
  • Elderly care and basic health services
  • Postal, banking, and retail services
  • Food service establishments, accommodation facilities, and a petrol station[11]

Culture and recreation

The municipality contains areas of elevated terrain, forests, caves, lakes, and coastal features. Recreational activities include hiking, wildlife observation, and local events.[11]

Landmarks

  • Geta Church – A fieldstone church dedicated to Saint George, originally constructed in the early 16th century. It includes a brick sacristy from 1826 and a freestanding bell tower from the 17th century.[11]
  • Dånö Homestead Museum – Housed in a 19th-century pilot’s residence, the museum exhibits traditional household items and tools. It is open from mid-June to mid-August. Admission is €5 for adults and free for children under 12.[13]

Transport

Geta is situated along Åland’s Highway 4 and is connected to Mariehamn via regional roads. Access to Åland is available by ferry or air travel to Mariehamn, with onward travel by road to Geta.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Population increased most in Uusimaa in January to June 2025". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2025-07-24. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  3. ^ "Number of foreign-language speakers exceeded 600,000 during 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2025-04-04. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
  4. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Ennakkoväkiluku sukupuolen mukaan alueittain, maaliskuu.2016" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. ^ Skogsjö, Håkan (2012). Ålands släktregister. D. 10:1 Familjer och gårdar i Geta: från stormaktstid till nutid (in Swedish). Mariehamn: SkogsjöMedia. pp. 1–494. ISBN 9789526715476. – Skogsjö, Håkan (2012). Ålands släktregister. D. 10:2 Familjer och gårdar i Geta: från stormaktstid till nutid (in Swedish). Mariehamn: SkogsjöMedia. pp. 1–483. ISBN 9789526715483.
  8. ^ "Geta municipality – in brief". Geta kommun. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Geta (Municipality, Åland, Finland)". CityPopulation.de. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Facts About Åland". Åland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Geta Municipality – In Brief". Geta.ax. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Välkommen till Geta kommun". Geta kommun. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Dånö Homestead Museum". Visit Åland. Retrieved 20 July 2025.

Notes

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