Degerby

Degerby is a former Finnish municipality located in Uusimaa region in Finland. Degerby was founded in 1867 after it gained its independence from the municipality of Ingå. The municipality ceased to exist in 1945 after major part of it became a part of the Soviet naval base Porkkala.[1][2]

Degerby
Degerby kommun
Former Finnish municipality
Degerby church village
Degerby church village
Location of Degerby in Uusimaa region
Location of Degerby in Uusimaa region
Coordinates: 60°5′7″N 24°10′40″W
RegionUusimaa
Sub-regionRaseborg sub-region
Founded1867
Ceased to exist31.12. 1945
SeatDegerby Town Hall
Government
 • BodyMunicipal Council
 • First chair of municipal councilGustaf Adolf Lindroth
Area
 • Total82.4 km2 (31.8 sq mi)
Population
 (1940)
 • Total1 493
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00

In 1940 there were 1 490 people living in Degerby with majority of people speaking Swedish as their mother tongue. The church village of Degerby, which was also the administrative centre of the municipality, is listed as a Built cultural heritage site of national significance by the Finnish Heritage Agency.[3]

The neighbouring municipalities of Degerby were Siuntio and Ingå. Nowadays Degerby is part of the municipality of Ingå.

History

The area of Degerby was populated during the Middle Ages when the King's Road passed through the village. In 1560s there were only four houses in Degerby. There are also Bronze Age burial sites on the cliffs that surround the Degerby church village.[1]

As an independent municipality

Degerby gained its independence from Ingå in 1867. Ecclesiastically Degerby was still under Ingå's rule and the parish was run by chaplain from Ingå. Degerby parish gained its independence from Ingå in 1923.[1][3][4]

The municipality had seven schools, a town hall, a library, a midwife, a nurse, a fire inspector, a post office and a church all located in the administrative centre in the church village. Degerby also had a railway station in Solberg village which was the second largest village in the municipality. Mail and goods were transported to and from Degerby via the Solberg railway station.[1][2][4]

The Soviet Naval Base Porkkala

In 1944 Porkkala area was leased to Soviet Union for 50 years as a consequence of the demands of the armistice. Majority of Degerby's area was included in the lease of Porkkala and altogether over 1 200 inhabitants of the total of about 1 400 inhabitants of Degerby were evacuated in 1944. As from 1 January 1946 the remaining parts of the Degerby were joined with Ingå and the Degerby municipality ceased to exist.

The parish of Degerby was joined with the parish of Ingå in the beginning of 1950.[1][3]

As the municipality was disestablished before rural municipalities were allowed to have coats of arms, Degerby never had one. The heraldist Tapani Talari has designed an unofficial coat of arms for Degerby, which is now used by the village's council.[5][6]

Demographics

Population
Development of Degerby's population in 1880–1940
Year Population
1880 1 279
1890 1 442
1900 1 524
1910 1 581
1920 1 464
1930 1 431
1940 1 493
Source: Statistics Finland

Geography

Degerby is located in the middle of large fields surrounded by rocky hills.[2]

Villages

Degerby church village, Degerö, Flyt, Kopparnäs, Solberg, Strand, Västersolberg

Traffic

The Finnish national road 51 goes through Degerby south of the church village. There is a railway station in Solberg but no active traffic is maintained nowadays. Torbacka airport for small aircraft is also located in Degerby.[2]

Sights
sign of the King's Road by the road
The King's Road in Degerby

List of sights in Degerby:[7][4]

  • Degerby church
  • Degerby Igor museum
  • Soviet bunker of Grefvas
  • Gutsåker cemetery
  • Torbacka airport
  • Kopparnäs open air nature area
  • Lomamäen lemmikkipuisto domestic animal park

See also

References
  1. "The Municipality". degerby.fi. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. "The Village". degerby.fi. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. "RKY ι Objekt". www.kulturmiljo.fi. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  4. "Degerby kyrka – Ingå". www.inga.fi. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  5. "Toiminta - Degerbyn kyläyhdistys ry". degerby.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  6. "Nya vapen för gamla kommuner - Kommuntorget.fi". kommuntorget.fi (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  7. "Tourism". degerby.fi. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
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