kauppala

A kauppala was a type of Finnish municipality that existed from 1917 to 1977. The term translates roughly to "market town" or "trading place." These were distinct from both rural municipalities (maalaiskunta) and cities (kaupunki). Kauppala municipalities were typically smaller in population and had a less developed urban infrastructure compared to cities, but were more urbanized and economically focused than rural municipalities.

The concept of a kauppala arose from the need to classify settlements that were developing as commercial centers but did not yet meet the criteria for city status. This often meant they had a significant population concentrated in a central built-up area with active trade and services. The legal distinction allowed these settlements to have their own administrative structures and some degree of self-governance, recognizing their growing importance.

In 1977, the distinction between kauppala and maalaiskunta was abolished in Finland. All former kauppala municipalities were reclassified. Most became either cities (kaupunki) or were merged into neighboring rural municipalities. This reform aimed to simplify municipal administration and reflect the changing nature of settlements, where the lines between urban and rural had become blurred. The term kauppala is no longer used in Finnish municipal law, though it may still be used informally to refer to towns with historical market town origins.