Espoo lies in the region of Uusimaa on the coast of the Gulf of Finland, west of the capital Helsinki. Neighbouring towns include Kirkkonummi to the west and Vantaa to the northeast. The city area covers extensive sea regions with a skerry archipelago of 165 islands and 95 lakes, including Lake Bodom. The highest elevation reaches 114 metres above sea level.
The first traces of human settlement date from around 7000 BC, but permanent settlement began only in the 12th or 13th century. The name is probably derived from the River Espoo, as a document from 1431 confirms. For a long time Espoo remained a rural municipality in which farming and Swedish-speaking traditions were dominant. It was only with Helsinki’s growth from the 1950s onwards that rapid urbanisation began, leading to its elevation to city status in 1972.
Today Espoo is characterised by modern sub-centres such as Tapiola and Leppävaara, which compensate for the lack of a historical centre. The city is home to important educational institutions and has a high proportion of well-educated residents. In the north, the city area extends into Nuuksio National Park, while the south is marked by dense settlement and close links to the capital region.
