History

In the 1997 redesign that reduced their number of provinces from 12 to 6 the Uusimaa province, Kymi province and the southern parts of Häme province formed the new province of Southern Finland.

Administration

The State Provincial Office is a joint regional authority of seven different ministries. It promotes national and regional objectives of the State central administration. The State Provincial Office of Southern Finland employs about 380 persons. Its service units are located in the cities of Hämeenlinna, Helsinki and Kouvola.

Regions

Southern Finland is divided into 6 regions:South Karelia (Etelä-Karjala/ Södra Karelen) ;

Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme/ Päijänne Tavastland) ;Tavastia Proper (Kanta-Häme/ Egentliga Tavastland) ;Uusimaa (Uusimaa/ Nyland) ;Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa/ Östra Nyland) ;Kymenlaakso (Kymenlaakso/ Kymmenedalen) ;Southern Finland is divided into 88 municipalities.