traditionally a harbor town. With industrialization, Raahe was reinvented as a steel and heavy industry city and has further developed with engineering services, ICT and software production. Raahe is known for steel, heavy machinery, engineering works, shipping and ICT. The Rautaruukki steel mill, which up to the 1980s was the largest single industrial site in the Nordic countries, is located in Raahe. The mill produces steel plate, coil and sheeting and semi-finished products for the engineering works. Traditionally, Raahe was a port city. In the late Age of Sail, the 1850s and on, shipping companies in Raahe owned Finland's largest fleet of sailing vessels, 60 in total at their height. Currently, the port of Raahe is the sixth busiest port in the country, with 700 ships visiting each year. Cargo that is transported through the port includes raw materials and loose cargo, steel, lumber, containers and contract-shipped goods. With the steel industry, Raahe has grown into the third largest city in the ex-Oulu province, after Oulu and Kajaani. Like Oulu, the city promotes the ICT business, with the help of the steel industry (ProMetal and Steelpolis) and ICT industry (Softpolis) business incubators/business parks. The municipal tax rate is 19.75%. In 2007, the structure of the economy was as follows: agriculture and forestry 1%, construction 6%, manufacturing 43%, and retail, services and public services 50%. The sub-region includes the municipalities of Pyhäjoki and Siikajoki. Transportation The European route E8 goes through the city, and is the biggest mean of land transportation in Raahe. Raahe also has bus transportation by various companies. The Raahe railway station next to the Raahe Railroad was closed from passenger traffic in 1965. Ticket selling ended in 2000. International relations Twin towns — Sister cities Raahe is twinned with: Skellefteå, Sweden, since 1946 Løgstør, Denmark, since 1946 Bergen, Norway, since 1946 Cherepovets, Russia, since 1968 Košice, Slovakia, since 1987 Vårgårda, Sweden Kullamaa, Estonia Gallery See also Raahe Museum Tasku beacon tower References Notes External links Town of Raahe – Official site Old Raahe historical information in English, Finnish, German, and Swedish Finnish Institute of Migration English pages with historical information and databases Genealogical Society of Finland pages in English Raahe Guide Cities and towns in Finland Grand Duchy of Finland Populated coastal places in Finland Brahe family Port cities and towns in Finland Populated places established in 1649 1649 establishments in Sweden