Helsinki (Taivassalo)

The village's name may suggest that its first settlers were Swedes from Hälsingland. The village was first mentioned in 1386 as Helsingaby. It was originally a prebend (tenure farm) of the abbey in Naantali.^[3]

Helsinki became somewhat significant in the 17th century as the Stockholm–Turku mail route passed through it. Helsinki was the road's entry and exit point for the entire Finnish mainland.^[4] Later on, a ferry connecting Helsinki to Kustavi was still the only road connection between Kustavi and the mainland until the ferry was relocated to Kaitainen in 1954. The Kaitainen bridge was built in 1982.^[5]

On September 26, 1808, during the Finnish War, 3,400 soldiers led by Gustaf Olof Lagerbring landed in Helsinki. Two days after the landing, they were defeated in Viiainen by Russian soldiers led by Pyotr Bagration.^[6]

Nowadays Helsinki is a village of only 6 permanent inhabitants, however the village contains many summer cottages, increasing its population during the summer.^[7]

Parts of the old mail route have been preserved in the area, including the dock on the Tylpänniemi. It is classified as a cultural site of national significance.^[8]