Pargas (former municipality)

Pargas was a municipality located in southwestern Finland, in the archipelago of the Baltic Sea. It was situated in the province of Western Finland and was part of the Southwest Finland region. Predominantly Swedish-speaking, Pargas was officially bilingual, with Swedish as the majority language and Finnish as the minority language.

The municipality was known for its archipelago landscape, encompassing numerous islands and islets. Its main center was the town of Pargas, also known as Parainen in Finnish. The local economy was historically based on limestone quarrying, shipping, and fishing. Over time, tourism also became a significant industry, drawing visitors to experience the archipelago's natural beauty.

In 2009, Pargas merged with the municipalities of Nagu (Nauvo), Korpo (Korppoo), Houtskär, and Iniö to form a new municipality, also named Pargas. This merger aimed to consolidate administrative functions and improve municipal services in the region. The new Pargas inherited the bilingual status of its predecessor. Consequently, the former municipality of Pargas now exists only as a historical entity, and its administrative functions are integrated into the larger, unified municipality of Pargas. The history and cultural heritage of the former municipality, however, continue to be important aspects of the local identity.