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Vaasa city, the capital of Vaasa lääni (province), lies in western Finland, on the Gulf of Bothnia.

The history of Mustasaari (Mussor) as well as of Vaasa begins in the 14^th century, when the seafarers from the coastal region in central Sweden disembarked at the present Old Vaasa, and the wasteland owners from Finland proper came to guard their land.

King Charles IX founded the town of Vaasa on October 2, 1606 around the oldest harbour and trade point in the Mustasaari church village ca. 7 km to the southwest from the present city. King Charles IX gave the town the name of his royal house.  

After the fire the it was soon rebuilt in a more strategic location some 5 miles (8 km) closer to the sea, and its name was officially changed to Nikolainkaupunki until 1917 (although its traditional name was always used locally). Vaasa was the provisional capital of Finland during the Finnish War of Independence 1918.

The city now is an important port, exporting timber and importing other raw materials. Its industries include flour and textile mills, a sugar refinery, large bakeries, machinery and soap factories. It has regular passenger and car ferry service to Sweden. Pop. (1993 est.) mun., 54,289.

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