Kokkola is a small town in the region of Central Ostrobothnia in Finland. It is located on the Gulf of Bothnia, and is the most important harbour town in the region. The town has a population of about 38,000, and is the administrative centre of the Kokkola municipality. Kokkola was founded in 1620 by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf. The town grew rapidly, and by the end of the century it had a population of about 1,200. The town was destroyed by a fire in 1852, but was rebuilt soon afterwards. Kokkola was the birthplace of the Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela.