Understand
Rauma has a lot of seafaring history. During past centuries it also developed a reputation for high quality lace. Both of these traditions are actively being marketed by the tourism industry, though in day to day life they are no longer mainstream except for the port operations, as Rauma is still a major port in Finland. Folk culture, tourism and older people try to preserve much of Rauma tradition, but as everywhere, Finland is gradually becoming homogenized due to the influence of mass media. Younger generations in Rauma these days hardly differ from those in most other Finnish cities.
The post-WWII years were mainly driven by pulp and paper milling, which cast its ugly and sometimes smelly shadow on the town. However, the wood industry also brought prosperity and compared to many other similarly sized towns, Rauma has done pretty well. Environmental impact including the abovementioned smell is nowadays rather small due to modern technology. Most of the 'smoke' you see coming from the factory area tucked into the outskirts of the town is actually water vapour.
In its heyday, Rauma had two competing shipyards, which have now been consolidated into one and owned by STX from S-Korea. Combined with the wood industry and other metal industry companies, Rauma really has a blue-collar history.
Recently, due to the construction of the new nuclear power plant by a Franco-German company, there has been an influx of engineers and their families from Central Europe. This has contributed positively not only to the economy but also to the offerings of restaurants and cafés. As of this writing in early 2007, it is probable that the project and a possible continuation will stretch on for some time, keeping the foreign clientele in the town and thus invigorating it.
The neighboring county of Lappi merged into Rauma in 2009.
