About
Area inhabited by the 8th millenium BCE; two Stone Age cultures were here, both probably Finno-Ugrian. Baltic Finns immigrated and pushed Lapps north in the early centuries CE; clans established by the 8th century. Christians arrived in the 11th century. Ruled by Sweden 1157-1809, then by Russia. Official languages are Finnish and Swedish, though Russian and Lappish (Finno-Ugric) are also spoken.;TGN