The area was first settled around the 12th century by Swedish colonials sailing up the Vantaanjoki river. The parish was established at the meeting point of the Vantaanjoki and Keravanjoki rivers. It expanded as the coastal King's Road connecting Turku and Vyborg connected to the town. The Church of St. Lawrence was established in the mid-15th century as the center of the parish, and remains the oldest building in all of Greater Helsinki. The parish was the largest township in the area, until the port city of Helsinki was established along the coast in 1550.
