In 1552 king Gustav Vasa gave an order in which the areas of the Lake Oulu were to be inhabited.

The picture[clarification needed] church of Paltamo was built in 1726 by Johan Simonpoika Knubb.

One of the most important persons in the Finnish history of literature – Eino Leino – was born in Hövelö in 1878.

[citation needed] The name Paltamo comes from the Finnish word palta "coastal slope".

[6] The word paltamo means a tar boat in the Kainuu dialect, which is the reason the coat of arms of Paltamo has three black tar boats on a golden background.