Køge Municipality (pronounced [ˈkøːə] or [ˈkøːjə]) is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Region Sjælland on the east coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) approx. 40 km southwest of Copenhagen. The municipality covers an area of 255 km² (98 sq. miles), and has a total population of 56,637 (2008). Until January 2007, its mayor was Torben Hansen, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party, who died while still in office. He was replaced by Marie Stærke, who at age 27 is currently Denmark's youngest mayor.