Karstula
Municipality
Karstulan kunta
Karstula kommun
Karstula Church
Karstula Church
Coat of arms of Karstula
Coat of arms
Location of Karstula in Finland
Location of Karstula in Finland
Coordinates: 62°52.5′N 024°48′E / 62.8750°N 24.800°E / 62.8750; 24.800
Country Finland
RegionCentral Finland
Sub-regionSaarijärvi–Viitasaari sub-region
Charter1867
Government
 • Municipal managerPekka Kanervio
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total963.19 km2 (371.89 sq mi)
 • Land887.06 km2 (342.50 sq mi)
 • Water76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi)
 • Rank86th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-30)[2]
 • Total3,623
 • Rank200th largest in Finland
 • Density4.08/km2 (10.6/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Finnish98.5% (official)
 • Others1.5%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1412.3%
 • 15 to 6452.8%
 • 65 or older34.9%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.karstula.fi

Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,623 (30 September 2023)[2] and covers an area of 963.19 square kilometres (371.89 sq mi) of which 76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 4.08 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.6/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini.

There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula. Biggest lakes are Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.[5]

History

The name of Karstula is likely derived from the Savonian surname Karstunen, encountered around Ristiina since 1541. First records of the surname in Northern Tavastia (modern Central Finland) are from the 18th century. Karstula was initially a part of the Saarijärvi parish, acquiring chapel rights in 1775 under it. Karstula was allowed to become a separate parish and municipality in 1858, but separated later in 1887. Kyyjärvi was a part of Karstula until 1929, though it only acquired a separate parish in 1944.[6]

Suomenselkä municipality

Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi planned to merge into the Suomenselkä municipality from January 1, 2022.[7][8] Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi accepted the merger proposal, but Kannonkoski did not.[9] After Kannonkoski left out of the planned merger, Kivijärvi also left out. The merger project of the remaining Karstula and Kyyjärvi failed at the Kyyjärvi municipal council meeting held on May 17, 2021, and the Ministry of Finance does not propose a forced merger either.[10]

Architecture

  • A number of historical buildings (from the beginning of the 20th century) has been preserved in the village centre, representing the original countryside buildings of the region.
  • There's also a cottage designed by Alvar Aalto, though it is not listed in most Aalto's biographies.

Transport

Highway 13 between Kokkola and Lappeenranta, main road 58 between Kangasala and Kärsämäki and main road 77 between Kyyjärvi and Siilinjärvi pass through the Karstula municipality.

Karstula is served by OnniBus.com route Helsinki—Jyväskylä—Kokkola.

Notable people

Culture

  • The International Shooting Week

Twin cities

References

  1. 1 2 "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Preliminary population statistics 2023, September". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Karstula". Järviwiki. Finland's Environmental Administration. 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf" (PDF). kaino.kotus.fi (in Finnish). p. 140. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Roiha, Marja (4 December 2020). "Pohjoisen Keski-Suomen uuden kunnan nimeksi Suomenselkä". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Kotilainen, Virpi (25 January 2021). "Kivijärvi kysyy asukkaiden mielipidettä kuntaliitoksesta". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Heikkilä, Eija (15 February 2021). "Neljän kunnan liitos ei toteudu – Kannonkoski hylkäsi kuntaliitoksen". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Valtiovarainministeriö ei esitä Kyyjärven kunnan pakkoliitosta" (in Finnish). Ministry of Finance. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.

Media related to Karstula at Wikimedia Commons Karstula travel guide from Wikivoyage


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