Jump to content

Alajärvi: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 63°00′N 023°49′E / 63.000°N 23.817°E / 63.000; 23.817
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎top: clean up, removed: |finnish_official = 1, |swedish_official =, |sami_official =
mapsize
(19 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Finnish municipality
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Alajärvi
|name = Alajärvi
|official_name = {{lang|fi|Alajärven kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Alajärvi stad}}
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Alajärven kaupunki}}<br />{{lang|sv|Alajärvi stad}}
| settlement_type = Town
|other_name =
| image_skyline = Alajärvi Church Alajärven kirkko.jpg
|native_name =
| image_caption = Alajärvi Church
|native_name_lang =
| image_shield = Alajärvi.vaakuna.svg
|nickname =
| shield_size = 100px
|settlement_type = Town <!-- City, Town or Municipality-->
| image_map = Alajärvi sijainti Suomi.svg
|total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| mapsize = 150px
|motto =
|image_skyline = Alajärvi Church Alajärven kirkko.jpg
| map_caption = Location of Alajärvi in Finland
|coordinates = {{coord|63|00|N|023|49|E|display=inline,title}}
|imagesize =
|subdivision_type = Country
|image_caption = Alajärvi Church
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
|image_flag =
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
|flag_size =
| subdivision_name1 = [[South Ostrobothnia]]
|image_seal =
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
|seal_size =
| subdivision_name2 = [[Järviseutu|Järviseutu sub-region]]
|image_shield = Alajärvi.vaakuna.svg
| leader_title = [[Town manager]]
|shield_size =
| leader_name = Vesa Koivunen
|image_blank_emblem =
| established_title = [[Charter]]
|blank_emblem_type =
| established_date = 1869
|blank_emblem_size =
| established_title2 = [[Town privileges]]
|image_map = Alajärvi.sijainti.suomi.2009.svg
| established_date2 = 1986
|mapsize =
|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Alajärvi}}
|map_caption = Location of Alajärvi in [[Finland]]
|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Alajärvi}}
|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Alajärvi}}
|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Alajärvi}}
|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Alajärvi}}
|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Alajärvi}}
|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Alajärvi}}
|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Alajärvi}}
|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Alajärvi}}
|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Alajärvi}}
|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_footnotes|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Alajärvi}}
|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Alajärvi}}
|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Alajärvi}}
|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Alajärvi}}
|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Alajärvi}}
|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Alajärvi}}
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +02:00
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| website = [http://www.alajarvi.fi/ www.alajarvi.fi]
}}
'''Alajärvi''' is a [[List of cities and towns in Finland|town]] and [[municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]]. It is located in the [[South Ostrobothnia]] [[regions of Finland|region]]. The town has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Alajärvi}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }})<ref name="population_count"/> and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Alajärvi}}|km2}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Alajärvi}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="total_area" /> The [[population density]] is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Alajärvi|round=2}}|PD/km2}}. The town is unilingually [[Finnish language|Finnish]].


The municipality of [[Lehtimäki]] was consolidated with Alajärvi on 1 January 2009.
|pushpin_map = <!-- name of a location map as per Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_mapsize =
|region = [[South Ostrobothnia]]
|subregion = Järviseutu sub-region
<!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government -->
|seat_type =
|seat =
|parts_type =
|parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format)
Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5-->
|parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list -->
|p1 =
|p2 = <!-- etc. up to p10: for separate parts to be listed-->
|government_footnotes =
|leader_title = [[Town manager]]
|leader_name = Vesa Koivunen
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|leader_title2 =
|leader_name2 =
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 =
|established_title = [[Charter]]
|established_date = 1869
|established_title2 = [[Town privileges]]
|established_date2 = 1986
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|extinct_title =
|extinct_date =
|area_urban_km2 =
|area_metro_km2 =
|population_metro =
|population_blank1_title =
|population_blank1 =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_urban =
|population_density_urban_km2 =
|population_note =


==Geography==
The neighboring municipalities of Alajärvi are [[Alavus]], [[Kuortane]], [[Kyyjärvi]], [[Lappajärvi]], [[Lapua]], [[Perho]], [[Soini, Finland|Soini]], [[Vimpeli]] and [[Ähtäri]].
|urbanisation =
|unemployment =
|blank1_name =
|blank1_info =
|blank2_name =
|blank2_info =
|blank3_name =
|blank3_info =
|blank4_name =
|blank4_info =
|coordinates_type =
<!-- latNS=N and longEW=E set by default -->
|coordinates = {{coord|63|00|N|023|49|E|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_m =
|postal_code =
|area_code =
|website = [http://www.alajarvi.fi/ www.alajarvi.fi]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Alajärvi''' is a [[List of cities and towns in Finland|town]] and [[municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]].


===Villages===
It is located in the [[South Ostrobothnia]] [[regions of Finland|region]]. The town has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Alajärvi}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }})<ref name="population_count" /> and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Alajärvi}}|km2}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Alajärvi}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="total_area" /> The [[population density]] is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Alajärvi|round=2}}|PD/km2}}.
In 1967, Alajärvi had eight legally recognized villages ''(henkikirjakylät)'':<ref name="suomenmaa">{{Cite book |last=Korpela |first=Kalevi |last2=Mäkinen |first2=Vesa |last3=Papunen |first3=Pentti |title=Suomenmaa: maantieteellis-yhteiskunnallinen tieto- ja hakuteos. 1: Ahlainen–Hausjärvi|publisher=[[Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö|WSOY]]|year=1967|location=[[Helsinki]]|chapter=Alajärvi}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=24em}}
* Alajärvi
* Kurejoki
* Menkijärvi
* Möksy
* Savonkylä
* Tarvolankylä
* Päällysaho
* Vimpeli
{{div col end}}


== Economy ==
The town is unilingually [[Finnish language|Finnish]]; there are few immigrants.
In 2018, 11.2% of the workforce of Alajärvi worked in primary production ([[agriculture]], [[forestry]] and [[fishing]]), 29.9% in secondary production (e.g. [[manufacturing]], [[construction]] and [[infrastructure]]), and 57.1% in [[Service (economics)|services]]. In 2019, the unemployment rate was 9.3%, and the share of pensioners in the population was 33.0%.<ref name="municipal key figures">{{Cite web|title=Municipal key figures 1987-2020 (with the 2021 regional division)|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_aikasarja.px|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426165318/https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_aikasarja.px |archive-date=2021-04-26 }} (2018 and 2019)</ref>


Though a small town, Alajärvi has a few shops, namely K-Supermarket, [[Tokmanni]], [[Lidl]] and a few others. In 2013 a public [[Swimming pool|natatorium]] was opened, which also includes a weight room.
The [[Alajärvi church]] was designed by [[Carl Ludvig Engel]], and completed in 1836.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabrielin kirkko - Alajärven kirkko |url=https://www.alajarvenseurakunta.fi/kirkot-ja-tilat/alajarven-kirkko |website=AlajarvenSeurakunta.fi |accessdate=4 October 2020 |language=fi}}</ref>


=== Urban areas ===
The [[Alajärvi city library|library building]] is based on a design by [[Alvar Aalto]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alvar Aalto in Alajärvi |url=https://visit.alvaraalto.fi/en/destinations/alvar-aalto-in-alajarvi/ |website=AlvarAalto.fi |accessdate=4 October 2020}}</ref>
In 2019, out of the total population of 9,562, 5,846 people lived in [[Urban areas in Finland|urban areas]] and 3,641 in sparsely populated areas, while the coordinates of 75 people were unknown. This made Alajärvi's degree of urbanization 61.6%.<ref name="urbanization">{{Cite web|title=Degree of urbanisation by area, 2019|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s7.px/|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126094642/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s7.px/ |archive-date=2019-11-26 }}</ref> The urban population in the municipality was divided between three urban areas as follows:<ref name="urban population">{{Cite web|title=Population in urban settlements and sparsely populated areas by age, sex and municipality, 2019|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s6.px/|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126094635/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s6.px/ |archive-date=2019-11-26 }}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable"
The town is home to the Nelimarkka Museum. The museum was built by the painter Eero Nelimarkka. It was designed by his friend, the architect Hilding Ekelund.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nelimarkka-museo.fi/|title=Nelimarkka-Museo|website=www.nelimarkka-museo.fi|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>
! # !! Urban area !! Population
|-
| align="center" | 1 || '''Alajärvi central locality''' || align="right" | 5,029
|-
| align="center" | 2 || [[Lehtimäki]] ||align="right"| 570
|-
| align="center" | 3 || [[Luoma-aho]] ||align="right"| 247
|}


===Climate===
Though a small town, Alajärvi has a few shops, namely Supermarket, Tokmanni, [[Lidl]] and a few others. In 2013 a public natatorium was opened, which also includes a weight room.
Alajärvi has a [[subarctic climate]] (''Dfc'').{{Weather box
| width = auto
| collapsed =
| open =
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| location = Alajärvi Möksy (1991-2020 normals, records 1959-present)
| Jan record high C = 7.8
| Feb record high C = 10.0
| Mar record high C = 14.1
| Apr record high C = 23.2
| May record high C = 29.8
| Jun record high C = 32.1
| Jul record high C = 33.6
| Aug record high C = 30.8
| Sep record high C = 27.0
| Oct record high C = 19.8
| Nov record high C = 11.2
| Dec record high C = 8.1
| year record high C = 33.6
| Jan mean C = -7.4
| Feb mean C = -7.9
| Mar mean C = -4.0
| Apr mean C = 2.0
| May mean C = 8.3
| Jun mean C = 13.2
| Jul mean C = 15.9
| Aug mean C = 13.8
| Sep mean C = 8.7
| Oct mean C = 3.0
| Nov mean C = -1.4
| Dec mean C = -4.9
| year mean C = 3.3
| Jan record low C = -42.0
| Feb record low C = -45.5
| Mar record low C = -36.0
| Apr record low C = -22.2
| May record low C = -10.0
| Jun record low C = -6.6
| Jul record low C = -2.7
| Aug record low C = -6.8
| Sep record low C = -9.5
| Oct record low C = -23.4
| Nov record low C = -32.1
| Dec record low C = -37.2
| year record low C = -45.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 42
| Feb precipitation mm = 33
| Mar precipitation mm = 34
| Apr precipitation mm = 34
| May precipitation mm = 48
| Jun precipitation mm = 72
| Jul precipitation mm = 79
| Aug precipitation mm = 75
| Sep precipitation mm = 61
| Oct precipitation mm = 64
| Nov precipitation mm = 54
| Dec precipitation mm = 50
| year precipitation mm = 646
| Jan precipitation days = 11
| Feb precipitation days = 9
| Mar precipitation days = 8
| Apr precipitation days = 8
| May precipitation days = 8
| Jun precipitation days = 10
| Jul precipitation days = 11
| Aug precipitation days = 11
| Sep precipitation days = 10
| Oct precipitation days = 12
| Nov precipitation days = 11
| Dec precipitation days = 12
| year precipitation days = 121
| source = https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi
https://kilotavu.com/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true
}}


== Demographics ==
The municipality of [[Lehtimäki]] was consolidated with Alajärvi on 1 January 2009.
In 2020, 17.4% of the population of Alajärvi was under the age of 15, 54.3% were aged 15 to 64, and 28.3% were over the age of 64. The average age was 46.1, above the national average of 43.4 and regional average of 44.7. Speakers of [[Finnish language|Finnish]] made up 96.8% of the population and speakers of [[Swedish language|Swedish]] made up 0.1%, while the share of speakers of foreign languages was 3.0%. Foreign nationals made up 2.8% of the total population.<ref name="population key figures">{{Cite web|title=Key figures on population by region, 1990-2020|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px/|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406192005/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px/ |archive-date=2019-04-06 }}</ref>


The chart below, describing the development of the total population of Alajärvi from 1975 to 2020, encompasses the municipality's area as of 2021.
==People==

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| 1975 |10771
| 1980 |11089
| 1985 |11683
| 1990 |11963
| 1995 |11890
| 2000 |11503
| 2005 |10910
| 2010 |10487
| 2015 |10006
| 2020 |9419
|source=[[Statistics Finland]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area, 1972-2020|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11re.px/|url-status=live|access-date=28 April 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525152634/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11re.px/ |archive-date=2019-05-25 }}</ref>
}}

== Culture ==
The [[Alajärvi Church]], also known as the Church of Gabriel, was designed by [[Carl Ludvig Engel]] and completed in 1836.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabrielin kirkko - Alajärven kirkko |url=https://www.alajarvenseurakunta.fi/kirkot-ja-tilat/alajarven-kirkko |website=AlajarvenSeurakunta.fi |accessdate=4 October 2020 |language=fi}}</ref>

There are several buildings in the town and surrounding area designed by architect [[Alvar Aalto]], both from the very early and later stages of his career: the Youth Association building (1919), Myllykangas farmhouse alterations (1920), Villa Väinölä (1926), Villa Flora ([[Aino Aalto]], 1926), Municipal Hospital (1928), Grave memorials in the Church of Gabriel cemetery (1918, 1940, 1944), and the [[Alajärvi administrative centre|Administrative Centre]] (1965-1970) and [[Alajärvi city library|Library]] (design 1966, built 1991).<ref>{{cite web |title=Alvar Aalto in Alajärvi |url=https://visit.alvaraalto.fi/en/destinations/alvar-aalto-in-alajarvi/ |website=AlvarAalto.fi |accessdate=4 October 2020}}</ref>

The town is home to the Nelimarkka Museum. The museum was built by the painter [[Eero Nelimarkka]]. It was designed by his friend, the architect [[Hilding Ekelund]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nelimarkka-museo.fi/|title=Nelimarkka-Museo|website=www.nelimarkka-museo.fi|access-date=2019-04-11}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Reijo Hongisto]]
* [[Reijo Hongisto]]
* [[Martti Korkia-Aho]]
* [[Martti Korkia-Aho]]
Line 111: Line 211:
* [[Verner Thomé]]
* [[Verner Thomé]]
* [[Reijo Vähälä]]
* [[Reijo Vähälä]]
*Eero Nelimarkka
*[[Eero Nelimarkka]]

<gallery widths="240" heights="240" perrow="2">
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.jpg|alt=The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.|The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.
File:The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.jpg|alt=The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.|The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.
File:Lake Alajärvi 2017.jpg|alt=Lake Alajärvi, 2017|Lake Alajärvi, 2017
File:Lake Alajärvi 2017.jpg|alt=Lake Alajärvi, 2017|Lake Alajärvi, 2017
Line 118: Line 220:
File:Alajarvi plains.jpg|alt=Alajärvi plains|Alajärvi plains
File:Alajarvi plains.jpg|alt=Alajärvi plains|Alajärvi plains
File:Field in Alajärvi 2014.JPG|alt=field in Alajärvi, 2014|field in Alajärvi, 2014
File:Field in Alajärvi 2014.JPG|alt=field in Alajärvi, 2014|field in Alajärvi, 2014
File:ABC Alajärvi 2015.JPG|alt=Market in Alajärvi|Market in Alajärvi
File:ABC Alajärvi 2015.JPG|Supermarket in Alajärvi
</gallery>
</gallery>


Line 125: Line 227:


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Alajärvi}}
* {{commons category-inline|Alajärvi}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090517061335/http://www.alajarvi.fi/In_english/Frontpage Town of Alajärvi] – Official website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090517061335/http://www.alajarvi.fi/In_english/Frontpage Town of Alajärvi] – Official website


{{Geographic location
| Centre = Alajärvi
| N = [[Vimpeli]]
| NE = [[Perho]] ([[Central Ostrobothnia]])
| E = [[Kyyjärvi]] ([[Central Finland]])<br/>[[Soini, Finland|Soini]]
| SE = [[Ähtäri]]
| SW = [[Alavus]]
| W = [[Lapua]]<br/>[[Kuortane]]
| NW = [[Lappajärvi]]
}}
{{SouthernOstrobothnia}}
{{SouthernOstrobothnia}}


Line 136: Line 248:
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1869]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Finland]]


{{WesternFinland-geo-stub}}

Revision as of 07:54, 22 May 2024

Alajärvi
Town
Alajärven kaupunki
Alajärvi stad
Alajärvi Church
Alajärvi Church
Coat of arms of Alajärvi
Coat of arms
Location of Alajärvi in Finland
Location of Alajärvi in Finland
Coordinates: 63°00′N 023°49′E / 63.000°N 23.817°E / 63.000; 23.817
Country Finland
RegionSouth Ostrobothnia
Sub-regionJärviseutu sub-region
Charter1869
Town privileges1986
Government
 • Town managerVesa Koivunen
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,056.74 km2 (408.01 sq mi)
 • Land1,008.77 km2 (389.49 sq mi)
 • Water47.99 km2 (18.53 sq mi)
 • Rank78th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-12-31)[2]
 • Total9,113
 • Rank108th largest in Finland
 • Density9.03/km2 (23.4/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Finnish95.3% (official)
 • Swedish0.2%
 • Others4.5%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1417.4%
 • 15 to 6454.3%
 • 65 or older28.3%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.alajarvi.fi

Alajärvi is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the South Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of 9,113 (31 December 2023)[2] and covers an area of 1,056.74 square kilometres (408.01 sq mi) of which 47.99 km2 (18.53 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 9.03 inhabitants per square kilometre (23.4/sq mi). The town is unilingually Finnish.

The municipality of Lehtimäki was consolidated with Alajärvi on 1 January 2009.

Geography

The neighboring municipalities of Alajärvi are Alavus, Kuortane, Kyyjärvi, Lappajärvi, Lapua, Perho, Soini, Vimpeli and Ähtäri.

Villages

In 1967, Alajärvi had eight legally recognized villages (henkikirjakylät):[6]

  • Alajärvi
  • Kurejoki
  • Menkijärvi
  • Möksy
  • Savonkylä
  • Tarvolankylä
  • Päällysaho
  • Vimpeli

Economy

In 2018, 11.2% of the workforce of Alajärvi worked in primary production (agriculture, forestry and fishing), 29.9% in secondary production (e.g. manufacturing, construction and infrastructure), and 57.1% in services. In 2019, the unemployment rate was 9.3%, and the share of pensioners in the population was 33.0%.[7]

Though a small town, Alajärvi has a few shops, namely K-Supermarket, Tokmanni, Lidl and a few others. In 2013 a public natatorium was opened, which also includes a weight room.

Urban areas

In 2019, out of the total population of 9,562, 5,846 people lived in urban areas and 3,641 in sparsely populated areas, while the coordinates of 75 people were unknown. This made Alajärvi's degree of urbanization 61.6%.[8] The urban population in the municipality was divided between three urban areas as follows:[9]

# Urban area Population
1 Alajärvi central locality 5,029
2 Lehtimäki 570
3 Luoma-aho 247

Climate

Alajärvi has a subarctic climate (Dfc).

Climate data for Alajärvi Möksy (1991-2020 normals, records 1959-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 7.8
(46.0) 		10.0
(50.0) 		14.1
(57.4) 		23.2
(73.8) 		29.8
(85.6) 		32.1
(89.8) 		33.6
(92.5) 		30.8
(87.4) 		27.0
(80.6) 		19.8
(67.6) 		11.2
(52.2) 		8.1
(46.6) 		33.6
(92.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7) 		−7.9
(17.8) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		2.0
(35.6) 		8.3
(46.9) 		13.2
(55.8) 		15.9
(60.6) 		13.8
(56.8) 		8.7
(47.7) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−1.4
(29.5) 		−4.9
(23.2) 		3.3
(37.9)
Record low °C (°F) −42.0
(−43.6) 		−45.5
(−49.9) 		−36.0
(−32.8) 		−22.2
(−8.0) 		−10.0
(14.0) 		−6.6
(20.1) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		−6.8
(19.8) 		−9.5
(14.9) 		−23.4
(−10.1) 		−32.1
(−25.8) 		−37.2
(−35.0) 		−45.5
(−49.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7) 		33
(1.3) 		34
(1.3) 		34
(1.3) 		48
(1.9) 		72
(2.8) 		79
(3.1) 		75
(3.0) 		61
(2.4) 		64
(2.5) 		54
(2.1) 		50
(2.0) 		646
(25.4)
Average precipitation days 11 9 8 8 8 10 11 11 10 12 11 12 121
Source: https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi

https://kilotavu.com/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true

Demographics

In 2020, 17.4% of the population of Alajärvi was under the age of 15, 54.3% were aged 15 to 64, and 28.3% were over the age of 64. The average age was 46.1, above the national average of 43.4 and regional average of 44.7. Speakers of Finnish made up 96.8% of the population and speakers of Swedish made up 0.1%, while the share of speakers of foreign languages was 3.0%. Foreign nationals made up 2.8% of the total population.[10]

The chart below, describing the development of the total population of Alajärvi from 1975 to 2020, encompasses the municipality's area as of 2021.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1975 10,771—    
1980 11,089+0.58%
1985 11,683+1.05%
1990 11,963+0.47%
1995 11,890−0.12%
YearPop.±% p.a.
2000 11,503−0.66%
2005 10,910−1.05%
2010 10,487−0.79%
2015 10,006−0.93%
2020 9,419−1.20%
Source: Statistics Finland[11]

Culture

The Alajärvi Church, also known as the Church of Gabriel, was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel and completed in 1836.[12]

There are several buildings in the town and surrounding area designed by architect Alvar Aalto, both from the very early and later stages of his career: the Youth Association building (1919), Myllykangas farmhouse alterations (1920), Villa Väinölä (1926), Villa Flora (Aino Aalto, 1926), Municipal Hospital (1928), Grave memorials in the Church of Gabriel cemetery (1918, 1940, 1944), and the Administrative Centre (1965-1970) and Library (design 1966, built 1991).[13]

The town is home to the Nelimarkka Museum. The museum was built by the painter Eero Nelimarkka. It was designed by his friend, the architect Hilding Ekelund.[14]

Notable people

  • The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.
    The sun in Alajärvi, Finland.
  • Lake Alajärvi, 2017
    Lake Alajärvi, 2017
  • Alajärvi municipal border sign
    Alajärvi municipal border sign
  • Alajärvi plains
    Alajärvi plains
  • field in Alajärvi, 2014
    field in Alajärvi, 2014
  • Supermarket in Alajärvi
    Supermarket in Alajärvi

References

  1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  3. ^ "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  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. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ Korpela, Kalevi; Mäkinen, Vesa; Papunen, Pentti (1967). "Alajärvi". Suomenmaa: maantieteellis-yhteiskunnallinen tieto- ja hakuteos. 1: Ahlainen–Hausjärvi. Helsinki: WSOY.
  7. ^ "Municipal key figures 1987-2020 (with the 2021 regional division)". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2021-04-26. Retrieved 28 April 2021. (2018 and 2019)
  8. ^ "Degree of urbanisation by area, 2019". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2019-11-26. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Population in urban settlements and sparsely populated areas by age, sex and municipality, 2019". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2019-11-26. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Key figures on population by region, 1990-2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area, 1972-2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Archived from the original on 2019-05-25. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Gabrielin kirkko - Alajärven kirkko". AlajarvenSeurakunta.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Alvar Aalto in Alajärvi". AlvarAalto.fi. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Nelimarkka-Museo". www.nelimarkka-museo.fi. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alajärvi&oldid=1225082525"