Seinäjoki
Encyclopedia
Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia
, Finland
. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality
in 1868, market town
in 1931 and town
in 1960. In the beginning of 2009, the neighbouring municipalities of Nurmo
and Ylistaro
were consolidated with Seinäjoki.
The Town library, Lakeuden Risti church and central administrative buildings are designed by Alvar Aalto
.
The asteroid
1521 Seinäjoki
bears the town's name.
Seinäjoki was historically called in Swedish
. Today this name is very seldom used even among the Swedish speakers.
Seinäjoki Airport
is located in the neighbouring municipality of Ilmajoki
, 11 kilometre south of Seinäjoki city centre.
Seinäjoki belonged to the church parish of Ilmajoki like Kurikka, Kauhajoki, Jalasjärvi and Alavus. However, in the 18th century the roads from Seinäjoki to the Church of Ilmajoki were usually in poor condition. Therefore, the inhabitants of Seinäjoki and neighbouring Nurmo built together a new chapel in 1725 which in 1765 led to the formation of the chapel town of Nurmo. Seinäjoki, which after the Greater Wrath
was called Alaseinäjoki, became a part of the chapel town. The chapel parish of Peräseinäjoki was founded in 1798, and the village of Alaseinäjoki was started to be called Seinäjoki again. The very same year, Östermyra steel mill was founded on the shore of Seinäjoki-river.
In the 1850s the actions to separate Seinäjoki from the church parish of Nurmo began. Ilmajoki wanted to connect Seinäjoki back to its own parish. In spite of the hard opposition of the inhabitants of Nurmo, the Senate of Finland accepted the petition from the inhabitants of Seinäjoki in 1863, to form an own chapel congregation. Seinäjoki got an independent local government in 1868. In 1900 Seinäjoki became an independent municipality.
Seinäjoki has grown around few important railroad crossings. Tampere – Vaasa railway which goes through Seinäjoki was inaugurated in 1883. The track, with the Kokkola track that has been opened for rail service in 1885, alongside the Kristiinankaupunki track which had been completed in 1913 raised Seinäjoki as an important railway crossing section in Finland. In the early 1970s the direct railway opened from Tampere to Seinäjoki and the services of Seinäjoki improved further.
After the Winter War and Continuation War some refugees from Jaakkima and Lumivaara were resettled to Seinäjoki.
, which is a tango
festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, Vauhtiajot, which is a motor racing event/music festival, and Provinssirock
, which is one of the largest and oldest rock festivals in Finland.
Rytmikorjaamo is a popular rock club, wherein almost every weekend play some Finnish or international artists. In Seinäjoki there are also several other bars and clubs offering live music and other entertainment. The city theatre of Seinäjoki has a wide quality program throughout the year, offering plays for everyone. The city orchestra of Seinäjoki is performing many concerts in the area and has been making many tours in Finland and abroad.
has its head office on the grounds of Seinäjoki Airport
in nearby Ilmajoki
. Also Seinäjoki has a nationally and internationally significant food production and R&D industry. Headquartered in Seinäjoki food company Atria Corporation's net sales in 2009 were EUR 1316 million and it employed an average of 6,214 persons in several countries.
Seinäjoki also is well known for having a large number of SME's and a big number of shops for its size.
with: Koszalin
, Poland
Schweinfurt
, Germany
Sopron
, Hungary
Thunder Bay
, Canada
Virginia
, Minnesota
Southern Ostrobothnia
Southern Ostrobothnia is one of the 20 regions of Finland.Seinäjoki is the regional centre and by far the largest city in the area.- Historical provinces :For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia- Municipalities :...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in 1868, market town
Köping
This article deals with the Swedish denomination for a market town. For the city, see Köping, Sweden. For the municipality, see Köping Municipality....
in 1931 and town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in 1960. In the beginning of 2009, the neighbouring municipalities of Nurmo
Nurmo
Nurmo is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Ylistaro to Seinäjoki in 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 12,378 and covered an area of of which is...
and Ylistaro
Ylistaro
Ylistaro is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Nurmo to Seinäjoki in 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 5,582 and covered an area of 484.08 km² of...
were consolidated with Seinäjoki.
The Town library, Lakeuden Risti church and central administrative buildings are designed by Alvar Aalto
Alvar Aalto
Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware...
.
The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
1521 Seinäjoki
1521 Seinäjoki
1521 Seinäjoki is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1755.3497820 days . The asteroid was discovered on October 22, 1938.-References:...
bears the town's name.
Seinäjoki was historically called in Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
. Today this name is very seldom used even among the Swedish speakers.
Seinäjoki Airport
Seinäjoki Airport
Seinäjoki Airport is an airport in Ilmajoki, Finland, about south-southwest of Seinäjoki city centre. The airport is operated by Rengonharju-säätiö .-Facilities:...
is located in the neighbouring municipality of Ilmajoki
Ilmajoki
Ilmajoki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Ilmajoki is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water...
, 11 kilometre south of Seinäjoki city centre.
History
The settlement spread in the area of the present Seinäjoki during the first half of the 16th century. During the 1550s there is said to have been three houses in Seinäjoki, Marttila, Jouppi and Uppa houses. House of Jouppila, which separated from the house of Jouppi, was established during the same century. All of the houses were located on the shore of the river.Seinäjoki belonged to the church parish of Ilmajoki like Kurikka, Kauhajoki, Jalasjärvi and Alavus. However, in the 18th century the roads from Seinäjoki to the Church of Ilmajoki were usually in poor condition. Therefore, the inhabitants of Seinäjoki and neighbouring Nurmo built together a new chapel in 1725 which in 1765 led to the formation of the chapel town of Nurmo. Seinäjoki, which after the Greater Wrath
Greater Wrath
The Greater Wrath is a term used in Finnish history for the Russian invasion and subsequent military occupation of Eastern Sweden, now Finland, from 1714 until the treaty of Nystad 1721, which ended the Great Northern War, although sometimes the term is used to denote all of the Great Northern...
was called Alaseinäjoki, became a part of the chapel town. The chapel parish of Peräseinäjoki was founded in 1798, and the village of Alaseinäjoki was started to be called Seinäjoki again. The very same year, Östermyra steel mill was founded on the shore of Seinäjoki-river.
In the 1850s the actions to separate Seinäjoki from the church parish of Nurmo began. Ilmajoki wanted to connect Seinäjoki back to its own parish. In spite of the hard opposition of the inhabitants of Nurmo, the Senate of Finland accepted the petition from the inhabitants of Seinäjoki in 1863, to form an own chapel congregation. Seinäjoki got an independent local government in 1868. In 1900 Seinäjoki became an independent municipality.
Seinäjoki has grown around few important railroad crossings. Tampere – Vaasa railway which goes through Seinäjoki was inaugurated in 1883. The track, with the Kokkola track that has been opened for rail service in 1885, alongside the Kristiinankaupunki track which had been completed in 1913 raised Seinäjoki as an important railway crossing section in Finland. In the early 1970s the direct railway opened from Tampere to Seinäjoki and the services of Seinäjoki improved further.
After the Winter War and Continuation War some refugees from Jaakkima and Lumivaara were resettled to Seinäjoki.
Culture
There are many kinds of cultural events in Seinäjoki nowadays. For example, Seinäjoki is known for hosting three large summer events: TangomarkkinatTangomarkkinat
The Tangomarkkinat is the world's oldest tango festival. It is held early every July in Seinäjoki, Finland. As well as competitions to find the country's best tango singers, composers, and dancers, the festival features public dancing to live music provided by the best Finnish entertainers...
, which is a tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, Vauhtiajot, which is a motor racing event/music festival, and Provinssirock
Provinssirock
Provinssirock is one of the biggest rock festivals in Finland. It takes place in the city of Seinäjoki in Southern Ostrobothnia, Western Finland. The 3-day festival, which starts the busy Finnish rock festival season, has been held every June since 1979.The 2007 festival enjoyed a combined three...
, which is one of the largest and oldest rock festivals in Finland.
Rytmikorjaamo is a popular rock club, wherein almost every weekend play some Finnish or international artists. In Seinäjoki there are also several other bars and clubs offering live music and other entertainment. The city theatre of Seinäjoki has a wide quality program throughout the year, offering plays for everyone. The city orchestra of Seinäjoki is performing many concerts in the area and has been making many tours in Finland and abroad.
Sights
- Lakeuden Risti ("The Cross of the Plains")
- Alvar Aalto's cultural and administrative centre
- the Southern Ostrobothnia District Museum
- the Civil Guard and Lotta Svärd museum
- Törnävä church
- the railway exhibition
- Mallaskoski brewery
Other points of interest
- Törnävä tourist centre
- the Suviyö trotting-race
- the summer theatre
- the Jouppilanvuori winter sports centre
- the Seinäjoki City theatre
- ProvinssirockProvinssirockProvinssirock is one of the biggest rock festivals in Finland. It takes place in the city of Seinäjoki in Southern Ostrobothnia, Western Finland. The 3-day festival, which starts the busy Finnish rock festival season, has been held every June since 1979.The 2007 festival enjoyed a combined three...
- TangomarkkinatTangomarkkinatThe Tangomarkkinat is the world's oldest tango festival. It is held early every July in Seinäjoki, Finland. As well as competitions to find the country's best tango singers, composers, and dancers, the festival features public dancing to live music provided by the best Finnish entertainers...
- Vauhtiajot
Notable people
- Arto SaariArto SaariArto Saari is a professional skateboarder. He lives in Huntington Beach, California. He was selected as the "2001 Skater of the Year" by Thrasher magazine. His skating stance is regular. He is known for his big and aggressive skating style and also for his lipslides...
, skateboarder - Paula KoivuniemiPaula KoivuniemiPaula Koivuniemi is a Finnish singer who started her singing career in 1960's. Koivuniemi released her first hit single "Perhonen" in 1966. In the 1970s her career was in decline, but during the 1980s she had many hit singles in Finland - she received nine gold albums and one diamond album...
, singer - Jorma OllilaJorma OllilaJorma Jaakko Ollila is the Chairman and former CEO of the Nokia Corporation and a Member of the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company , UPM-Kymmene , and Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd...
, The Chairman and former CEO of the Nokia Corporation - The Dudesons, Known stuntgroup that consist of four childhood friends. Also known as The Duudsons.
- Pekka KoskelaPekka KoskelaPekka Koskela is a Finnish speedskater, specialising on the sprint distances 500-m and 1000-m. He is the former world record holder on the 1000-m with the time 1.07.00. In December 2001 he set a junior world record on the 500-m with the time 35.89...
, speed skater - Veli LampiVeli LampiVeli Lampi is a Finnish football player, currently playing for Ukrainian club FC Arsenal Kyiv. After a great success with Willem II Lampi moved to Ukraine....
, soccer player - Mari KiviniemiMari KiviniemiMari Johanna Kiviniemi is a Finnish politician and former Prime Minister of Finland. On 22 June 2010, as the new leader of the Centre Party, she was elected Prime Minister of Finland by the Finnish Parliament following the resignation of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen...
, politician (Prime Minister of Finland 2010—2011) - Petri KontiolaPetri KontiolaPetri Kontiola is a professional ice hockey player for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, hockey player
Statistics
- Population: 31,696 (2003), 35,918 (2005 after consolidation with PeräseinäjokiPeräseinäjokiPeräseinäjoki is a former municipality of Finland.It was located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 3,653 and covered an area of 459.13 km² of which 14.11 km² was water. The population density was 8.2...
) and 56,229 (2009 after consolidation with NurmoNurmoNurmo is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Ylistaro to Seinäjoki in 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 12,378 and covered an area of of which is...
and YlistaroYlistaroYlistaro is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Nurmo to Seinäjoki in 1 January 2009.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 5,582 and covered an area of 484.08 km² of...
). - Annual growth: 624
Economy
Finncomm AirlinesFinncomm Airlines
Finnish Commuter Airlines Oy operating as Flybe Nordic, trading as Finncomm Airlines, was a regional airline with its head office on the grounds of Seinäjoki Airport in Ilmajoki, Finland, near Seinäjoki. The carrier operates flights to Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden and 16...
has its head office on the grounds of Seinäjoki Airport
Seinäjoki Airport
Seinäjoki Airport is an airport in Ilmajoki, Finland, about south-southwest of Seinäjoki city centre. The airport is operated by Rengonharju-säätiö .-Facilities:...
in nearby Ilmajoki
Ilmajoki
Ilmajoki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Ilmajoki is and the municipality covers an area of of which is inland water...
. Also Seinäjoki has a nationally and internationally significant food production and R&D industry. Headquartered in Seinäjoki food company Atria Corporation's net sales in 2009 were EUR 1316 million and it employed an average of 6,214 persons in several countries.
Seinäjoki also is well known for having a large number of SME's and a big number of shops for its size.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Seinäjoki is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Koszalin
Koszalin
Koszalin ; is the largest city of Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland. It is located 12 km south of the Baltic Sea coast. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt
Schweinfurt is a city in the Lower Franconia region of Bavaria in Germany on the right bank of the canalized Main, which is here spanned by several bridges, 27 km northeast of Würzburg.- History :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Sopron
Sopron
In 1910 Sopron had 33,932 inhabitants . Religions: 64.1% Roman Catholic, 27.8% Lutheran, 6.6% Jewish, 1.2% Calvinist, 0.3% other. In 2001 the city had 56,125 inhabitants...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Virginia
Virginia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
External links
- Seinäjoki – Official website
- Provinssirock – rock festival
- Tangomarkkinat – tango festival