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Karstula

Coordinates: 62°52.5′N 024°48′E / 62.8750°N 24.800°E / 62.8750; 24.800
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Karttula.

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]
 • Total
963.19 km2 (371.89 sq mi)
 • Land887.06 km2 (342.50 sq mi)
 • Water76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi)
 • Rank86th largest in Finland
Population
 (2025-06-30)[2]
 • Total
3,541
 • Rank201st largest in Finland
 • Density3.99/km2 (10.3/sq mi)
Population by native language
[2]
 • Finnish97.8% (official)
 • Others2.2%
Population by age
[3]
 • 0 to 1412.3%
 • 15 to 6452.8%
 • 65 or older34.9%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitekarstula.fi/briefly-in-english/ Edit this at Wikidata

Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,541 (30 June 2025)[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 3.99 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.3/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini. There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula, the biggest lakes being Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.[5]

The subject of the coat of arms refers to Karstula's position as the "gateway to Ostrobothnia", as the inland routes to Ostrobothnia have passed through Karstula in ancient times and still do today. The coat of arms was designed by Ahti Hammar, and the Karstula municipal council approved it at its meeting on 9 March 1953. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the coat of arms for use on 16 July of the same year.[6]

History

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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.[7]

Suomenselkä municipality

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Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi had planned to merge into the Suomenselkä municipality [fi] from January 1, 2022.[8][9] Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi accepted the merger proposal, but Kannonkoski did not.[10] After Kannonkoski opted 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 did not propose a forced merger either.[11]

Architecture

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  • 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.[citation needed]
  • There's also a cottage designed by Alvar Aalto, though it is not listed in most Aalto's biographies.[citation needed]

Transport

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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.[citation needed]

Notable people

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Culture

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Events

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  • The International Shooting Week[12]

Food

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In the 1980s, flour-potato porridge and piimävelli—a gruel of soured milk sweetened with syrup and including dough-raisin clumps and/or pieces of leipäjuusto—were named Karstula's traditional parish dishes.[13]

Twin cities

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Population increased most in Uusimaa in January to June 2025". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 24 July 2025. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Karstula". Järviwiki. Finland's Environmental Administration. 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  6. ^ Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 137. ISBN 951-773-085-3.
  7. ^ "SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf" (PDF). kaino.kotus.fi (in Finnish). p. 140. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  8. ^ Roiha, Marja (4 December 2020). "Pohjoisen Keski-Suomen uuden kunnan nimeksi Suomenselkä". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  9. ^ Kotilainen, Virpi (25 January 2021). "Kivijärvi kysyy asukkaiden mielipidettä kuntaliitoksesta". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ^ Heikkilä, Eija (15 February 2021). "Neljän kunnan liitos ei toteudu – Kannonkoski hylkäsi kuntaliitoksen". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Valtiovarainministeriö ei esitä Kyyjärven kunnan pakkoliitosta" (in Finnish). Ministry of Finance. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Karmas ry – Karstulan seudun Metsästys- ja Ampumaseura". karmasry.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  13. ^ Kolmonen, Jaakko (1988). Kotomaamme ruoka-aitta: Suomen, Karjalan ja Petsamon pitäjäruoat (in Finnish). Helsinki: Patakolmonen. p. 88. ISBN 951-96047-3-1.
  14. ^ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Kolme vuosikymmentä pohjoismaisia ystäväkuntasuhteita Karstulassa" (PDF) (in Finnish). Karstulan Pohjola-Norden ry. Retrieved 7 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
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Media related to Karstula at Wikimedia Commons Karstula travel guide from Wikivoyage

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