Alahärmä Explained

Alahärmä
Official Name:Finnish: Alahärmän kunta
Swedish: Alahärmä kommun
Settlement Type:Former municipality
Mapsize:150px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Finland
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Southern Ostrobothnia
Subdivision Type2:Sub-region
Subdivision Name2:Härmänmaa sub-region
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1867
Extinct Title:Consolidated
Extinct Date:2009
Area Total Km2:353.65
Area Land Km2:351.32
Area Water Km2:2.33
Population As Of:2008-12-31
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:4661
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type2:Population by age
Demographics2 Footnotes:[2]
Demographics2 Title1:0 to 14
Demographics2 Info1:17.7%
Demographics2 Title2:15 to 64
Demographics2 Info2:62.1%
Demographics2 Title3:65 or older
Demographics2 Info3:20.2%
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3
Coordinates:63.25°N 73°W

Alahärmä is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä, to Kauhava on 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 4,661 (as of 31 December 2008)[3] and covered a land area of 351.32km2.[4] The population density was .

Alahärmä stands in connection with the coast and the Gulf of Bothnia by the river Lapuanjoki. It was probably in combination with the fertile earth important for the first settlers in the area. The municipality, situated northeast of the town Vaasa, is dominated by the beautiful countryside and nature, but there are also small villages filled with activities. The companies are mainly within the metal industry, fur-farming, starch and milk production. The unemployment rate is one of the lowest in Finland.

There is also a supply of cultural activities for instance the annual folk festival "Härmälääset Häjyylyt", theatre, art exhibitions, concerts. The local greystone church was built in 1903.

Alahärmä is also the home of the northernmost wooden rollercoaster in the world, named Thunderbird at PowerPark resort and amusement park. The resort area also has hotels, camping area, restaurants, the largest indoor go-kart track in Europe and The Mika Salo Circuit outdoor go-kart track (designed by Mika Salo)

The municipality, which is unilingually Finnish, abuts areas in Ostrobothnia with mixed Swedish and Finnish speaking population.

Villages

Ekola, Hakola, Hanhila, Hanhimäki, Hilli, Huhtamäki, Kennetti, Kirkonkylä, Kivihuhta, Kojola, Kuoppala, Köykkäri, Lahdenkylä, Ojala, Poromaa, Pelkkala, Perkiömäki, Pesola, Vakkuri, Voltti, Yliviitala

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population by municipality as of . . Population Information System . Population Register Center of Finland . Finnish, Swedish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720194510/http://vrk.fi/default.aspx?docid=786&site=3&id=0 . 20 July 2011 .
  2. Web site: Population according to age and gender by area as of 2007-12-31 . 1 January 2009 . Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases . Statistics Finland .
  3. Web site: Population by municipality as of . . Population Information System . Population Register Center of Finland . Finnish, Swedish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720194510/http://vrk.fi/default.aspx?docid=786&site=3&id=0 . 20 July 2011 .
  4. Web site: Area by municipality as of . . Land Survey of Finland . Finnish, Swedish.