Alahärmä

Alahärmä is a former municipality of Finland. It was consolidated, together with Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä, to Kauhava on 1 January 2009.

Alahärmä
Former municipality
Alahärmän kunta
Alahärmä kommun
PowerPark
PowerPark
Coat of arms of Alahärmä
Coat of arms
Location of Alahärmä in Finland
Location of Alahärmä in Finland
Coordinates: 63°15′N 022°51′E
CountryFinland
RegionSouthern Ostrobothnia
Sub-regionHärmänmaa sub-region
Founded1867
Consolidated2009
Area
[1]
 • Total353.65 km2 (136.55 sq mi)
 • Land351.32 km2 (135.65 sq mi)
 • Water2.33 km2 (0.90 sq mi)
Population
 (2008-12-31)[2]
 • Total4,661
 • Density13/km2 (34/sq mi)
Population by age
[3]
 • 0 to 1417.7%
 • 15 to 6462.1%
 • 65 or older20.2%
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

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)[2] and covered a land area of 351.32 square kilometres (135.65 sq mi).[1] The population density was 13.27 inhabitants per square kilometre (34.4/sq mi).

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 80 kilometres (50 mi) 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 has also 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

References
  1. "Area by municipality as of 1 January 2008" (PDF) (in Finnish and Swedish). Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  2. "Population by municipality as of 31 December 2008". Population Information System (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Register Center of Finland. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. "Population according to age and gender by area as of 2007-12-31". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 1 January 2009.

Media related to Alahärmä at Wikimedia Commons


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