Outokumpu, Finland

Outokumpu is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the North Karelia region, 48 kilometres (30 mi) west of Joensuu and 92 kilometres (57 mi) east of Kuopio. The municipality has a population of 6,408 (19 September 2023)[5] and covers an area of 584.05 square kilometres (225.50 sq mi) of which 138.22 km2 (53.37 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 14.37 inhabitants per square kilometre (37.2/sq mi). The most important road connection in the locality is Highway 9.

This article is about Finnish municipality. For the company, see Outokumpu.
Outokumpu
Town
Outokummun kaupunki
Outokumpu stad
Outokumpu Town Hall
Outokumpu Town Hall
Coat of arms of Outokumpu
Coat of arms
Location of Outokumpu in Finland
Location of Outokumpu in Finland
Coordinates: 62°43.5′N 029°01′E
Country Finland
RegionNorth Karelia
Sub-regionJoensuu
Market town1968
Town privileges1977
Government
 • Town managerPekka Hyvönen
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total584.05 km2 (225.50 sq mi)
 • Land445.84 km2 (172.14 sq mi)
 • Water138.22 km2 (53.37 sq mi)
 • Rank195th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-19)[2]
 • Total6,408
 • Rank144th largest in Finland
 • Density14.37/km2 (37.2/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Finnish95.2% (official)
 • Swedish0.1%
 • Others4.7%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1413.8%
 • 15 to 6453.2%
 • 65 or older33%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.outokummunkaupunki.fi

Neighbouring municipalities are Heinävesi, Kaavi, Liperi, Polvijärvi and Tuusniemi. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

The fir-twigged line in the coat of arms of Outokumpu refers to the name Kuusjärvi (literally "spruce lake") at the time the municipality's coat of arms was established, and the copper symbol refers to Outokumpu Oyj's mines, which later gave their name to the entire township. The coat of arms was designed by Olof Eriksson, and the Kuusjärvi municipal council approved it at its meeting on November 21, 1952. The Ministry of the Interior approved the coat of arms for use on February 18, 1953.[6][7]

History
Outokumpu Old Mine

The municipality was formerly known as Kuusjärvi. In 1968 it became a market town and was renamed as Outokumpu after the copper mine located in the municipality.[8][9] Outokumpu gained town privileges in 1977. The town began to form around the Outokumpu Copper Mine, which was active between 1913-1989. The old mining area is still clearly visible as it is situated in the town centre and nowadays it has been developed into a tourist attraction.

Economy

The steel manufacturer Outokumpu originates from the town of Outokumpu. Outokumpu Copper Mine was a big employer in Outokumpu from the beginning of 20th century until 1989 when the ore was shut down.

In Outokumpu there is a rather vibrant industrial park, which was founded in 1979 when it became apparent that the mine was to be shut down during the next decade. Most of the town's biggest employers are situated in Outokumpu Industrial Park as it has the role of organizing and developing the local businesses.[10]

Nowadays Outokumpu is home to many technology industry companies such as Outotec Turula workshop, Finelcomp Oy, Okun Hammaspyörä Oy, Okun Koneistuspalvelu Oy and Outokummun Metalli Oy. It is said that in Outokumpu there is one of the highest densities of CNC machines and tools in Finland compared to population.

Relevant employers from other branches of the economy include among others: Piippo Oyj, Mondo Minerals, HK Scan Finland.

There was some 2502 jobs in Outokumpu in 2014.[11]

Tourism

Main tourist attraction in Outokumpu is the Outokumpu Old Mine. An area where you can find a mining museum, theme park Children's mine for children, some restaurants and a Disc golf track that surrounds the old mining area.[12]

Other destinations of interest are the Outokumpu Nature Park, Keretti Golf track (in an old mining area), lake Juojärvi and the municipal Sports and Swimming Centre.

During summer season you can go for a canoe trip on the small and beautiful lakes surrounding the Outokumpu Nature Park. You can also go fishing in Children's fishing Oasis and rent a beach sauna from touristic services.

Culture

Food

In the 1980s, meat soup called kaivossoppa ("mine soup") and rye-lingonberry porridge were named as Outokumpu's traditional parish dishes.[13]

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

Twin towns — Sister cities

See also

References
  1. "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,587,841 at the end of August 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  3. "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  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. "VÄESTÖTIETOJÄRJESTELMÄ REKISTERITILANNE 31.1.2012" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Register Center of Finland. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  6. Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 125. ISBN 951-773-085-3.
  7. "Sisäasiainministeriön vahvistamat kaupunkien, kauppaloiden ja kuntien vaakunat 1949-1995 I:11 Outokumpu" (in Finnish). Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  8. "History of Outokumpu". Outokumpu.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  9. "Metristä kaivostunnelia kaivettiin päiväkausia". Yle (in Finnish). 17 March 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. "ETUSIVU". Outokummun seudun teollisuuskylä Oy. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  11. Tilastokeskus. "Tilastokeskus". www.stat.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  12. museot.fi. "Museot.fi - Outokumpu Mining Museum". www.museot.fi. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  13. Jaakko Kolmonen (1988). Kotomaamme ruoka-aitta: Suomen, Karjalan ja Petsamon pitäjäruoat (in Finnish). Helsinki: Patakolmonen. p. 134. ISBN 951-96047-3-1.
  14. "Välissuhted" (in Estonian). Kohtla-Järve linn. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
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