Hankasalmi Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Hankasalmi

Municipality

Hankasalmen kunta
Hankasalmi kommun

Hankasalmi railway station

Coat of arms

Location of Hankasalmi in Finland

Country

Finland

Region

Central Finland

Sub-region

Jyväskylä sub-region

Charter

1872

Area

(2018-01-01)

• Total

687.75 km² (265.54 sq mi)

• Land

571.7 km² (220.7 sq mi)

• Water

115.89 km² (44.75 sq mi)

Area rank

149th largest in Finland

Population

(2023-12-31)

• Total

4,549

• Rank

180th largest in Finland

• Density

7.96/km² (20.6/sq mi)

Population by native language

• Finnish

97.1% (official)

• Swedish

0.3%

• Others

2.7%

Population by age

• 0 to 14

14.5%

• 15 to 64

53.4%

• 65 or older

32.1%

Time zone

UTC+02:00 (EET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+03:00 (EEST)

Hankasalmi is a small town, or municipality, in Finland. It is located in the Central Finland region. Imagine a place with lots of nature and a friendly community – that's Hankasalmi!

As of 31 December 2023, about 4,549 people live here. The area is quite large, covering 687.75 square kilometres (265.54 sq mi), with 115.89 km² (44.75 sq mi) of that being water, like lakes! The people in Hankasalmi speak Finnish.

Hankasalmi is known as a true rural municipality near the city of Jyväskylä. It offers many chances for people to live, work, and enjoy their free time. It has good services and easy ways to travel by road and train. There are several elementary schools and high schools, including one where students can learn about navigation.

Exploring Hankasalmi's Geography
- Lakes and Waterways
- Local Villages
A Glimpse into Hankasalmi's History
Famous People from Hankasalmi
Hankasalmi's Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Hankasalmi's Geography

Lake Säkinlampi

Hankasalmi is surrounded by other municipalities like Kangasniemi, Konnevesi, Laukaa, Pieksämäki, Rautalampi, and Toivakka.

Lakes and Waterways

This area is a water lover's dream! There are 97 lakes in Hankasalmi. The biggest ones are Kynsivesi-Leivonvesi, Armisvesi, and Kuuhankavesi. These lakes are perfect for fishing, boating, or just enjoying the peaceful views.

Local Villages

Halttula is one of the charming villages you can find in Hankasalmi.

A Glimpse into Hankasalmi's History

The name Hankasalmi was first written down in 1552. Back then, it was a wild area owned by the Tavastians from Hauho. People started living here around 1559. In 1561, it became part of the new Rautalampi parish, which was mostly settled by people from Savonia.

Hankasalmi became its own church parish in 1802. However, it stayed part of Rautalampi for government purposes until 1872. That's when the modern Hankasalmi municipality was officially created. Some parts of it were also taken from nearby places like Pieksämäki, Kangasniemi, and Laukaa.

Famous People from Hankasalmi

Many interesting people have come from Hankasalmi! Here are a few:

Aimo Minkkinen – He was in charge of the Tampere Lenin Museum for a long time.
Antero Halonen – A talented boxer.
Kaarlo Kartio – An actor.
Kalevi Tarvainen – A linguist, which means he studied languages, and a professor.
Kari Ihalainen – A javelin thrower and a coach for track and field sports.
Lauri W. Pääkkönen – An elementary school teacher and a writer.
Matti A. Karjalainen – A professor at the Helsinki University of Technology.
Matti Makkonen – A politician.
Matti Rutanen – A folk artist, known for his traditional art.
Mika Mölsä – A journalist who wrote about crime and also wrote fiction books.
Niina Mäkinen – An ice hockey player.
Onni Haini – A journalist and writer.
Onni Pellinen – An Olympic wrestler.
Paavo Rautkallio – A politician.
Unto Poikolainen – A Pesäpallo player, which is a Finnish baseball-like sport.
Vilho Ylönen – A cross-country skier and rifle shooter.

Hankasalmi's Sister Cities

Hankasalmi has special connections with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They often share cultural events and learn from each other. Hankasalmi is twinned with: