Keuruu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keuruu
Keuru
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Municipality
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| Keuruun kaupunki Keuru stad |
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Location of Keuruu in Finland
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| Country |  Finland |
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| Region | Central Finland | |
| Sub-region | Keuruu sub-region | |
| Charter | 1652 | |
| Area
(2018-01-01)
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| • Total | 1,430.57 km2 (552.35 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 1,257.97 km2 (485.70 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 172.4 km2 (66.6 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 56th largest in Finland | |
| Population
(2023-12-31)
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| • Total | 9,184 | |
| • Rank | 105th largest in Finland | |
| • Density | 7.3/km2 (19/sq mi) | |
| Population by native language | ||
| • Finnish | 96% (official) | |
| • Swedish | 0.2% | |
| • Others | 3.8% | |
| Population by age | ||
| • 0 to 14 | 13.2% | |
| • 15 to 64 | 52.3% | |
| • 65 or older | 34.5% | |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) | |
Keuruu is a charming town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Central Finland region. Keuruu has a population of about 9,184 people. It covers a large area of land and water, with many beautiful lakes. The main town center and the village of Haapamäki are the most populated spots.
Keuruu is a Finnish-speaking municipality. The nearby municipality of Pihlajavesi joined with Keuruu in 1969.
Contents
Exploring Keuruu's Geography
Keuruu shares its borders with several other municipalities. These include Jämsä, Multia, Mänttä-Vilppula, Petäjävesi, Virrat, and Ähtäri.
One of the most amazing things about Keuruu is its many lakes! There are 316 lakes here. Some of the biggest and most well-known lakes are Keurusselkä-Ukonselkä, Pihlajavesi, and Liesjärvi. These lakes are perfect for enjoying nature.
Keuruu's Past: A Look at History
Keuruu was first known as Keuru. This name appeared in records in 1552. Back then, it was a wild area used for hunting by people from Sääksmäki. The northern part of what is now Keuruu was used by people from Kangasala.
In 1564, people called Savonians started to settle in the area. Some Tavastians also moved to their hunting grounds. You could often tell Savonians and Tavastians apart by their names. Savonians usually had surnames ending in -nen. Out of the first eleven settlers, six were Savonians.
The village was first mentioned as Köyris in 1567. It was part of the Ruovesi parish from 1571 to 1636. By 1571, many more Savonian settlers had arrived. They mostly came from Rautalampi and Laukaa. Over time, the Savonians and Tavastians mixed. The local Savonian dialect is a reminder of this history. In 1640, the southern part of the area joined the new Keuruu parish.
Originally, Multia and Pihlajavesi were part of the Keuruu parish. Multia became its own parish in 1872, and Pihlajavesi in 1910. However, Pihlajavesi later rejoined Keuruu in 1969. Some villages that are now in Ähtäri, like Kivijärvi and Niemisvesi, were also once part of the Keuruu parish.
Culture and Fun in Keuruu
Cool Sights and Events
Keuruu has an old wooden church built in the 1700s. It's now a museum where you can learn about the past. In the summer, the Keuruu Market is a popular event. People come to enjoy the lively atmosphere and see performers.
Every summer, there's a big event called the Pentecostal Midsummer Conference. It brings together Christians from all over Finland and other parts of the world.
You can also find the home port of the MS Elias Lönnrot paddle steamer in Keuruu. It's a cool old boat! For those who love science and technology, the science space is a permanent exhibition. It's set up in the former Karimo school and shows off technology, especially for young people.
Traditional Food
In the 1980s, Keuruu had some special traditional dishes. These included "gutter meat" fried in a wooden trough, a sweetened potato casserole, and a type of bread called varituinen or varilimppu. Sounds interesting, right?
Famous People from Keuruu
Many talented people have come from Keuruu. Here are a few:
- Einari Vuorela, a writer
- Hannele Huovi, a writer
- Joni Lius, an ice hockey player
- Jukka Rautakorpi, a professional ice hockey coach
- Kalevi Sorsa, a former Prime Minister of Finland
- Matti Kassila, a film director
- Mirjami Kuosmanen, an actress
- Olli Palola, an ice hockey player
- Pirkko Vahtero, a graphic designer and heraldist
- Matias Saxberg, a sexton
Keuruu's Global Connections
Keuruu has special connections with towns in other countries. These are called twin towns or sister cities. They help build friendships and cultural exchange.
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Keuruu is twinned with:
Jõgeva, Estonia
Szarvas, Hungary
See also
In Spanish: Keuruu para niños
