Suonenjoki facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suonenjoki
Town
Suonenjoen kaupunki Suonenjoki stad
Suonenjoki railway station
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  The Strawberry Town
Location of Suonenjoki in Finland
Country	Finland
Region	Northern Savonia
Sub-region	Inner Savonia sub-region
Charter	1865
Market town	1967
City rights	1977
Area  (2018-01-01)
• Total	862.34 km2 (332.95 sq mi)
• Land	713.56 km2 (275.51 sq mi)
• Water	148.78 km2 (57.44 sq mi)
Area rank	119th largest in Finland
Population  (2023-12-31)
• Total	6,708
• Rank	137th largest in Finland
• Density	9.4/km2 (24/sq mi)
Population by native language
• Finnish	96.2% (official)
• Swedish	0.2%
• Others	3.7%
Population by age
• 0 to 14	13%
• 15 to 64	54.4%
• 65 or older	32.6%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)

Suonenjoki (which means "vein's river" in Finnish) is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the Northern Savonia region, about 50 kilometers southwest of Kuopio.

The town is often called "the Strawberry Town" because it's very famous for growing strawberries. Suonenjoki has a population of about 6,708 people (as of 31 December 2023). It covers an area of 862.34 square kilometres (332.95 sq mi), with 148.78 km² (57.44 sq mi) of that being water. This means that for every square kilometer, there are about 9.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (24/sq mi) people living there. The official language spoken in Suonenjoki is Finnish.

History of Suonenjoki

Early Beginnings and Growth

Suonenjoki is believed to have been an important landmark in the Treaty of Nöteborg way back in 1323. During the 1500s and 1600s, more and more people started to settle in the area. By the 1700s, a special room for a preacher was set up, which later became a chapel.

The town grew around the Suonenjoki River. Bridges were built early on to help people cross. For example, the Kruunusilta (meaning "Crowns Bridge") was already there in 1780. Another bridge, Siioninsilta ("Zion Bridge"), was built in the 1830s.

Becoming a Municipality and the Strawberry Town

Suonenjoki officially became a municipality in 1865. At that time, about 4,000 people lived there. In the same year, the current Suonenjoki Church was finished. It replaced an older, smaller church from the late 1700s.

A railway station was built in Suonenjoki in 1889 when The Savonian Railway (also known as Kouvola–Iisalmi railway) was completed. In the early 1900s, the sawmill industry became very important for the town's economy.

The growing of strawberries became popular from the 1940s onwards. This is how Suonenjoki earned its nickname, "the Strawberry Town." The town's first co-educational school opened in 1930, moving to its current high school building in 1950.

Geography and Nature

Suonenjoki is located between two major Finnish cities: Kuopio and Jyväskylä. Its neighboring municipalities include Rautalampi to the west, Tervo to the northwest, Kuopio to the north, Leppävirta to the east, and Pieksämäki to the south.

The Suonenjoki River flows right through the town. It starts from Lake Suontee and empties into Lake Iisvesi. Close to the town center, you can find Lintharju, a beautiful ridge that is about 10 kilometers long. This area is part of the European Union's Natura 2000 conservation program, which helps protect important natural habitats.

Villages of Suonenjoki

Suonenjoki is made up of several smaller communities and villages. Here are some of them:

Culture and Events

J. Kutvonen Furniture Store, a historic building in Suonenjoki center.

Suonenjoki is most famous for its strawberries. The town's coat of arms even features three strawberry leaves! Because of its strawberry farms, Suonenjoki becomes a very international place in the summer. Many people, especially from Ukraine and Russia, come to work on the farms.

Every July, Suonenjoki hosts a big party called Mansikkakarnevaalit, which means "Strawberry Carnival." It's a fun event celebrating the town's most famous fruit. In the past, there was a rock festival called Jörisrock, but now a music event called Iisrock takes its place.

The town also has three museums, a library, and art shows for people to enjoy. You can read about local news in the Sisä-Savo newspaper, which is published in Suonenjoki and nearby areas.

Transportation Links

Suonenjoki is easy to reach because it's located on an important route. The main road 9 (E63), which connects the cities of Kuopio and Jyväskylä, passes right through Suonenjoki. There's also a railway line that goes through the center of Suonenjoki, connecting Kuopio to Helsinki.

Famous People from Suonenjoki

Many talented people have come from Suonenjoki, including:

• Veijo Baltzar, an author and visual artist
• Aatu Hämäläinen, an ice hockey player
• Kalle Jalkanen, a cross-country skier
• Erkki Junkkarinen, a singer
• Lauri Kerminen, a volleyball player
• Rauno Miettinen, a Nordic combined skier
• Iiro Pakarinen, an ice hockey player who has played in the NHL
• Markku Rossi, a politician
• Liisa Suihkonen, a cross-country skier
• Kari Tapio, a popular country & western and schlager singer

See also

In Spanish: Suonenjoki para niños