Varkaus Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Varkaus

Town

Varkauden kaupunki
Varkaus stad

Varkaus in July 2006

Coat of arms

Location of Varkaus in Finland

Country

Finland

Region

Northern Savonia

Sub-region

Varkaus

Market town

1929

City rights

1961

Area

(2018-01-01)

• Total

524.48 km² (202.50 sq mi)

• Land

385.62 km² (148.89 sq mi)

• Water

138.45 km² (53.46 sq mi)

Area rank

206th largest in Finland

Population

(2023-12-31)

• Total

19,727

• Rank

57th largest in Finland

• Density

51.16/km² (132.5/sq mi)

Population by native language

• Finnish

95% (official)

• Swedish

0.2%

• Others

4.9%

Population by age

• 0 to 14

12%

• 15 to 64

56.4%

• 65 or older

31.6%

Time zone

UTC+02:00 (EET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+03:00 (EEST)

Illustration in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845-1852.

Varkaus (before year 1929 Warkaus) is a Middle-Savonian industrial town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region, between the city of Kuopio and the town of Savonlinna.

The municipality has a population of 19,727 (31 December 2023) and covers an area of 524.48 square kilometres (202.50 sq mi) of which 138.45 km² (53.46 sq mi) is water. The population density is 51.16 inhabitants per square kilometre (132.5/sq mi).

The municipality is unilingually Finnish. In old Finnish 'Varkaus' meant strait, and this city is located in the lake district on straits between two parts of Lake Saimaa. An extension of the Saimaa Canal passes through the town.

History
Sport
Notable people
Parts of the town of Varkaus
Twin towns — sister cities
See also

History

Varkaus was born in the late 19th century as an industrial community of the A. Ahlström paper mills. It was a part of the municipalities of Leppävirta and Joroinen until 1929 when Varkaus became a market town. During the Finnish Civil War in 1918 the town was taken over by the Reds, but because of its isolated location in rural Finland, it was soon taken by the Whites on the Battle of Varkaus 19–21 February. The whites proceeded to execute every tenth Red soldier.

The municipality of Kangaslampi was consolidated to Varkaus on 1 January 2005.

Sport

The bandy team Warkauden Pallo-35, or just WP-35, plays in the highest division, Bandyliiga, and has become Finnish champions 16 times.

Varkaus Speedway Stadion is a motorcycle speedway on the northern outskirts of the town off the Tykkitie road, adjacent to the motorcycle racing and karting facilities. The Speedway circuit is one of the oldest in Finland and held the final of the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship three times.