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Karstula
Karstula
Municipality
	Karstulan kunta; Karstula kommun
	Karstula Church
	Coat of arms
	Location of Karstula in Finland
	Coordinates: 62°52.5′N 024°48′E / 62.8750°N 24.800°E
Country	Finland
Region	Central Finland
Sub-region	Saarijärvi–Viitasaari sub-region
Charter	1867
Government
• Municipal manager	Pekka Kanervio
Area (2018-01-01)
• Total	963.19 km2 (371.89 sq mi)
• Land	887.06 km2 (342.50 sq mi)
• Water	76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi)
• Rank	86th largest in Finland
Population (2024-10-31)
• Total	3,572
• Rank	201st largest in Finland
• Density	4.03/km2 (10.4/sq mi)
Population by native language
• Finnish	97.6% (official)
• Swedish	0.1%
• Others	2.3%
Population by age
• 0 to 14	12.3%
• 15 to 64	52.8%
• 65 or older	34.9%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	karstula.fi/briefly-in-english/

Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,572 (31 October 2024)^[2] and covers an area of 963.19 square kilometres (371.89 sq mi) of which 76.22 km² (29.43 sq mi) is water.^[1] The population density is 4.03 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.4/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini.

There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula. Biggest lakes are Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.^[5]

History

The name of Karstula is likely derived from the Savonian surname Karstunen, encountered around Ristiina since 1541. First records of the surname in Northern Tavastia (modern Central Finland) are from the 18th century. Karstula was initially a part of the Saarijärvi parish, acquiring chapel rights in 1775 under it. Karstula was allowed to become a separate parish and municipality in 1858, but separated later in 1887. Kyyjärvi was a part of Karstula until 1929, though it only acquired a separate parish in 1944.^[6]

Suomenselkä municipality

Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi planned to merge into the Suomenselkä municipality [fi] from January 1, 2022.^[7]^[8] Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi accepted the merger proposal, but Kannonkoski did not.^[9] After Kannonkoski left out of the planned merger, Kivijärvi also left out. The merger project of the remaining Karstula and Kyyjärvi failed at the Kyyjärvi municipal council meeting held on May 17, 2021, and the Ministry of Finance does not propose a forced merger either.^[10]

Architecture

A number of historical buildings (from the beginning of the 20th century) has been preserved in the village centre, representing the original countryside buildings of the region.^{[citation needed]}
There's also a cottage designed by Alvar Aalto, though it is not listed in most Aalto's biographies.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

Highway 13 between Kokkola and Lappeenranta, main road 58 between Kangasala and Kärsämäki and main road 77 between Kyyjärvi and Siilinjärvi pass through the Karstula municipality.

Karstula is served by OnniBus.com route Helsinki—Jyväskylä—Kokkola.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

Artturi Koskinen (1904–1981), Member of Parliament
Jarmo Mäkinen (born 1958), actor
Nätti-Jussi (1890–1964), legendary lumberjack
Harri Koskinen (born 1970), designer

Culture

The International Shooting Week^{[citation needed]}

Twin cities

Broby Municipality, Denmark^[11]
Ragunda, Sweden^[12]
Stjørdal, Norway^[13]

Gallery

Pääjärvi is the largest lake in Karstula.
Kirkkovuori observation tower.
Illustration of Karstula in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845-1852.