Kauhava is a Finnish city located in the Seinäjoki region in the province of Southern Ostrobothnia. Kauhava had a population of 15,701 (30 June 2020) and covers an area of 1,328.38 km², of which 14.59 km² are water bodies (1 January 2020). The population density is 11.95 inhabitants / km². Kauhava became a city in 1986. The old city of Kauhava ceased to exist when it merged with Alahärmä, Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä into a new Kauhava in 2009. As a result of municipal unions, Kauhava is the third largest city in Southern Ostrobothnia in terms of population.
Kauhava is located in an extremely flat area that can be admired from a lookout tower in Saarimaa. There are two museums in Kauhava: the Iisakin Jussin tupa Peasant and Homeland Museum and the Knife and Textile Museum, which is open in the summer and exhibits handicraft products. This is located in the library building, which is also a cultural center. Kauhava Church, built in 1925, is also worth a visit. The city also has the amusement park PowerPark.
Powerpark - amusement park and go-kart track
Church in Kauhava
Monument to the plane Fouga Magister
Monument to BAE Systems Hawk
Museum of Finnish Rangers
Finnish knife factory Iisakki Järvenpää
The making of puukko knives is a traditional industry in Kauhava. At one time, there were as many as five knife-making factories in the city, but today there is only one - Iisakki Järvenpää Oy, which has been making knives in Kauhava since 1879. The coat of arms of the city in 1952-2008 depicted a traditional Finnish knife. Every year in June, the international Puukko Knife Festival "Puukkofestivaali" takes place, which lasts a couple of days and includes an exhibition of knives, their production and throwing.
A Stone Age settlement has been found in the Perttulanmäki area, and
the Stone Age settlement of Hatunluoma partially extends into the
Kauhava area. However, a permanent settlement in Kauhava was born in the
16th century, when settlers arrived in Kauhava mainly from the Kyrö
region. The oldest houses in Kauhava were Kamppinen, Somppi and
Pelkonen.
The settlement expanded rapidly in Kauhava. In 1570
there were 17 houses and in 1600 already 28. The Kauhava area was
originally called Kauhajoki and Sydänmaa and from 1608 it belonged to
Lapua. Kauhava's chapel congregation was founded in 1643. Kauhava's
first church building was a modest church hut. In 1643, Kauhava's first
church was completed.
Kauhava's population began to grow rapidly
in the 18th century and the area became prosperous thanks to the tar
trade. The second church was built by Antti Hakola in 1756. In 1805,
there were already 3051 inhabitants. In the 19th century, Kauhava was
known for its puukko junkers, or hajy. In the late 1860s, Adolf
Hägglund, called the "ugly valesmann of Kauhava", succeeded in defeating
the leaders of the hovels. In the years 1867–1869, trials against the
leaders of the gangs were held in Pollar's house.
The downfall of
Häjy was influenced by, for example, migration, revivalism and the youth
club movement. Mass movements channel the energy of young men from
Ostrobothnia into more fruitful pursuits. Kauhava became an independent
parish in 1859 and a municipality in 1867. The first youth club in
Finland was founded in Midsummer 1881 in the Hahtomaa village of
Kauhava. Later, seven more youth clubs were founded in Kauhava.
In the 1880s, a railway was built in Kauhava, which was a significant
step forward for business life. Carpenters and weavers brought their
products to the train station to sell. Trading laid the foundation for
the knife and weaving industry. At the end of the century, almost 4,000
people emigrated from Kauhava, but in 1920 there were still around 7,800
inhabitants living in the holding. Kauhava's second church burned down
on Christmas Day 1921 and the current church was completed in 1925
according to Josef Stenbäck's drawings.
In 1929, the Air Warfare
School of the Defense Forces moved to Kauhava. The Air Force School
brought color to the life of the community and brought jobs and
educational opportunities to the city. In the fall of 1968, a memorial
to 51 pilots who served in Kauhava and died in plane accidents was
unveiled in Kauhava. The air warfare school was closed in 2014.
Kauhava, Alahärmä, Ylihärmä and Kortesjärvi ended up in a municipal
union for financial reasons in 2009. The old municipal boundaries are
visible in the residents' identity for a long time after that.
Kauhava's neighboring municipalities are Evijärvi, Isokyrö,
Lappajärvi, Lapua, Pedersören municipality, Seinäjoki, Uusikaarlepyy and
Vöyri, of which Pedersören municipality, Uusikaarlepyy and Vöyri belong
to Ostrobothnia province and the others to South Ostrobothnia.
Villages
Alahärmä area Ekola, Hakola, Hanhila, Hanhimäki, Heikkilä,
Hilli, Huhtamäki, Härmä, Kirkonkylä, Kivihuhta, Katajamäki, Kojola,
Kuoppala, Köykkäri, Lahdenkylä, Lehtimäki, Markkula, Mylläri, Ojala,
Poromaa, Pelkkala, Perkiömäki, Pesola, Torvisto, Vakkuri, Voltti,
Vuoskoski and Yliviitala
Kauhava area Alakylä, Annala,
Eteläranta, Fräntilä, Hatunkylä, Hirvijoki, Hopiavuori, Huhmarkoski,
Huhtamäki, Kantola, Karjanlahti, Kauhava, Kettula, Kleemola, Kosola,
Lauttamus (central area), Lummukka, Matsomppi, Mäenpää, Mäki-Hannus,
Orava, Pelkkikangas , Pelkola, Pernaa, Pukkila, Ruotsala, Renko,
Sippola, Varpula, Varvas, Viinikka and Ylikylä.
Kortesjärvi area
Isomäki, Kielinen, Kortesjärvi, Purmojärvi, Rantala, Saarijärvi,
Ylikylä, Manninen, Nuottimäki, Fräntilä, Kukkola, Pellinen, Pirttinen,
Iso-Pellinen, Lappinen, Laukkonen, Salo, Ylikoski, Porkholma and
Tyynismaa
Ylihärmä area Haapoja, Keskikunta, Kirkonkylä, Kosola,
Pakka, Vesiluoma, Yliluoma, Kangas, Ikola, Ilomäki, Rannanjärvi, Salomaa
and Taipale.