Keuruu, formerly Keuru (Swedish: Keuru), is a Finnish city located in the province of Central Finland, 60 kilometers west of Jyväskylä. The city is home to about 9,500 people, in addition to which there are plenty of holiday homes in Keuruu.
The old wooden church of Keuruu was built in 1756–59 by Antti Hakola,
but has been out of use since the consecration of the new brick church
in 1892 and currently functions as a museum.
The Keuruu Market is
a popular summer event every summer, with even Matti Nykänen attending.
Camping is possible on the shore of Keurusselä, about 3.5 km from
Keuruu center. Next to the camping site is the Nyyssänniemi residential
area, which has a mini golf and disc golf course, as well as a
playground and a football field.
In 2017, Keuruu, together with
entrepreneurs from Keuruu and the city, initiated its own GoKeuruu
mobile application, which helps both local residents and tourists get to
know what Keuruu has to offer.
The neighboring municipalities of Keuruu
are Jämsä, Multia, Mänttä-Vilppula, Petäjävesi, Virrat and Ähtäri.
Of the neighboring municipalities, Ähtäri belongs to Southern
Ostrobothnia, Virrat and Mänttä-Vilppula to Pirkanmaa and others to
Central Finland.
Highway 23 divides the city in an east-west
direction, from the south becomes main road 58. Haapamäki is a
railway crossing station: the railway from Haapamäki to Jyväskylä
runs through the center of Keuruu.
Keuruu is a hilly and
forested municipality, the nature of which reflects the presence of
Suomenselä. There are many lakes and bogs in Keuruu. The church
village of Keuruu is also located by the water. There is a little
over a tenth of the surface area of Keuruu. The largest lake is
Keurusselkä and the associated Ukonselkä.
There are nine
Natura sites in the Keuruu area, in whole or in part: Hirvijärvi,
Huhkojärvi's long and narrow gorge lake, Pihlajavesi and upstream
small waters, Pihlajavesi route favored by otters and trout, Raiski
forests, Siipikangas, Tuomistonjoki, Vesilahdensuo - Kurkisuo ja -
Kurkisuo
Loila, Suojärvi, Suolahti, Kurkiniemi, Ketvelniemi, Kivelä, Keuruunkylä, Pappilanniemi, Nyyssänniemi, Otava, Mustasaari, Melonsaari
South Keuruu, Haapamäki, Jukojärvi, Liesjärvi, Pihlajavesi, Valkealahti, Ampiala, Karimo, Kivijärvi, Lavikko, Riiho, Lihjamo, Kaleton
Early History: 16th to 17th Century
The origins of Keuruu trace
back to the 16th century when the area, initially known as "Keuru," was
a remote wilderness primarily used for hunting. It first appeared in
historical records in 1552, with the southern parts controlled by
inhabitants from Sääksmäki and the northern regions by those from
Kangasala. By 1564, the first permanent settlements emerged, led by
Savonians from eastern Finland, alongside some Tavastians (Häme people).
These early settlers could often be identified by their surnames:
Savonians typically ended in "-nen" (e.g., Karjalainen, Koponen), while
Tavastians did not. Of the initial 11 households, six were Savonian and
five Tavastian.
The village was formally referenced as "Köyris" in
1567 and integrated into the Ruovesi parish from 1571 to 1636.
Settlement intensified in the 1570s, with 31 additional Savonians
arriving from areas like Rautalampi and Laukaa, outnumbering the
remaining Tavastians. Over time, the groups intermixed, preserving
elements of the Savonian dialect in local speech. In 1640, the southern
territories from Sääksmäki were incorporated into what would become the
Keuruu parish.
Keuruu received its official parish charter in 1652,
marking a pivotal step in its administrative development. Prior to this,
it functioned as a chapel under Ruovesi at Lapinsalmi since 1628. The
area expanded through boundary adjustments, incorporating regions that
later formed separate municipalities like Multia (independent in 1872)
and Pihlajavesi (independent in 1910 but rejoined in 1969). Villages
such as Kivijärvi and Niemisvesi, once part of Keuruu, were reassigned
to neighboring Ähtäri. This period was characterized by agricultural
subsistence, with hunting and fishing supplementing livelihoods in the
forested, lake-dotted terrain.
18th to 19th Century: Religious
and Architectural Growth
The 18th century brought significant
cultural and religious advancements to Keuruu. In 1758, the iconic Old
Church of Keuruu was consecrated, a wooden structure built in the
peasant style that became a symbol of the community's faith and
craftsmanship. Surrounded by stone walls and gate rooms, its interior
features rich paintings illustrating biblical stories, hopes, and fears
of the era. This church served as the spiritual center until the late
19th century.
The town itself was founded in 1745 by Emmi Sakari, a
figure exiled after a failed attempt to overthrow the Russian
government; she reportedly lived disguised in a swamp, attracting other
settlers and shaping early community life. By the 1870s, industrial
interests emerged, with Gustaf Adolf Serlachius envisioning a waterway
from Tampere to Keuruu, though it never materialized. Instead, he
established a tourist hotel on Lake Keurusselkä's shores in 1883,
boosting early tourism.
In 1892, a new Neo-Gothic red brick church,
designed by architect Teodor Granstedt, was completed to replace the
aging wooden one. It includes two altarpieces by renowned artist Eero
Järnefelt and represents the shift toward more modern architecture. The
19th century also saw the development of traditional foods, such as
"gutter meat" fried in wooden troughs, sweetened potato casserole, and
"varilimppu" bread, which were officially recognized as parish dishes in
the 1980s.
20th Century to Present: Modernization and
Consolidation
The 20th century marked Keuruu's transition to a more
urbanized entity. It officially became a city in 1986, following decades
of growth. In 1967, the Pioneer Regiment of the Finnish Defense Forces
was established here, training around 1,000 conscripts annually in
engineering and conservation skills until its disbandment in 2014. This
military presence employed about 250 people and trained over 50,000
individuals, significantly impacting the local economy.
Municipal
consolidations strengthened Keuruu: Pihlajavesi rejoined in 1969,
enhancing its administrative scope. The 1970s saw unsuccessful plans to
designate it as a borough, but cultural events flourished, including the
annual Keuruu Market in summer, featuring performers like Matti Nykänen
and Danny, and the Pentecostal Midsummer Conference, which draws
Christians from across Finland and abroad.
In recent decades, Keuruu
has embraced tourism and technology. The 2017 launch of the GoKeuruu
mobile app promoted local businesses and attractions to residents and
visitors. International ties include twin towns like Jõgeva in Estonia
and Szarvas in Hungary. Economic evolution continues with a focus on
agriculture (reflected in the coat of arms from 1952, featuring crossed
flails and church boat elements) alongside modern sectors like education
and recreation. The home port of the historic MS Elias Lönnrot paddle
steamer is here, and Camping Nyyssänniemi offers recreational facilities
on Lake Keurusselkä's shores.
The organization of the city of Keuruu consists of a "personnel
organization" and a "trustee organization".
The personnel
organization is responsible for preparing matters and implementing
decisions, as well as for practical operational activities. The
officials also have independent decision-making powers according to the
governance rules. The cooperation committee acts as a cooperation body
between employer and personnel.
The trustee organization
exercises political decision-making powers and includes the council, the
city administration and the boards. The highest decision-making power
lies with the city council. The council delegates its powers to
officials and other institutions and trustees of the municipality
through administrative regulations.
For the current legislative
period of 2021–2025, there are 31 council members in the Keuruu city
council. They consist of 8 representatives from the SPD and the same
number from the Center Party (KESK). There are 5 representatives from
the Christian Democrats (IOC) on the city council and the same number
from the True Finns Party (PS). The local electoral list (Keuruun
Sitoutumattomien Kunnallisjärjestö ry:n yhteislista) is represented by 3
members, the Green Alliance (VIHR) has 2 council members and an
authorized person represents the Left Party (VAS).
Keuruu has
twin towns with the following places:
Tingsryd, Sweden (since 1974)
Solrod, Denmark (1982)
Szarvas, Hungary (1983)
Skaun, Norway
(1984)
Uglich, Russia (1988)
Kalevi Sorsa (1930–2004), politician and Prime Minister
Salla
Sipponen (* 1995), discus thrower