Keuruu

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.

 

Sights

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.

 

Geography and nature

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

 

Parts of the central city of Keuruu

Loila, Suojärvi, Suolahti, Kurkiniemi, Ketvelniemi, Kivelä, Keuruunkylä, Pappilanniemi, Nyyssänniemi, Otava, Mustasaari, Melonsaari

 

Villages

South Keuruu, Haapamäki, Jukojärvi, Liesjärvi, Pihlajavesi, Valkealahti, Ampiala, Karimo, Kivijärvi, Lavikko, Riiho, Lihjamo, Kaleton

 

History

The area around Keuruu was settled around 1560, and was subsequently divided between the parishes of Pirkkala and Ruovesi. Since 1628, Keuruu has been an independent church community with its own parish. After the towns of Multia and Pihlajavesi separated from Keuruu, Pihlajavesi was rejoined in 1969. In the 1970s, Keuruu was supposed to become a municipality. This was delayed, and in 1986 Keuruu even met the criteria for a town.

Since 1967, part of the Finnish armed forces has been based in Keuruu. The pioneer regiment trained around a thousand conscripts in the areas of pioneering and nature conservation every year. It comprised 250 men and was disbanded at the end of 2014. The last recruits entered service in January 2014.

 

Politics

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)

 

Personalities

Kalevi Sorsa (1930–2004), politician and Prime Minister
Salla Sipponen (* 1995), discus thrower