Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, market town in 1931 and town in 1960. In the beginning of 2009, the neighbouring municipalities of Nurmo and Ylistaro were consolidated with Seinäjoki.

The Town library, Lakeuden Risti church and central administrative buildings are designed by Alvar Aalto.

Seinäjoki is known for hosting three large summer events: "Tangomarkkinat", which is a tango festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, Vauhtiajot, which is a motor racing event with music and Provinssirock, which is the biggest rock festival in Finland.

The asteroid 1521 Seinäjoki bears its name.

Seinäjoki was historically called in Swedish. Today, this name is very seldom used even by Swedish speakers.

Seinäjoki Airport is located in the neighbouring municipality of Ilmajoki, south of Seinäjoki city centre.

Sights

• Lakeuden Risti ("the cross of the plains")
• Alvar Aalto's cultural and administrative centre
• the Southern Ostrobothnia District Museum
• the Civil Guard and Lotta Svärd museum
• Törnävä church
• the railway exhibition

Other points of interest

• Törnävä tourist centre
• the Suviyö trotting-race
• the summer theatre
• the Jouppilanvuori winter sports centre
• the Seinäjoki City theatre
• Provinssirock
• Tangomarkkinat
• Vauhtiajot

Notable people

• Arto Saari, skateboarder
• Paula Koivuniemi, singer
• Jorma Ollila, businessman
• The Dudesons, aka Extreme Duudsonit
• Pekka Koskela, speed skater

Statistics

• Population: 31,696 (2003), 35,918 (2005 after consolidation with Peräseinäjoki) and 56,229 (2009 after consolidation with Nurmo and Ylistaro).
• Annual growth: 624

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Seinäjoki is twinned with:

• Koszalin, Poland

References

External links

• Seinäjoki – Official website
• Provinssirock – rock festival
• Tangomarkkinat – tango festival