Äänekoski

Äänekoski
Town
Äänekosken kaupunki
Äänekoski stad
Äänekoski town hall and library
Äänekoski town hall and library
Coat of arms of Äänekoski
Coat of arms
Location of Äänekoski in Finland
Location of Äänekoski in Finland
Coordinates: 62°36′N 025°43.5′E
Country Finland
Region Central Finland
Sub-region Äänekoski sub-region
Charter 1932
City rights 1973
Government
 • Town manager Matti Tuononen
Area
 (2018-01-01)
 • Total 1,138.39 km2 (439.53 sq mi)
 • Land 884.61 km2 (341.55 sq mi)
 • Water 253.84 km2 (98.01 sq mi)
 • Rank 87th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-30)
 • Total 18,021
 • Rank 64th largest in Finland
 • Density 20.37/km2 (52.8/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish 98% (official)
 • Swedish 0.1%
 • Others 1.8%
Population by age
 • 0 to 14 15.2%
 • 15 to 64 56.8%
 • 65 or older 27.9%
Time zone UTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website www.aanekoski.fi

Äänekoski (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈæːneˌkːoski]) is a town in Finland. It is located in the Central Finland region, about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Jyväskylä. The town has a population of 18,021 (30 September 2023) and covers an area of 1,138.39 square kilometres (439.53 sq mi) of which 253.84 km2 (98.01 sq mi) is water. The population density is 20.37 inhabitants per square kilometre (52.8/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Konnevesi, Laukaa, Saarijärvi, Uurainen, Vesanto and Viitasaari.

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

The municipality of Äänekosken maalaiskunta was consolidated to Äänekoski in 1969 and the municipality of Konginkangas in 1993. The municipalities of Sumiainen and Suolahti were consolidated to Äänekoski in 2007.

History

Coat of arms of Äänekoski until 2007. The modern coat of arms was originally used by Suolahti.

Äänekoski is named after the nearby rapids. Folk etymology connects the name to the word ääni "sound", but Terho Itkonen has suggested another origin: a Sámi term meaning "big, large" (compare Northern Sámi eanas, "most").

Swedish sources mention a salmon fishery by the rapids around 1455, Ænækoski laxefiskeri. At the time, it was not a proper settlement and was located in the hunting grounds of the people of Sysmä. The Rautalampi parish was established in 1561, at the time it was a large parish covering most of Central Finland north of the Päijänne. The Laukaa parish, including the area of Äänekoski, was separated from Rautalampi in 1628.

A settlement named Äänekoski has existed at least since 1752. It remained a part of Laukaa until the parish was established in 1907 and the municipality Äänekosken maalaiskunta was established in 1911. At the time, Äänekosken maalaiskunta was called simply Äänekoski. The municipality was divided in 1932: the actual settlement of Äänekoski became the kauppala of Äänekoski, Suolahti became another kauppala while the old Äänekoski municipality was renamed Äänekosken maalaiskunta and its administrative seat was moved to the village of Honkola. Äänekoski and Äänekosken maalaiskunta still shared a parish.

The first industrial enterprises appeared in 1896–1900.

Four municipalities have been consolidated with Äänekoski: Äänekosken maalaiskunta in 1969, Konginkangas in 1993 and Sumiainen and Suolahti in 2007. Äänekoski adopted the coat of arms of Suolahti in 2007.

Nature

There are altogether 170 lakes in Äänekoski. The biggest lakes are Keitele, Kuhnamo and Niinivesi.

One of the world's smallest rivers, the Kuokanjoki, is within the area. Aatunselkä is also located in this area.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

The following cities or municipalities are twinned with Äänekoski:

Gallery

  • A porter locomotive of the Äänekoski-Suolahti narrow gauge railway
    A porter locomotive of the Äänekoski-Suolahti narrow gauge railway
  • A freight train departing from a pulp mill in Äänekoski
    A freight train departing from a pulp mill in Äänekoski
  • Kapeenkoski Lock of Keitele–Päijänne canal.
    Kapeenkoski Lock of Keitele–Päijänne canal.
  • A sunset at Lake Keitele
    A sunset at Lake Keitele

See also