South Ostrobothnia
Template:Short description Template:Expand Finnish Template:Infobox settlement
South Ostrobothnia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Template:Langx Template:IPA; Template:Langx) is one of the 19 regions of Finland. It borders the regions of Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Central Finland, Pirkanmaa, and Satakunta. Among the Finnish regions, South Ostrobothnia is the ninth largest in terms of population.<ref>https://www.epliitto.fi/vakiluku (in Finnish)</ref> Seinäjoki is the regional centre<ref name="Pohjanmaata" /> and by far the largest city in the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
As a cultural area, South Ostrobothnia is larger than its current regional borders and includes the region of Ostrobothnia as well.<ref name="Pohjanmaata">Template:Cite web</ref>
Geography
The natural landscape of South Ostrobothnia is mainly expanses, which is Finland's largest plain area. South Ostrobothnia is connected to the coastal region of the Gulf of Bothnia in the west, to the river country of Central Ostrobothnia in the north, and to Suomenselkä in the east and south, which is the watershed between the regions of Ostrobothnia and Finnish Lakeland. The land surface rises gently from the coast inland, and the 100-meter height level is reached about 100 kilometers from the coast.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The river valleys of South Ostrobothnia have traditionally been flood-prone areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
South Ostrobothnia had its first permanent settlements during the Iron Age. Swedish control began in the 12th century, leaving a lasting impact on the region's cultural identity. Swedish remains a spoken language alongside Finnish. In 1809, Finland, including South Ostrobothnia, became part of the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland. The region endured hardships during the tumultuous 19th century, including the Crimean War (1853–1856) and the throes of industrialization. The early 19th century also saw the rise of religious revival movements like Pietism, shaping the region's social fabric. Finland gained independence in 1917, and South Ostrobothnia played a role in the nation-building process. The 20th century witnessed significant industrial development, with metalworking, machinery, and electronics becoming major contributors to the economy. Despite the devastation of the Winter War (1939–1945) against the Soviet Union, the region persevered. Since the mid-20th century, the economy has diversified, with the service sector playing an increasingly important role.
Historical provinces
Culture
Regional and historical sub-tribal identity is generally stronger in South Ostrobothnia than in most regions of Finland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The South Ostrobothnian dialect belongs to the western Finnish dialects.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, in the most eastern part of the region people speak a Savonian dialect that has Ostrobothnian elements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
One of the biggest rock festivals in Finland, Provinssirock, and the world's oldest tango festival Tangomarkkinat are both held in Seinäjoki.<ref name="Pohjanmaata" /> The folk music festival Eteläpohjalaiset Spelit is held annually in different South Ostrobothnian locations<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the opera and music festival Ilmajoen Musiikkijuhlat is held in Ilmajoki.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Many of the cultural events in South Ostrobothnia are rooted in local folk festivals and communal work.<ref>Etelä-Pohjanmaan liitto (2014): Etelä-Pohjanmaa − Jotakin parempaa – Etelä-Pohjanmaan kulttuuristrategia vuosille 2015–2020, pp. 5–9.</ref>
There are several local folk costumes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jussipaita is a traditional sweater that has become a symbol for South Ostrobothnian identity.<ref>Luutonen, Marketta (2008): Harrin Jussin muisto: Jussipaita suomalaismiehen rooliasuna Oppimista, opetusta, monitieteisyyttä - Kirjoituksia Kuninkaankartanonmäeltä. Joensuun yliopisto, Savonlinnan opettajankoulutuslaitos.</ref>
Notable architecture in South Ostrobothnia include the Lakeuden Risti Church and other buildings in the Aalto Centre in Seinäjoki designed by the South Ostrobothnian-born architect Alvar Aalto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A traditional peasant house, ”pohjalaistalo” (Ostrobothnian house), is a part of the local folk culture.<ref>Riukulehto, Sulevi; Mäkelä, Matti; Orhanen, Outi & Lehtimäki, Anni: Pohjalaistalot – yhteistä kulttuuriperintöämme. Helsingin yliopisto, Ruralia-instituutti, 2014.</ref>
South Ostrobothnia is known for its agriculture and animal husbandry. Traditional local cuisine include leipäjuusto and kropsu, an Ostrobothnian pancake.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Municipalities
Template:Main The region of South Ostrobothnia consists of 18 municipalities, eight of which have city status (marked in bold). Template:Clear
Municipalities on the map
Template:Location map+ Template:Clear
Sub-regions
Template:Columns-start Järviseutu sub-region
- File:Alajärvi.vaakuna.svg Alajärvi
- File:Evijärvi.svg Evijärvi
- File:Lappajärvi.vaakuna.svg Lappajärvi
- File:Soini.vaakuna.svg Soini
- File:Vimpeli.vaakuna.svg Vimpeli
Template:Column Seinäjoki sub-region
- File:Ilmajoki.vaakuna.svg Ilmajoki
- File:Isokyrö.vaakuna.svg Isokyrö
- File:Kauhava.vaakuna.2009.svg Kauhava
- File:Kurikka.vaakuna.2009.svg Kurikka
- File:Lapua.vaakuna.svg Lapua
- File:Seinäjoki.vaakuna.svg Seinäjoki
- File:Isojoki.vaakuna.svg Isojoki
- File:Karijoki.vaakuna.svg Karijoki
- File:Kauhajoki.vaakuna.svg Kauhajoki
- File:Teuva.vaakuna.svg Teuva
Template:Columns-end Template:Clear
List of municipalities
Demographics
Template:Historical populations
South Ostrobothnia is the most homogenous region in Finland, with the highest share of the population speaking Finnish (97.1%) and the lowest share of people with a foreign-background (2.7%). Swedish is spoken by 637 people (0.3%). The highest shares of Swedish-speakers are in Evijärvi (2%) and Karijoki (1.6%), both of which border majority Swedish-speaking municipalities in the region of Ostrobothnia. The most spoken immigrant languages are Russian (0.5%), Estonian (0.4%), Ukrainian (0.2%), Hungarian (0.2%) and Thai (0.1%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
South Ostrobothnia has the highest proportion of people who belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland out of any region, at 82.8%. It also has the fourth highest dependency ratio at 74.3, higher than the national average of 62.4. The region has a higher proportion of people aged 0-14 and those aged 65 and over than the national average. The proportion of people in the working age (aged 15-64) is one of the lowest in the country.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kauhajoki in South Ostrobothnia is estimated to have the highest proportion of Finnish Kale in Finland, at 5%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, the city of Seinäjoki became one of the first in the country to fly the Romani flag during International Romani Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Population by background country as of 31 December 2021:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:Flag 186,604 (97.31%)
- Template:Flag 1,026 (0.54%)
- Template:Flag 636 (0.33%)
- Template:Flag 291 (0.15%)
- Template:Flag 286 (0.15%)
- Template:Flag 261 (0.14%)
- Template:Flag 254 (0.13%)
- Template:Flag 191 (0.10%)
- Template:Flag 135 (0.07%)
- Template:Flag 130 (0.07%)
- Template:Flag 129 (0.07%)
- Template:Flag 110 (0.06%)
Other 1,709 (0.89%)
Politics
Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in South Ostrobothnia:
- Centre Party 31.66%
- Finns Party 22.02%
- National Coalition Party 17.64%
- Social Democratic Party 10.79%
- Christian Democrats 6.39%
- Green League 4.22%
- Left Alliance 2.81%
- Blue Reform 1.82%
- Swedish People's Party 0.41%
- Seven Star Movement 0.37%
- Other parties 1.87%