View source for Askola

{{short description|Municipality in Uusimaa, Finland}}
{{for-multi|the Finnish athlete|Arvo Askola|the Finnish bishop|Irja Askola}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Askola
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Askolan kunta}}<br />{{lang|sv|Askola kommun}}
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Church of Askola in Finland.jpg
| image_caption = Askola church
| image_shield = Askola.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size = 120x80px
| image_map = Askola sijainti Suomi.svg
| map_caption = Location of Askola in [[Finland]]
|coordinates = {{coord|60|31.7|N|025|36|E|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uusimaa]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Porvoo sub-region|Porvoo]]
| leader_title = Municipal manager
| leader_name = Annu Räsänen<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kuntalehti.fi/tyopaikat/tyopaikkauutiset/askola-valitsi-annu-rasasen/ | title=Askola valitsi Annu Räsäsen | date=12 June 2023 }}</ref>
| established_title = [[Charter]]
| established_date = 1896
|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Askola}}
|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Askola}}
|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Askola}}
|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Askola}}
|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Askola}}
|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Askola}}
|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Askola}}
|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Askola}}
|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Askola}}
|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Askola}}
|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Askola}}
|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_footnotes|Askola}}
|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Askola}}
|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Askola}}
|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Askola}}
|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Askola}}
|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Askola}}
|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Askola}}
|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Askola}}
|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Askola}}
|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Askola}}
|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Askola}}
|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Askola}}
|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Askola}}
|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Askola}}
|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Askola}}
|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Askola}}
|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Askola}}
|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Askola}}
|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Askola}}
| blank3_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank3_info = [[Humid continental climate#Mild/cool summer subtype|Dfb]]
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +02:00
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Askola''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈɑskolɑ}}) is a [[municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]]. It is located in the [[Uusimaa]] [[regions of Finland|region]]. The municipality has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Askola}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }})<ref name="population_count"/> and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Askola}}|km2}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Askola}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="total_area" /> The [[population density]] is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Askola|round=2}}|PD/km2}}. [[Monninkylä]] is the largest village of the municipality in terms of population (1,326 inhabitants).<ref name="urban population">{{Cite web|title=Population in urban settlements and sparsely populated areas by age, sex and municipality, 2019|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s6.px/|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126094635/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s6.px/ |archive-date=2019-11-26 }}</ref> Neighbouring municipalities are [[Myrskylä]], [[Mäntsälä]], [[Pornainen]], [[Porvoo]] and [[Pukkila]].

The municipality is unilingually [[Finnish language|Finnish]]. Askola is one of three municipalities in the [[Uusimaa]] region that do not have a Swedish name; the others are [[Nurmijärvi]] and Mäntsälä.

== History ==
The Askola parish was part of Porvoo until 1639, when it became a chapel parish, and finally became independent in 1896. The [[Askola church]] was completed in 1799.<ref>[http://www.askolanseurakunta.fi/kirkko/ Askolan kirkko] Askolan Seurakunta (in Finnish)</ref>

The coat of arms of the municipality seeks influence from the history of the parish; the [[millstone]] is reminiscent of the Askolas's many mills and famous breads, while the [[rose]]s of the coat of arms refer to Finnish author [[Johannes Linnankoski]], who was born and influenced in Askola, whose most famous work was ''[[The Song of the Blood-Red Flower]]''.

== Geography ==
[[File:Vakkolan kiviholvisilta ja taustalla kylän viljasiilo.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Vakkola]] village]]
The most significant waters in Askola includes the [[Porvoonjoki|River Porvoo]] flowing from the center of Askola between [[Orimattila]] and [[Porvoo]], and eleven lakes in the eastern part of the municipality.<ref>[http://porvoo.4h.fi/4h-askolassa/askolan-kirkonkyla/askolan-luonto-ja-historia/ Askolan luonto ja historia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402063203/http://porvoo.4h.fi/4h-askolassa/askolan-kirkonkyla/askolan-luonto-ja-historia/ |date=2016-04-02 }} Askolan 4H</ref>

There are no [[Natura 2000]] sites in Askola, but instead five rock areas have been classified as nationally valuable.<ref name="nature"/> In one of them, Kirnukallio, are the well-known Askola's [[Giant's kettle|glacial potholes]].<ref>[http://hiidenkirnut.fi/the-potholes-of-askola/ The Potholes of Askola] - Askolan Hiidenkirnut</ref><ref>''Maailman ja Suomen Suuratlas'', p 294. WSOY, Instituto Geografico Agostini, Novara, Igda; 1985. ISBN 951-0-12598-9. (in Finnish)</ref> The nationally valuable landscape area of the River Porvoo Valley also extends to the Askola side. Prestbacka Manor and Pappilanharju's [[natural reserve]] are also protected as cultural landscapes.<ref name="nature">[https://www.askola.fi/etusivu/rakentaminen-ymparisto/luonnonsuojelu/ Luonnonsuojelu] - Askola.fi (in Finnish)</ref>
{{Clear left}}

=== Villages ===
In 1967, Askola had 12 legally recognized villages ''(henkikirjakylät)'':<ref name="suomenmaa">{{Cite book |last1=Erävuori |first1=Jukka |last2=Papunen |first2=Pentti |last3=Mäkinen |first3=Vesa |title=Suomenmaa: maantieteellis-yhteiskunnallinen tieto- ja hakuteos. 1: Ahlainen–Hausjärvi|publisher=[[Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö|WSOY]]|year=1967|location=[[Helsinki]]|chapter=Askola}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Askola (village)|Askola]]
* [[Huuvari]]
* [[Juornaankylä]]
* [[Korttia]]
* [[Monninkylä]]
* [[Nalkkila]]
* [[Nieto, Askola|Nieto]]
* [[Puharonkimaa]]
* [[Särkijärvi, Askola|Särkijärvi]]
* [[Tiilää]]
* [[Vahijärvi]]
* [[Vakkola]]
{{div col end}}

== Demographics ==
In 2020, 18.7% of the population of Askola was under the age of 15, 61.0% were aged 15 to 64, and 20.2% were over the age of 65. The average age was 42.3, under the national average of 43.4 but above the regional average of 41.0. Speakers of [[Finnish language|Finnish]] made up 93.7% of the population and speakers of [[Swedish language|Swedish]] made up 3.4%, while the share of speakers of foreign languages was 2.9%. Foreign nationals made up 1.8% of the total population.<ref name="population key figures">{{Cite web|title=Key figures on population by region, 1990-2020|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px/|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406192005/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px/ |archive-date=2019-04-06 }}</ref>

The chart below, describing the development of the total population of Askola from 1975-2020, encompasses the municipality's area as of 2021.

{{Historical populations
| align = none
| cols = 2
| percentages = pagr
| 1975 |3,630
| 1980 |4,058
| 1985 |4,130
| 1990 |4,248
| 1995 |4,269
| 2000 |4,389
| 2005 |4,555
| 2010 |4,864
| 2015 |5,104
| 2020 |4,878
|source=[[Statistics Finland]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area, 1972-2020|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11re.px/|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525152634/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11re.px/ |archive-date=2019-05-25 }}</ref>
}}

=== Urban areas ===
In 2019, out of the total population of 4,943, 2,636 people lived in [[Urban areas in Finland|urban areas]] and 2,251 in sparsely populated areas, while the coordinates of 56 people were unknown. This made Askola's degree of urbanization 53.9%.<ref name="urbanization">{{Cite web|title=Degree of urbanisation by area, 2019|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s7.px/|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126094642/http://pxnet2.stat.fi:80/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11s7.px/ |archive-date=2019-11-26 }}</ref> The urban population in the municipality was divided between two urban areas as follows:<ref name="urban population"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! # !! Urban area !! Population
|-
| align="center" | 1 || '''[[Monninkylä]]''' || align="right" | 1,324
|-
| align="center" | 2 || [[Askola (village)|Askola parish village]] ||align="right"| 1,312
|}

== Services ==
[[File:Monninkylä school 1.jpg|thumb|Monninkylä school]]
Askola has four [[primary school]]s, and two [[secondary school]]s, as well as one [[vocational school]].<ref>[http://www.askola.fi/etusivu/opetus-paivahoito/peruskoulu/ Perusopetus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806155548/http://www.askola.fi/etusivu/opetus-paivahoito/peruskoulu/ |date=2020-08-06 }} - Askola.fi (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[http://www.askola.fi/etusivu/opetus-paivahoito/lukio-ja-ammatillinen-koulutus/ Lukio ja ammatillinen koulutus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731081259/https://www.askola.fi/etusivu/opetus-paivahoito/lukio-ja-ammatillinen-koulutus/ |date=2020-07-31 }} - Askola.fi (in Finnish)</ref> Both secondary schools also receive students from the neighboring municipality of [[Pukkila]], which does not have its own post-primary school education.<ref>[https://pukkila.fi/palvelut/opetus/ Opetus] - Pukkila.fi (in Finnish)</ref>

The Askola's [[library]] operates in six locations: the church village, Monninkylä and four schools of the municipality.<ref>[https://www.askola.fi/etusivu/vapaa-aika-nuoriso/kirjasto-kulttuuri/ Kirjastot] - Askola.fi (in Finnish)</ref>

[[Public health care]] is provided at the Askola Health Center.<ref>[https://www.suomi.fi/palvelut/palvelupiste/ajanvaraus-askolan-kunta/a91a09aa-5b8e-49e0-9101-d613d8b6527c Askolan kunta: Lääkärin tai hoitajan vastaanotto - Ajanvaraus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415103922/https://www.suomi.fi/palvelut/palvelupiste/ajanvaraus-askolan-kunta/a91a09aa-5b8e-49e0-9101-d613d8b6527c |date=2023-04-15 }} - Suomi.fi (in Finnish)</ref>

There are two [[Sale (chain store)|Sale]] grocery stores in the municipality: one in the church village and the other in Monninkylä.<ref>[https://www.foodie.fi/store/848ce64a47fd3130c85f8a8c5e79409b Sale Askola] - Foodie.fi (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://www.foodie.fi/store/f18709b1abae5b7adf940acaed1197e4 Sale Monninkylä] - Foodie.fi (in Finnish)</ref> In 2021, locals said they wanted a third grocery store from a competing chain, such as [[Kesko]] or [[Lidl]].<ref name="o778">{{cite news| title=Tarvitseeko Askola kolmannen ruokakaupan? | work=Itäväylä | date=25 May 2021 | url=https://www.itavayla.fi/teksti/tarvitseeko-askola-kolmannen-ruokakaupan-6.2.54507.c12d92d394 | language=fi | access-date=23 October 2025|trans-title=Does Askola need a third grocery store?|first=Mia|last=Smolander}}</ref>

==Politics==
Results of the [[2011 Finnish parliamentary election]] in Askola:

*[[True Finns]]   32.1%
*[[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]]   21.9%
*[[National Coalition Party]]   16.1%
*[[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]]   14.8%
*[[Green League]]   5.4%
*[[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]]   5.0%
*[[Christian Democrats (Finland)|Christian Democrats]]   1.8%
*[[Swedish People's Party]]   1,6%

== Economy ==
In 2018, 8.1% of the workforce of Askola worked in primary production ([[agriculture]], [[forestry]] and [[fishing]]), 36.2% in secondary production (e.g. [[manufacturing]], [[construction]] and [[infrastructure]]), and 53.1% in [[Service (economics)|services]]. In 2019, the unemployment rate was 6.7%, and the share of pensioners in the population was 23.0%.<ref name="municipal key figures">{{Cite web|title=Municipal key figures 1987-2020 (with the 2021 regional division)|url=https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_aikasarja.px|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|website=StatFin|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426165318/https://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_aikasarja.px |archive-date=2021-04-26 }} (2018 and 2019)</ref>

The ten largest employers in Askola in 2019 were as follows:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kunnittainen toimipaikkatilasto|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/yritystietopalvelu/kunnittainen-toimipaikkatilasto|url-status=live|access-date=1 May 2021|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|language=fi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114133314/http://www.stat.fi/tup/yritystietopalvelu/kunnittainen-toimipaikkatilasto |archive-date=2016-11-14 }}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|style=max-width:70em;|
# TerraWise Oy, 323 employees
# Municipality of Askola, 293 employees
# Hakevuori Oy, 37 employees
# Fimet Oy, 35 employees
# Eteva kuntayhtymä, 31 employees
# Kuljetusliike M. Lindberg Oy, 30 employees
# SimFors Oy, 28 employees
# Kymppirakenne Oy, 27 employees
# Oy Meyer vastus Ab, 25 employees
# Ginola Oy, 25 employees
}}

==People born in Askola==
*[[Juho Laakso]] (1854–1915)
*[[Erkki Peltonen]] (1861–1942)
*[[Johannes Linnankoski]] (1869–1913)
*[[Oskar Kumpu]] (1889–1935)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Askola}}
*[https://askola.fi/ Municipality of Askola] – Official website

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Askola
 | N  = [[Pukkila]]
 | NE = [[Myrskylä]]
 | E  = [[Porvoo]]
 | S  = [[Porvoo]]
 | W  = [[Pornainen]]
 | NW = [[Mäntsälä]]
}}
{{Uusimaa}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Askola| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1896]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Uusimaa]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Eastern Uusimaa]]