Karstula

Not to be confused with Karttula.

Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,541 (30 June 2025)^[2] and covers an area of 963.19 square kilometres (371.89 sq mi) of which 76.22 km² (29.43 sq mi) is water.^[1] The population density is 3.99 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.3/sq mi).

Karstula
Municipality
Karstulan kunta Karstula kommun
Karstula Church
Coat of arms
Location of Karstula in Finland
Coordinates: 62°52.5′N 024°48′E
Country	Finland
Region	Central Finland
Sub-region	Saarijärvi–Viitasaari sub-region
Charter	1867
Government
• Municipal manager	Eino Nissinen
Area  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	963.19 km2 (371.89 sq mi)
• Land	887.06 km2 (342.50 sq mi)
• Water	76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi)
• Rank	86th largest in Finland
Population  (2025-06-30)[2]
• Total	3,541
• Rank	201st largest in Finland
• Density	3.99/km2 (10.3/sq mi)
Population by native language [2]
• Finnish	97.8% (official)
• Others	2.2%
Population by age [3]
• 0 to 14	12.3%
• 15 to 64	52.8%
• 65 or older	34.9%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	karstula.fi/briefly-in-english/

Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini. There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula, the biggest lakes being Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.^[4]

The subject of the coat of arms refers to Karstula's position as the "gateway to Ostrobothnia", as the inland routes to Ostrobothnia have passed through Karstula in ancient times and still do today. The coat of arms was designed by Ahti Hammar, and the Karstula municipal council approved it at its meeting on 9 March 1953. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the coat of arms for use on 16 July of the same year.^[5]

History

The name of Karstula is likely derived from the Savonian surname Karstunen, encountered around Ristiina since 1541. First records of the surname in Northern Tavastia (modern Central Finland) are from the 18th century. Karstula was initially a part of the Saarijärvi parish, acquiring chapel rights in 1775 under it. Karstula was allowed to become a separate parish and municipality in 1858, but separated later in 1887. Kyyjärvi was a part of Karstula until 1929, though it only acquired a separate parish in 1944.^[6]

Suomenselkä municipality

Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi had planned to merge into the Suomenselkä municipality [fi] from January 1, 2022.^[7][8] Karstula, Kivijärvi and Kyyjärvi accepted the merger proposal, but Kannonkoski did not.^[9] After Kannonkoski opted out of the planned merger, Kivijärvi also left out. The merger project of the remaining Karstula and Kyyjärvi failed at the Kyyjärvi municipal council meeting held on May 17, 2021, and the Ministry of Finance did not propose a forced merger either.^[10]

Architecture

• A number of historical buildings (from the beginning of the 20th century) has been preserved in the village centre, representing the original countryside buildings of the region.^{[citation needed]}
• There's also a cottage designed by Alvar Aalto, though it is not listed in most Aalto's biographies.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

Highway 13 between Kokkola and Lappeenranta, main road 58 between Kangasala and Kärsämäki and main road 77 between Kyyjärvi and Siilinjärvi pass through the Karstula municipality.

Karstula is served by OnniBus.com route Helsinki—Jyväskylä—Kokkola.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

• Artturi Koskinen (1904–1981), Member of Parliament
• Jarmo Mäkinen (born 1958), actor
• Nätti-Jussi (1890–1964), legendary lumberjack
• Harri Koskinen (born 1970), designer

Culture

Events

• The International Shooting Week^[11]

Food

In the 1980s, flour-potato porridge and piimävelli—a gruel of soured milk sweetened with syrup and including dough-raisin clumps and/or pieces of leipäjuusto—were named Karstula's traditional parish dishes.^[12]

Twin cities

• Broby Municipality, Denmark^[13]
• Ragunda, Sweden^[14]
• Stjørdal, Norway^[15]

Gallery

• 
  Pääjärvi is the largest lake in Karstula.
• 
  Kirkkovuori observation tower.
• 
  Illustration of Karstula in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845-1852.