Kuortane

Kuortane is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the South Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of 3,332 (31 March 2025)^[2] and covers an area of 484.88 square kilometres (187.21 sq mi) of which 22.72 km² (8.77 sq mi) is water.^[1] The population density is 7.21 inhabitants per square kilometre (18.7/sq mi). The neighboring municipalities of Kuortane are Alajärvi, Alavus, Lapua and Seinäjoki. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

Kuortane
Municipality
Kuortaneen kunta Kuortane kommun
Old church of Kuortane in 2012
Coat of arms
Location of Kuortane in Finland
Coordinates: 62°48.5′N 023°30.5′E
Country	Finland
Region	South Ostrobothnia
Sub-region	Kuusiokunnat
Government
• Municipal manager	Teemu Puolijoki
Area  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	484.88 km2 (187.21 sq mi)
• Land	462.37 km2 (178.52 sq mi)
• Water	22.72 km2 (8.77 sq mi)
• Rank	189th largest in Finland
Population  (2025-03-31)[2]
• Total	3,332
• Rank	206th largest in Finland
• Density	7.21/km2 (18.7/sq mi)
Population by native language [2]
• Finnish	97.5% (official)
• Others	2.5%
Population by age [3]
• 0 to 14	13.9%
• 15 to 64	53.1%
• 65 or older	33.1%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website	kuortane.fi/en/

Kuortane has a notable history of pine tar production. It is currently well known for the Kuortaneen urheilulukio, a sports institute (Olympic Training centre) and training facility overseen by the Finnish Olympic Committee where many young Finnish athletes study and train. Both the women's national under-18 ice hockey team and Team Kuortane of the Naisten Liiga are based at the institute. Kuortane is also known as the birthplace of world-famous architect Alvar Aalto and .

Notable people

• Alvar Aalto (1898–1976), architect and designer
• Osmo Ala-Honkola (1939–2020), Olympic sport shooter
• Reino Ala-Kulju (1898–1983), Lutheran clergyman, politician, and teacher
• Mira Suhonen (born 1985), Olympic sport shooter

See also

• Kuortaneen urheilulukio