A short History of Alajärvi

   The land area that now makes up Finland was settled immediately after the Ice Age, beginning from around 8500 BC. Finland was part of Kingdom of Sweden from the 13th century to 1809 when it was ceded to Russia and became the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1917 Finland declared independence. A civil war ensued between the socialist "Reds" and conservative "Whites" of which the latter gained the upper hand. During the Second World War Finland fought twice against the Soviet Union and had to cede most of Karelia to the U.S.S.R but remained an independent democracy. During the Cold War Finland's politics were influenced by the Soviet Union but the country never became a satellite state. Finland joined the European Union in 1995. 
   Today Alajärvi is small town with 8900 inhabitants since 1986. But in 1869 Alajärvi was rural district and in 1751 kappeliseurakunta (I don’t know in English). Before 1751 Alajärvi was part of Lappajärvi parish.

   There is population in Alajärvi  since 1400-1500. Local residents moved partly from west coast of the Gulf of Bothnia (Swedish speaking) and partly Savo (east) and Häme (south) districts. We are also people of mixed blood.

   In 1500 Alajärvi was divided into 3 villages: Alajärvenkylä, Kurejoki and Menkijärvi. Now (2007) Alajärvi town divided into several villages (17): Hoisko, Höykkylä, Kaartunen, Koivumäki, Kortekylä, Koskenvarsi, Kurejoki, Luoma-aho, Menkijärvi, Möksy, Paalijärvi, Pekkola, Pynttäri, Saukonkylä, Levijoki, Uusikylä, Teerineva. 

   The oldest farms are: Alajärvenkylä = Puumalainen N:o 1 based in 1574, Skrabb or Tallbacka N:2 in 1553, Stor-Pynttäri N:o 3 in 1557, Nelimarkka N:o 4 in 1608, Lill-Pynttäri N: 5 in 1682, Hoisko N;o 6 in1706, Kyröläinen N:o 7 in 1548 and Paalijärvi N:o 8 in 1739. Kurejoki = Juut-Laukkonen N:o 4 based in 1567,  Stor-Hök N:o 1 in 1548, Lill-Hök N:o 2 in 1609, Sikkilä N:o 3 in 1548, Sissala N:o 4 1562, Sihtala N:o 6 1562, Hämäläinen or Sihtala in 1608, Svarvare or Sorvari N: 7 in 1592, Höri N:o 8 in 1567, Turpinen or Turpeinen N:o 9 in 1562 and  Koskela N:o 12 in 1739. Menkijärvi =  Orava N:o 1 based in 1564, Seppälä N:o 2 in 1684 and Mikkola. 

  Economic life:  Earlier 1700-1800 agriculture was most general (perhaps 90 %), but after 1950 industry began to grov, especially log cabin industry (= hirsihuvilateollisuus = bungalows), metal industry and service industry. 

   Alajärvi consists of one parish (Alajärven seurakunta) and one church. The 1. church was made in 1749 and new one (Gabriel Church) in 1836. Most of people are Lutheran (including Lestadians = Apostlic Luthreran in America) and minority of people are Pentecostalists. They have own Temple.

   School system is very developed. There are business college, high school, professional institute and so on. It is remarkable that in Alajärvi are lot of  people educated in universities (Helsinki, Oulu, Tampere, Jyväskylä…), Mag. Phil., doctors and professors. But most of educated are moved out from Alajärvi. 

   We have had also some individuals who are well known in Finland (maybe in USA?): Alavar Aalto (architect) and Eero Nelimarkka (painter and professor). In USA (Ohio) lived one professor Filus (Filemon) Jacobson. He was born in Alajärvi (Turpela) and was a famous bandleader in Ohio. (He lived in Painesville). Here lives still painter Aira Niemi-Pynttäri (she died in 2011), who painted my grandfather’s portrait.