Hankasalmi is a municipality of Finland, located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of

()

Villages

  • Halttula

History

The name Hankasalmi was first mentioned in 1552 when it was a wilderness owned by the Tavastians of Hauho. The settlement has existed at least since 1559. In 1561, it was transferred to the new Rautalampi parish, which was largely settled by Savonians.

Hankasalmi became an independent parish in 1802, but administratively it remained a part of Rautalampi until 1872, when the modern Hankasalmi municipality was formed. Parts of it were also taken from Pieksämäki, Kangasniemi and Laukaa.

Notable individuals

  • Antero Halonen, boxer
  • Matti A. Karjalainen, professor at the Helsinki University of Technology
  • Niina Mäkinen, ice hockey player
  • Onni Pellinen, Olympic wrestler
  • Vilho Ylönen, cross-country skier and rifle shooter

Twin towns and sister cities

Hankasalmi is twinned with:

  • Häädemeeste, Estonia
  • Karmøy, Norway
  • Mjölby, Sweden

References

  • Municipality of Hankasalmi – Official site