Laihia () is a municipality of Finland, founded in 1576 through a separation from Isokyrö and Korsholm.

It is located in the Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of 8,020 (Jul 31, 2020) and covers an area of of which is water. The municipal manager is Juha Rikala. There are a total of 469 farms in the municipality..

Laihia is located along the international tourist route Blue Highway, which goes from Norway to Russia via Sweden and Finland.

thumb|350px|Landscape in Laihia

People

In Finland, Laihians are renowned for their stinginess (, , , or ) and there are hundreds of jokes told about them. However, Laihians are not usually offended by it. To the contrary, they are proud of their frugality and even have a Museum of Stinginess (Nuukuuren museo). In any case, Laihia has high-level public services for education, health, sports, seniors etc.

Notable people

  • Santeri Alkio, politician and journalist
  • Mark Hoppus (born 1972), American singer and musician, of Finnish descent through great-grandparents who emigrated from Laihia
  • Toivo Kärki, musician
  • Matti Vanhala, Bank of Finland Governor 1998–2004
  • Keijo Suila, former CEO of Finnair
  • Johan Laibecchius (born in Laihia on 19 March 1658), vicar
  • Kristian Chyraeus (died in Laihia in 1687), vicar
  • Samuel Backman (died in Laihia 3 April 1712), vicar
  • Jonas Lagus (died in Laihia 22 April 1798), vicar and dean
  • Sara Siipola (born in Laihia 1997), singer

Surnames

The most common surnames in Laihia and their frequencies as of 2014:

  • 1. Kallio (1:112)
  • 2. Puska (1:121)
  • 3. Kinnari (1:135)
  • 4. Koskela (1:137)
  • 5. Luoma (1:142)
  • 5. Niemelä (1:142)
  • 7. Kauppi (1:145)
  • 8. Mäkinen (1:156)
  • 9. Mäkelä (1:159)
  • 10. Kankaanpää (1:163)

Transport

The private coach company OnniBus route Helsinki—Seinäjoki—Vaasa has a stop at Laihia.

References

  • Municipality of Laihia – Official website
  • Sunrise, sunset, dawn and dusk times
  • Laihia Energy-saving Village, publication of European Commission