Suonenjoki (; literally means "vein's river") is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the North Savo region, southwest of Kuopio.

The town has a population of

()

When Suonenjoki gained municipal rights in 1865, the population was about 4,000. In the same year, Suonenjoki Church, the current church in Suonenjoki was completed, replacing the cramped first church built in the late 18th century. A railway station was built on Suonenjoki in connection with the completion of the Savo Railway (also known as Kouvola–Iisalmi railway) in 1889. In the early 20th century, the sawmill industry became the most important industry in the area. Strawberry cultivation became more widespread from the 1940s, and Suonenjoki became known as "the Strawberry Town". The Suonenjoki co-educational school began operations in 1930, moving to its current high school building in 1950.

Geography

The neighbouring municipalities of Suonenjoki are Rautalampi to the west, Tervo to the northwest, Kuopio to the north, Leppävirta to the east, and Pieksämäki to the south on the South Savo side. Suonenjoki River flows through the town from Lake Suontee to Lake Iisvesi.

Villages

  • Herrala
  • Hulkkola
  • Jauhomäki
  • Karkkola
  • Kukkola
  • Kutumäki
  • Kutunkylä
  • Kuvansi
  • Käpylä
  • Kärkkäälä
  • Lempyy
  • Liedemäki
  • Luukkola
  • Lyytilänmäki
  • Markkala
  • Nuutila
  • Piispalanmäki
  • Pörölänmäki
  • Rajalanniemi
  • Rieponlahti
  • Sydänmaa
  • Toholahti
  • Tyyrinmäki
  • Vauhkola
  • Vehvilä
  • Viippero
  • Jalkala
  • Karsikonmäki
  • Suontee
  • Suihkola
  • Kolikkoinmäki
  • Kinnula

Culture

thumb|J. Kutvonen Furniture Store (), founded by Julius Kutvonen in years 1933-34, at Asemakatu in the Suonenjoki centre

Suonenjoki is famous for its strawberries There was also a rock festival named Jörisrock, the last "Jöris" was held in 2006. Nowadays, "Jöris" has been replaced by a music event called Iisrock.

There is also three museums, library and artshow.

Newspaper Sisä-Savo is published in Suonenjoki and nearby municipalities.

Transportation

Suonenjoki is situated between two important cities, Kuopio and Jyväskylä, and the main road 9 (E63) between those cities goes through Suonenjoki. The railway between Kuopio and Helsinki goes also through the center of Suonenjoki.

Notable people

  • Veijo Baltzar, author and visual artist
  • Aatu Hämäläinen, ice hockey player
  • Kalle Jalkanen, cross-country skier
  • Erkki Junkkarinen, singer
  • Lauri Kerminen, volleyball player
  • Rakel Liekki, freelance journalist and former pornstar
  • Rauno Miettinen, Nordic combined skier
  • Iiro Pakarinen, ice hockey player in NHL
  • Markku Rossi, politician
  • Liisa Suihkonen, cross-country skier
  • Kari Tapio, country & western and schlager singer

See also

  • Finnish national road 69
  • Suonenjoki rail collision

References

  • Town of Suonenjoki – Official website
  • Suonenjoen kesäkartta – A summer map of Suonenjoki from the town site