Siikalatva (pronounced ) is a geographical area and a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

of Finland. It lies 90 kilometres to the south of the city of

Oulu Oulu ( , ; sv, Uleåborg ) is a city, municipality and a seaside resort of about 210,000 inhabitants in the region of North Ostrobothnia, Finland. It is the most populous city in northern Finland and the fifth most populous in the country after ...

and belongs to the

North Ostrobothnia North Ostrobothnia ( fi, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa; sv, Norra Österbotten) is a region of Finland. It borders the Finnish regions of Lapland, Kainuu, North Savo, Central Finland and Central Ostrobothnia, as well as the Russian Republic of Karelia. ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

. Siikalatva has a population of approximately 6 000 and the municipality covers an area of of which is water. Siikalatva consists of four former municipalities:

Kestilä Kestilä is a village and former municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. Established in 1867, the population was 536 as of 31 December 2015. The municipality covered an area ...

Piippola Piippola is a village and a former municipality of Finland. Piippola is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The village has a population of 550 (31 December 2015). The former municipality covered an a ...

, Pulkkila and

Rantsila Rantsila ( sv, Rantsila, also ) is a village and former municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The village had a population of 812 (31 December 2015), while the former m ...

, that decided to merge into one in 2009. The merger was encouraged and also funded by the Finnish government, mainly due to the declining population and the indebted government of Rantsila.shop.kunnat.net/uploads/p20100617141806078.pdf The geographical area had often been referred to as Siikalatva even in the times before the creation of the new municipality. The seat of the local government is in the Pulkkila urban area. Representatives are elected to the municipal council every four years. The agrarian Centre Party has been dominant in Siikalatva for several decades, currently holding an absolute majority with 19 out of 27 seats. In the 2012 local elections the

True Finns The Finns Party, formerly known as the True Finns ( fi, Perussuomalaiset, PS, sv, Sannfinländarna, Sannf.), is a right-wing populist political party in Finland. It was founded in 1995 following the dissolution of the Finnish Rural Party. The ...

gained a total of five seats, becoming the second-largest party in the council. In terms of the economy, Siikalatva has in the past relied on a strong agricultural sector. Even in 2012, it employed as much as 26,9% of the workforce. The services sector has become the largest employer with a share of 54,6%. Industries, such as the

Ruukki Ruukki is a former municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality had a population of 4,505 (31 December 2006) and covered an area of of which is water. The popu ...

factory in Pulkkila, provide jobs to 17,2% of the workforce. The unemployment rate was 10,9% in September 2012. There are four

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched ...

churches in Siikalatva. Also, the Conservative Laestadian revival movement has a great number of supporters in the area. The coat of arms of Siikalatva was designed and introduced in 2009. The colours, blue and silver, follow the Northern Ostrobothnian tradition. The wave pattern symbolises the river Siikajoki that flows throughout the municipality, and the swans represent the four former municipalities.

Notable people

Yrjö Halonen Yrjö Halonen (23 May 1862 – 11 August 1941) was a Finnish cantor, bank director and politician, born in Kestilä. He was a member of the Diet of Finland from 1897 to 1905 and of the Parliament of Finland from 1908 to 1909 and again from 1913 ...

(1862–1941) * Ilmari Kianto (1874–1970) * Heikki Huttunen (1880–1947) * T. I. Itkonen (1891–1968) *

Pentti Haanpää Pentti Haanpää (October 14, 1905 – September 30, 1955) was a Finnish author. He was born in Pulkkila, and is best known for his books ''Vääpeli Sadon tapaus'' 1935 and ''Noitaympyrä'' 1931. He died in Pyhäntä Pyhäntä is a municipality ...

(1905–1955) * Tapio Junno (1940–2006) *

Jouko Hassi Jouko Hassi (born November 19, 1959 in Rantsila) is a Finnish former sprinter. His club team was Oulun Pyrintö. He competed in 100 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1983 World Championships, but was eliminated in the heats on both occasio ...

(born 1959)

References

External links

Municipality of Siikalatva
– Official website Populated places established in 2009 {{OuluProvince-geo-stub