Seinäjoki is a city located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Seinäjoki originated around the Östermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798. Seinäjoki became a municipality in 1868, köping in 1931 and town in 1960. In May 2007 it was agreed that the smaller neighbouring municipalities of Nurmo and Ylistaro will merge with Seinäjoki in 2009 to form Greater Seinäjoki.

The Town library, Lakeuden Risti church and central administrative buildings are designed by Alvar Aalto.

Seinäjoki is known for hosting two large summer events: "Tangomarkkinat", which is a tango festival attracting more than 100,000 visitors annually, and Provinssirock, which is the biggest rock festival in Finland.

The asteroid 1521 Seinäjoki bears its name.

Seinäjoki was historically called Östermyra in Swedish. Today, this name is very seldomly used even by those who are Swedish-speaking.

Sights

Lakeuden risti ("the cross of the plains")
Alvar Aalto's cultural and administrative centre
the Southern Ostrobothnia District Museum
the Civil Guard and Lotta Svärd museum
Törnävä church
the railway exhibition

Other points of interest

Törnävä tourist centre
the Suviyö trotting-race
the summer theatre
the Jouppilanvuori winter sports centre
the Seinäjoki City theatre
the traffic centre with six roads and five railway junctions
Provinssirock
Tangomarkkinat
Vauhtiajot

People

Hometown of famous Finnish skateboarder Arto Saari; he currently resides in Huntington Beach, California.
Hometown and birthplace of Finnish singer Paula Koivuniemi
Birthplace of the well-renowned business leader Jorma Ollila
Hometown of famous stunt group The Dudesons, aka Extreme Duudsonit
Birthplace of speed skater, 1000 m record holder Pekka Koskela