Siikalatva

Siikalatva (pronounced [ˈsiːkɑlɑtʋɑ]) is a geographical area and a municipality of Finland. It lies 90 kilometres to the south of the city of Oulu and belongs to the North Ostrobothnia region.

Siikalatva
Municipality
Siikalatvan kunta
Siikalatva kommun
Coat of arms
Location of Siikalatva in Finland
Coordinates: 64°16′N 025°52′E
Country Finland
RegionNorth Ostrobothnia
Sub-regionSiikalatva sub-region
Charter2009
SeatPulkkila
Government
 • Municipal managerTuomo Haapalahti
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total2,229.20 km2 (860.70 sq mi)
 • Land2,170.42 km2 (838.00 sq mi)
 • Water58.78 km2 (22.70 sq mi)
Area rank28th largest in Finland
Population
 (2019-01-31)[2]
 • Total5,305
 • Rank159th largest in Finland
 • Density2.44/km2 (6.3/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish99.3% (official)
 • Swedish0.1%
 • Others0.6%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1416.9%
 • 15 to 6460.2%
 • 65 or older22.9%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Municipal tax rate[5]21%
Websitewww.siikalatva.fi

Siikalatva has a population of approximately 6 000 and the municipality covers an area of 2,229.20 square kilometres (860.70 sq mi) of which 58.78 km2 (22.70 sq mi) is water.[1]

Siikalatva consists of four former municipalities: Kestilä, Piippola, Pulkkila and Rantsila, that decided to merge into one in 2009. The merger was encouraged and also funded by the Finnish government,[6] mainly due to the declining population and the indebted government of Rantsila.[7] 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 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 factory in Pulkkila, provide jobs to 17,2% of the workforce. The unemployment rate was 10,9% in September 2012.

There are four Lutheran 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.

People
gollark: Oh, THAT's where I put my advanced powercell...
gollark: Spatial IO... in a compact machine.
gollark: You know, you can infinitely nest compact machines, which is Fun™.
gollark: Since it allows you to nest ME networks inside it.
gollark: Technically, the one providing the most is Compact Machines.

References
  1. "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Suomen virallinen tilasto (SVT): Väestön ennakkotilasto [verkkojulkaisu]. Tammikuu 2019" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  3. "Population according to language and the number of foreigners and land area km2 by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  4. "Population according to age and gender by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  5. "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2011". Tax Administration of Finland. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  6. "Pohjois-Pohjanmaalle tulee uusi Siikalatvan kunta". YLE Uutiset (YLE News) (in Finnish). Yleisradio Oy. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2008.
  7. shop.kunnat.net/uploads/p20100617141806078.pdf

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