# Ylöjärvi

Ylöjärvi (Finnish:) is a town in Finland, located in the Pirkanmaa region. It lies to the west of the regional capital, Tampere. The population of Ylöjärvi is approximately 34,000, while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 423,000. It is the 35th most populous municipality in Finland, and the third largest in the Pirkanmaa region after Tampere and Nokia.
Ylöjärvi is located 14 kilometres (9 mi) northwest of Tampere and 189 kilometres (117 mi) north of the capital city of Helsinki in Finland. Ylöjärvi has an area of 1,324.14 square kilometres (511.25 sq mi) of which 208.62 km$^2$ (80.55 sq mi) is water. The population density is 30.16 inhabitants per square kilometre (78.1/sq mi).
Ylöjärvi is mainly a rural town. It does not have a clear centre; the Tampere-Vaasa highway (E12) and the Tampere-Seinäjoki railway divide the centre of the municipality into two large distinct parts: the Church Village and Soppeenmäki. The railway, completed in 1971, has no passenger seats in the Ylöjärvi area, so buses provide all public transport. The population has grown in recent years. In 1990 it was about 18,000, in 2011 it was about 30,000, and now it is about 34,000.
The neighbouring municipalities are Hämeenkyrö, Ikaalinen, Kihniö, Nokia, Parkano, Ruovesi, Tampere and Virrat. The municipality of Viljakkala was merged with Ylöjärvi in 2007. The municipality of Kuru was merged with Ylöjärvi in 2009. The coat of arms of Ylöjärvi was designed by Gustaf von Numers and confirmed in 1954.
The results of the 2021 Finnish local elections, resulted in True Finns being the largest political party on the Ylöjärvi council.

## History

The chapel parish of Ylöjärvi was founded in 1779 by separating it from Pirkkala. The first church in Ylöjärvi, located on the site of the current church, was completed in 1781, but was destroyed in a fire caused by lightning in 1842. Ylöjärvi was founded as a municipality in 1869. Since January 1, 2004, it has been known as a town (kaupunki). The Finnish Museum of Refrigeration also locates at Ylöjärvi.

## Demographics

The following graph shows the population development of the city since 1805. The diagram uses the area division in force at the time.
Ylöjärvi's population growth in 1805–2020
Year
Population
1805
1 336
1860
2 338
1900
3 098
1930
4 304$^1$
1964
8 809
1996
19 293
2010
30 500$^2$
2016
32 799
2020
33 216
Notes:
$^1$ Lielahti was annexed to Tampere in 1950
$^2$ Viljakkala was annexed to Ylöjärvi in 2007 and Kuru in 2009
Sources: Statistics Finland; Historian suursanakirja. :

## Culture
### Food

In the 1980s, overly sweeted limppu and the "sauna smoked" ham were named Ylöjärvi's traditional parish dishes.

### Tree Mountain

The town is the location of Tree Mountain, land art by Agnes Denes. This work was conceived in 1983, and construction was announced by the Finnish government at the 1992 Earth Summit. Construction was complete in 1996, and the site is legally protected for the next 400 years. Tree Mountain was dedicated in June 1996 by the President of Finland.

## Notable people

* Aron [fi] (born 1968), singer, songwriter, and musician
* Marko Asell (born 1970), Greco-Roman wrestler and politician
* Jenni Banerjee (born 1981), actress
* Volmari Iso-Hollo (1907–1969), runner
* Esa Keskinen (born 1965), ice hockey player
* Tauno Kovanen (1917–1986), Greco-Roman wrestler
* Kirsi Kunnas (1924–2021), writer, poet, and translator
* Linda Leppänen (born 1990), ice hockey player and coach
* Rosa Lindstedt (born 1988), ice hockey player and coach
* Jaakko Löytty (born 1955), gospel musician
* Eino Mäkinen (1926–2014), weightlifter
* Matti Niemi (born 1937), rower
* Saara Niemi (born 1986), ice hockey player and coach
* Hannu Oksanen (born 1957), ice hockey player
* Jaakko Syrjä (1926–2022), writer
* Juuse Tamminen (1888–1962), writer
* Jukka Tyrkkö (1912–1979), war writer
* Antti Tyrväinen (1933–2013), biathlete
* Maria Ylipää (born 1981), singer and actress
The rock band Eppu Normaali originates in Ylöjärvi.

## International relations
### Twin towns — Sister cities

Ylöjärvi is twinned with:
| Arvika, Sweden Balatonföldvár, Hungary Kongsvinger, Norway | Saku Parish, Estonia Skive, Denmark Vyshny Volochyok, Russia |

## Gallery

* Ylöjärvi Town Hall
* Ylöjärvi Church
* Ylöjärvi Comprehensive School
* Ylöjärvi Firestation
* Elovainio Shopping Center