City-County merger
3.12.2007 the municipal counsil of Ullava made a historical desision to merge Ullava municipality to the new Kokkola city. As of 1.1.2009 there will no longer be independent municipality of Ullava. In the future there will be a regional cervice office at the old Ullava municipality building with some basic cervice to the public. At www.kokkola.fi there will be a link to a future sub- page that is dedicated to Ullava.
Thank you for interest to these pages, hope to see you at the new kokkola sub- pages.
Rauno Niiranen
Ullava
municipality is located at northern part of Western-Finland province in
Central Bothnia region. Ullava is situated between Lesti- and Perho river-
walleyes The waters of Lake Ullava run to Perho-river.
Ullava is located at the periphery of Suomenselkä, a highland region that
is located in central Finland, at a typical landscape of Central
Bothnia. The land is relatively flat, and the height differences are small,
the average elevation from the sea-level is about 100 meters. Ullava has
very central location, the distances to Kaustinen Halsua Kälviä
Toholampi and kannus are 30 km, and to Kokkola 50 km.
The first settlers arrived to Ullava in the 16.th century. The church
records of Ullava start from the year 1798, when all the people of Ullava
were transferred from the Kälviä church records to Ullava. At first
Ullava had only a chapel congregation. 22.11.1904 by the order of his majesty
the
Russian emperor Nikolai 2:nd the chapel of Ullava was changed to Ullava
parsonage. 1909 Ullava municipality was separated from Kälviä by
the order of the Vaasa province governor.
The population
of Ullava is 1037 (y2003). 37% of the people in Ullava earn their living
by agriculture and farming. There are some 80 active milk- and meat
producing farms in Ullava.
The average size of a farm in Ullava is about 40 hectares. There are 76
active farms in Ullava today. 65% of the farms
are milk-producing farms. They produce some 195 000 litres milk annually.
Horses and horse- racing has focused much attention to Ullava. Much positive publicity of the world to Ullava
was raised by the now deceased Isla J Brave. Isla was number one racer of Finland in his time.
Half of the population is employed by the service sector, commerce,
construction and transport. Industrial jobs are few and are located at
neighbouring municipals and cities. Ullava has two lower level comprehensive
schools; Lover level school of Veikko Vionoja and Rahkonen
lower level school. For upper level and high school the students go
to Toholampi.
Ullava is a part of Kokkola region national health care community. Service
centre Hopijakumpu provides housing and nursing service for the elderly
and supported apartments for those that are more capable. Day-care centres
and family day-care provides good service in taking care of the little
children. There are two public libraries in Ullava. Independent
bank of Ullava provides banking services.
There are many
opportunities provided for recreation in Ullava by the environment.
The lake Ullava with its clear water and large areas of forest and
marshland provide great opportunities for recreation. At Rahkonen, the
multi purpose facility that is located by the lower-level school provides space for many
hobbies. A gym, library, cafe and the Vionoja hall
are located at the multi purpose facility for cultural and physical
activities. Local activity at Ullava villages is also active. There
are two renovated youth-society houses at Ullava that are in active use
all year around. Ylikyla Youth society web pages can be found at www.kase.fi/~ulylnuor
The church of
Ullava was built 1783. Church was renovated 1900 by Lauri Heikki
Kuorikoski. Latest renovation and painting was done 1997. The
painting above the altar "crucifixion" was painted by Veikko
Vionoja 1929 at the age of 18.
Next to the church is the church hall that was built 1978 and parish
records office. This building was renovated 2000
The web pages of Ullava Pentecostal congregation is provided by Johannes
keski-Rahkonen and are at www.netti.fi/~johan/introt.htm
To preserve and promote the works of Professor of arts Veikko Vionoja a
foundation was established at his home municipality 1990. At
Korpela, the summer residence of Veikko Vionoja, a gallery was built by
the foundation . The first exhibition was opened 2.6.1991. Exhibitions at
the foundation are open in the summer. To experience quiet and inner peace
was very important for Professor Vionoja and that can be sensed at the
exhibitions and at the surrounding old buildings.
Every summer, week after midsummer,
there is a Festival of art and music at Ullava. Training of art and music
is given at courses. There are also concerts and exhibitions daily.