Information about Pyhäjoki

Pyhäjoki has a surface area of 542 km2. Its village centres include Etelänkylä, Keskikylä, Liminkakylä, Parhalahti, Pirttikoski, Pohjankylä, Viirre and Yppäri. Pyhäjoki has around 3,000 inhabitants, and with the different projects underway in the area, the population of the municipality is internationalising.

Pyhäjoki's economy supports around 1000 jobs. At the moment, the municipality is undergoing positive structural change.

The river Pyhäjoki has been supposed to be a border river in the Treaty of Nöteborg (1323) between Russia and Sweden.

Pyhäjoki was founded as an administrative unit by John III of Sweden in 1573. At that time, this large parish stretched from the coast of the Bothnian Gulf all the way to Lake Pyhäjärvi.

Pyhäjoki's current boundaries were drawn in 1895, when Merijärvi to the east became a municipality in its own right.

Pyhäjoki is located along highway 8. It has good public transport connections in all directions. Express services run throughout the day in both directions between Oulu and Kokkola, and other bus services operate daily to destinations such as Raahe.

The nearest VR railway stations are in Oulainen, Vihanti, Ylivieska, and Kokkola. There is a bus connection from Raahe to Vihanti railway station and Pyhäjoki has a bus connection to Kokkola railway station.

The closest airports are those of Oulu and Kokkola. There is an airport taxi service between Oulu airport and Pyhäjoki.

If you need a taxi to elsewhere, call OTAXI Northern Ostrobothnia or use Taksini App.

Read more: Traffic in Finland

Pyhäjoki has an Evangelical Lutheran church, and the local parish operates there. Additional information on the varied activities of the Pyhäjoki parish is available on the parish website. Upon agreement, Christian communities have the opportunity to use the premises of Pyhäjoki parish for hosting their events.

The Laestadian Peace Association is the strongest Evangelical Lutheran revivalist movement in Pyhäjoki. More information on its activities is available on the Peace Association’s website.

Pyhäjoki has a Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall that is home to an active community.

Pyhäjoki also has a local parish of the Pentecostal Church. It is part of the Raahe Pentecostal Church.

The closest Orthodox parish is in Oulu. The closest Orthodox chapels are located in Kalajoki, Raahe and Vihanti. For more information, visit the website of the Orthodox Parish of Northern Finland.

The Catholic Holy Family of Nazareth Parish also operates in Oulu. Catholic services are sometimes also held in Raahe. More information is available on the parish website.

The Jarai-language Grace Montagnard Alliance Church Finland community operates in the Siikajoki-Raahe-Pyhäjoki district.

The closest Islamic place of worship and two different Islamic communities are located in Oulu.

You can find more information on issues related to religion, based on your religious community and location, via the Religions in Finland (Uskonnot Suomessa) online service.

Read more: Cultures and religions in Finland

In Pyhäjoki, it is easy to affect issues which have an impact on your own life. You can either contact the people taking care of the matters directly or send feedback through the municipality’s website.

Local issues are decided upon by the Municipality Council (kunnanvaltuusto). The council has 21 members who represent different political groups. The council is appointed in municipal elections held every fourth year. Every municipal resident who is 18 or older is entitled to vote.

Also a foreign citizen who has turned 18 may be entitled to vote in municipal and county elections if they have stayed in Finland for long enough. Additional information on elections and voting rights is available on the Ministry of Justice’s Elections website. Also see subpage ‘Information on the elections in different languages’.

Pyhäjoki municipality has a Youth Council and a Council for the Elderly and Disabled. They are consulted particularly when taking decisions that affect the lives of young people, the elderly and the disabled.

You can send feedback to the municipality through the Pyhäjoki Municipality website. You can also use the same link to make initiatives on how Pyhäjoki could be made an even better place to live.

Minutes in Finnish of the municipal government (kunnanhallitus) and council are open to public inspection on the website of the municipality of Pyhäjoki.

Read more: Elections and voting in Finland